The Division of Water Infrastructure has announced Fall 2022 Water/Wastewater/Stormwater Funding Application Training at Six Sites Statewide: (Asheville, Valdese, Kernersville, Pembroke, Williamston, Raleigh).
Donor Name: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
State: North Carolina
City/Town: Asheville, Valdese, Kernersville, Pembroke, Williamston and Raleigh
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/30/2022
Size of the Grant: up to $2 million
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
- The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF) will provide up to 100 percent grant funding for drinking water and wastewater projects in the following programs, as described in the ARPA Administration Plan:
- Viable Utility Reserve: Funding is available to all local government units (LGUs) designated as distressed by the State Water Infrastructure Authority and the Local Government Commission. Grants can be used for infrastructure and study grants listed in NC GS 159G-32(d)(1)-(5).
- State Reserve Program construction projects: Funding is available to LGUs categorized as at-risk and for at-risk projects as described in the ARPA Administration Plan. Construction projects may address non-compliance, regionalization, resiliency, asset rehabilitation/replacement, replacing failing infrastructure, connecting residences in disadvantaged areas to water and wastewater systems, and many other infrastructure needs.
- State Reserve Program study grants: Funding is available to all LGUs and non-profit water corporations for the following study grants.
- Asset Inventory and Assessment grants: to inventory the existing water and/or wastewater systems and document the condition of the inventoried infrastructure.
- Merger / Regionalization Feasibility grants: to determine the feasibility of consolidating the management of multiple utilities into a single utility operation or to provide regional water/wastewater treatment, and the best way of carrying out the consolidation or regionalization.
- Pre-Construction Planning grants: to conduct engineering, design, or other pre-construction activities. Pre-construction planning grants can be issued separately, or as part of a construction project.
- Grants for rate studies and training may be included in applications for construction projects or other study grants.
- The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF) will provide 100 percent grant funding for stormwater projects through the Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investment (LASII): Funding is available to cities or counties, and regional Councils of Government and non-profit entities partnering with cities and counties, to improve or create infrastructure for controlling stormwater quantity and quality. This is the first funding application round ARPA Stormwater grants have been available. The finalized ARPA administration plan for stormwater funding will be available during Fall 2022 application training and online. Stormwater funding is available for:
- Planning grants: to conduct research or investigative studies, alternatives analyses, the preparation of engineering concept plans or engineering designs, and similar activities intended to help an eligible entity determine the best solutions for the entity’s stormwater quality or quantity issue and to engineer and permit the solutions. Nature-based solutions are also allowed.
- Construction grants: to develop and implement a new stormwater utility or stormwater control measure (SCM), the rehabilitation of existing SCMs, the retrofitting of existing stormwater conveyances to provide SCMs for quantity and quality control purposes, the installation of innovative technologies and/or nature-based solutions.
- The State Revolving Funds will provide low-interest loans (including principal forgiveness loans) for wastewater and drinking water projects. In addition to the SRF funds typically available, this is the first round of funding that will use Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) general supplemental funds. SRF funds are available in the following programs:
- Clean Water State Revolving Fund: This program funds wastewater, stormwater, and green projects. It is available to all local government units and non-profit water corporations.
- Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: This program funds drinking water projects. It is available to all local government units, non-profit water corporations, and investor-owned water corporations. A portion of the funds are reserved for small water systems.
- Community Development Block Grant- Infrastructure: 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.
For more information, visit ARPA.
