Training for Units with Water/Sewer

Upcoming training opportunities for local governments that provide water and/or sewer services:

Host: Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)

Topic: Webinar on Managing Water Loss: The Benefits to Small Communities
Date and Time: July 20, 2021; 2pm-3pm
Location: Virtual

Registration: HERE

Host: Division of Water Infrastructure/DEQ

Topic: Fall 2021 Application Training for Funding Programs
Date and Time: Six dates from July 27 through August 5
Location:  Six sites statewide, space is limited at each location

Registration: Contact Jennifer Haynie at jennifer.haynie@ncdenr.gov (919.707.9173) with your name, organization, e-mail, phone number, and the location you plan to attend

Details below:

Division of Water Infrastructure Announces Fall 2021 Application Training at Six Sites Statewide July 27 – Aug. 5

(Hendersonville, Valdese, Winston-Salem, Research Triangle Park, Winterville, Pembroke)

The Division of Water Infrastructure in the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality announces training for the Fall 2021 funding round.  All applications must be received by the Division no later than close of business on Sept. 30, 2021. Application training for the following funding programs will be offered from July 27 to Aug. 5 at the locations indicated in the chart below.

• State Reserve Program: This program funds wastewater and drinking water projects as well as the Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA) Grants and Merger / Regionalization Feasibility (MRF) Grants. Funding limits for water and wastewater projects as well as the grant programs are as follows:
  • Project Loans and Grants for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure. Funding is available to all local government units (LGUs) and non-profit water corporations and has grant limits of $3 million per applicant per project type (water/sewer) over a period of three consecutive fiscal years. Loans with a targeted interest rate have a limit of $3 million per applicant per project type over a period of three consecutive fiscal years. Loans at market interest rate have loan limits of $3 million per applicant per project type per year. Grant percentages of project costs are based upon affordability criteria.
  • Asset Inventory and Assessment Grants. This program funds both wastewater and drinking water projects. It is available to LGUs and non-profit water corporations and has a limit of $150,000 per applicant per project type (water/sewer) over three consecutive fiscal years. Funds related to this grant are available to inventory the existing water and/or sewer system and document the condition of the inventoried infrastructure.
  • Merger / Regionalization Feasibility Grants. This program funds both wastewater and drinking water projects. It is available to LGUs and non-profit water corporations and has a limit of $50,000 per applicant per project type over three consecutive fiscal years. Funds related to this grant are available to determine the feasibility of consolidating the management of multiple utilities into a single utility operation or to provide regional treatment and the best way of carrying out the consolidation or regionalization.

• Viable Utility Reserve. This program provides grants for public water systems or wastewater systems owned by LGUs. Only funding for study grants (asset inventory and assessment, rate studies, and merger / regionalization feasibility studies) to LGUs designated as distressed are being offered this round.
• Clean Water State Revolving Fund: This program funds wastewater and green projects. It is available to all LGUs and non-profit water corporations and offers low-interest loans up to $30 million per applicant.
• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: This program funds drinking water projects. It is available to all LGUs, non-profit water corporations, and for-profit water corporations and offers low-interest loans up to $20 million per applicant.
• Community Development Block Grant- Infrastructure (Approx. $20 million depending upon availability of funds): This program funds wastewater and drinking water projects. It is available to counties and municipalities and offers grants up to $2 million per applicant every three years.

If you are considering applying for funding related to any of the available programs listed above, the Division of Water Infrastructure encourages you to attend a training session. If you cannot attend training, Division staff will be available to meet on an individual basis. Application training will be held during the weeks of July 26 and August 6. Training begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. Application materials will be available on the Division website before training begins at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-infrastructure/i-need-funding/application-forms-and-additional-resources .

Please see the chart below for application training dates and locations.

Division of Water Infrastructure Application Training Sessions Statewide for Fall 2021 Funding Round

Space is limited at each location. Please RSVP to Jennifer Haynie at jennifer.haynie@ncdenr.gov (919.707.9173) at least a week prior to the training event you plan to attend. Please provide your name, organization, e-mail, phone number, and the location you plan to attend. All training sessions will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.