WIFIA Solutions for Waiting for Grant Funding

I am waiting for grant funding.

Over the next 20 years, there will be more than 1 trillion dollars in water infrastructure needs across the country. To address these critical projects, grant funding is typically the first option. However, grant funding is limited, competitive, and can take a long time to reach communities. Given these obstacles, filling gaps with low-cost water infrastructure financing is an alternative option.

How Can WIFIA Funding Help?

The WIFIA program offers several solutions to help communities keep moving forward with their necessary water infrastructure projects, even while seeking or waiting for grant funding. Borrowers can take advantage of efficient co-funding, the option to secure other funding throughout the project, the ability to draw only the funds needed, and no-penalty prepayment.

• Co-funding: The WIFIA program was designed to be a supplemental lender and pair well with other types of water infrastructure financing. WIFIA loans can be co-funded with State Revolving Fund loans, grants, bonds, or cash. Regardless of source and type, the co-funding programs work together to increase efficiency, reduce burden, and maximize benefits to communities.
• Secure Other Funding During the Project: WIFIA borrowers always have the option of securing additional funding sources, even after loan closing. This helps borrowers find the most advantageous funding strategy that works best for them.
• Draw Funds as Needed: WIFIA loans are an “up to” amount, and borrowers are not required to draw down all the funding – only what is needed. This is helpful for borrowers that might secure other funding sources, including grants, after closing the WIFIA loan. There are also no draw requirements, and borrowers can request reimbursement on their schedule. Borrowers can request disbursements as often as once per month but can also request a single disbursement up to one year after project completion.
• No-penalty Prepayment: Borrowers have the option to prepay their WIFIA loans at any time with no penalty. This can help borrowers who secure other funding during the project.

Hear What Our Borrowers Are Saying:

“The City of Sandy is pleased to secure this critical component of our funding package for Sandy Clean Waters, our wastewater system improvement project. We are fortunate to have partners at the EPA who understand that financial assistance from the federal government is vital to ensuring that utility rates remain affordable for residents of our small town while we complete these capital investments.” – Tyler Deems, City Manager (2025), Sandy, Oregon