On June 13, U.S. EPA announced the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) notices of funding availability for the agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and the State Infrastructure Financing Authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program. EPA has $5.5 billion in WIFIA financing and an additional $1 billion for the SWIFIA program available for FY22.

EPA is prioritizing funding in four areas:  increasing investment in economically stressed communities; making rapid progress on lead service line replacement; addressing PFAS and emerging contaminants; and supporting one water innovation and resilience.

The Agency is also modifying the way it accepts letters of interest from prospective borrowers by allowing for them to be received any time on or after September 6, 2022. The submission period will close when all available funds are committed to prospective borrowers.

EPA hopes that this rolling selection process will allow for the Agency to provide year-round access to WIFIA funding, quicker selection decisions to prospective borrowers, and greater technical assistance. Still, since letters of interest will be evaluated when they are received, EPA encourages submissions at the beginning of the availability period. NACWA believes this is a positive change as it allows communities to submit for financing at a time that better aligns with their project timeline, rather than to meet an arbitrary application deadline.

EPA is hosting several webinars over the coming weeks to assist prospective borrowers and organizations that support prospective borrowers. You can pre-register at the links below:

• Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time): Upcoming WIFIA Funding Opportunities for SRF Programs (focused on SWIFIA loans)
• Wednesday, June 29, 2022*, at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time): Upcoming WIFIA Funding Opportunities
• Wednesday, July 20, 2022*, at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time): Upcoming WIFIA Funding Opportunities

*Note: The same content will be presented on June 29 and July 20.

For more information about how to utilize the WIFIA Program – including an explanation of the application process, information about current funding availability, and application materials – click here.

Contact Tony Frye, NACWA Legislative Director to discuss.