Funding Navigator

The Opportunity

The nearly $50 billion for State Revolving Funds (SRFs) in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - in addition to other public funding - has the potential to deliver substantial environmental, economic, and public health benefits. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance equity and resilience by ensuring these funds reach utilities that serve overburdened communities and finance climate resilient and community centered projects.

The Need

Too many communities have not been able to access public funds for water infrastructure. While federal funds are distributed through State Revolving Funds (SRFs) - the largest federal programs that finance water infrastructure – these funds have not historically been distributed equitably. In fact, EPIC’s research has shown that less than 25 percent of SRF funds for drinking water projects have reached disadvantaged communities over the last decade.

Utilities must overcome numerous barriers to access public funds to finance water infrastructure. As shown in the figure below, utilities must assess needs, develop capital plans, find programs to finance projects, and apply for funds. Applications to the SRFs require engineering designs and environmental assessments that are complicated and costly to complete. Utilities that serve overburdened communities often lack the technical and financial capacity to apply. Due to these and other barriers, most never take these critical first steps to access the available funding.