The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYS EFC) is pleased to announce the availability of $425 million in grants under the New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) and New York State Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant (IMG) Programs. This grant funding is made available, in part, through the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (Bond Act).
This funding is for municipalities with infrastructure projects that protect or improve public health and/or water quality. Grant eligible critical water infrastructure projects include those that combat emerging contaminants such as PFOA, PFOS and 1,4 dioxane with system upgrades and innovative pilot technologies, along with those that address combined and/or sanitary sewer overflow impacts from sustained rain events.
New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) Grants
NYS EFC will provide WIIA grants to assist municipalities in funding infrastructure projects for the protection of public health and water quality. WIIA grants will be awarded to water quality infrastructure projects for the construction, replacement or repair of infrastructure or for compliance with environmental and public health laws and regulations related to water quality. NYS EFC will evaluate projects based on factors including protection of public health and water quality; median household income, governmental and community support, environmental justice and disadvantaged communities, and the readiness of the project to proceed.
New York State Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant (IMG)
NYS EFC will provide IMG grants for joint infrastructure projects to be undertaken by two or more cooperating municipalities and that consolidate services. IMG funding will be awarded for construction, replacement or repair of a drinking water or sewage treatment infrastructure project that serves multiple municipalities, such as shared water quality infrastructure that protects public health or the environment, or results in compliance with environmental and public health laws and regulations related to water quality.
NYS EFC will evaluate projects based on factors including protection of public health and water quality, median household income, governmental and community support, benefits to disadvantaged communities and environmental justice considerations, and the readiness of the project to proceed. To be eligible to apply for a grant, cooperating municipalities must have a valid and binding Intermunicipal Agreement related to the funding and/or construction of the project.
Background
On March 15, 2023, NYS EFC published for public comment proposed eligibility guidelines for the WIIA and IMG programs designed to implement the historic $4.2 billion Bond Act. The draft criteria were based on the eligibility criteria historically used for the existing WIIA and IMG programs. The public comment period closed April 14, 2023, and responses to the comments have been posted on the Bond Act website.
NYS EFC administers the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and co-administers the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) with the New York State Department of Health. The SRF Programs provide subsidized financial assistance to qualified municipalities to undertake eligible water infrastructure projects. Municipalities, however, do not need to obtain financial assistance from the CWSRF or DWSRF program to receive a WIIA grant or IMG grant and do not need to be listed on the CWSRF or DWSRF Intended Use Plan to apply for a WIIA grant or IMG grant.
A WIIA grant or IMG grant is available only to a municipality, which is defined to include a county, city, town, village, district corporation, county or town improvement district, school district, Indian Nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, any public benefit corporation or public authority established pursuant to the laws of New York or any agency of the State that is empowered to construct and operate a water quality infrastructure project.
Disadvantaged communities will receive no less than 35 percent of the benefit of this funding.
Application Due Date:
Applications must be submitted using the online Application Form located on NYS EFC's website at: www.efc.ny.gov/WIIA or www.efc.ny.gov/IMG by 5:00 p.m. Friday, July 28, 2023. Applicants will be required to submit additional documents with the application.
Webinar:
NYS EFC will host a webinar to present the WIIA and IMG programs on May 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. These events will provide an overview of WIIA and IMG, as well as guidance on how to apply for grant funds. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. You may register for either webinar on NYS EFC's website at: www.efc.ny.gov/WIIA and www.efc.ny.gov/IMG.
If you have any questions, please e-mail: [email protected] or contact: Máire Cunningham, NYS EFC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207-2997, Phone: (518) 402-6924.