January 10, 2017 the
USEPA began accepting applications for loans under the Water Infrastructure
Finance and Innovation Act, and the agency will consider the first round of
applications submitted through April 10, 2017. The Act appropriated $17 million
to EPA for credit assistance up to 49% of the cost of water system projects,
with the remaining 51% of the cost required to come from other matching funds.
According to the agency, the appropriation should support up to $2 billion in
water infrastructure construction financing.
Passed during the
Obama administration, it will be interesting whether President Trump will claim
this expected $2 billion in public/private partnership spending as part of his
promised $1 trillion infrastructure job creation program.
