Federal WIFIA Loans to Finance Water Infrastructure Projects: EPA Priorities; Application and Approval Process
Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A
This CLE webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of the EPA's Water Infrastructure and Innovation Act (WIFIA) federal credit program and the agency's recent announcement related to the availability of $7.5 billion in loans to finance critical water infrastructure projects. The panel will discuss the agency's strategic priorities that will impact how the agency selects and approves projects for funding. The panel will also discuss how to help clients evaluate whether to apply for funding, especially when seeking to alleviate regulatory compliance costs, and offer best practices for navigating the application process.
Outline
- Introduction
- The Water and Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
- WIFIA and SWIFIA loan programs
- WIFIA/SWIFIA loan features
- Eligible projects
- Qualifying applicants
- EPA project selection and approval
- EPA's most recent $7.5 billion funding and priority areas
- PFAS
- Disadvantaged communities
- Others
- When clients should consider WIFIA funding
- Assisting clients with the application process
- Practitioner takeaways
Benefits
The panel will review these and other important considerations:
- What is the purpose of WIFIA funding?
- How does WIFIA relate to SWIFIA?
- What are the EPA's most recently announced priorities related to WIFIA funding, and how do these impact EPA project approval?
- How does recent EPA regulation impact whether a client may want to apply for WIFIA funding?
- What are eligible projects to be considered for loans? Who are qualifying applicants?
- What are best practices for helping clients navigate the WIFIA application process?
Faculty
Ryan K. Callender
Partner
Squire Patton Boggs
One of Mr. Callender’s primary areas of focus is in the structuring of water and sewer revenue debt financing. He... | Read More
One of Mr. Callender’s primary areas of focus is in the structuring of water and sewer revenue debt financing. He has served as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel and disclosure counsel for a variety of water and/or sewer entities throughout the country. In addition, Mr. Callender has experience serving as bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel for various state revolving funds including serving as bond counsel to the Ohio Water Development Authority for more than US$3 billion of bond, floating rate note and commercial paper issues. He is also an active member of and frequent speaker for the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities.
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Amelia Letnes
WIFIA Project Selection Lead
U.S. EPA
Ms. Letnes is the Project Selection Lead at the WIFIA program. She manages the process for incoming prospective... | Read More
Ms. Letnes is the Project Selection Lead at the WIFIA program. She manages the process for incoming prospective borrowers and offers borrower support during both the letter of interest and application phases of the WIFIA process. She also served as a Portfolio Manager at the WIFIA program, supporting closed loans. Prior to WIFIA, she worked in the NDPES program on national policy issues such as nutrient permitting and water quality trading.
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