Interested in training for your team? Click here to learn more

Federal WIFIA Loans to Finance Water Infrastructure Projects: EPA Priorities; Application and Approval Process

A live 90-minute CLE video webinar with interactive Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Thursday, December 19, 2024

1:00pm-2:30pm EST, 10:00am-11:30am PST

Early Registration Discount Deadline, Friday, November 22, 2024

or call 1-800-926-7926

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.

Description

The EPA recently announced the availability of $6.5 billion in WIFIA funding and $1 billion in State Infrastructure Financing Authority (SWIFIA) funding along with priority areas that will guide the agency in distributing the funds for the loans that may assist covered entities with costly compliance measures related to recent regulation.

The WIFIA program is a federal credit program administered by the EPA for eligible wastewater and infrastructure projects. Each year, the EPA announces the funding and priorities on which the agency will focus when reviewing and approving projects for funding that best support the agency's strategic goals.

The agency's recently announced priorities include, among others, addressing PFAS and emerging contaminants. Given the timing of certain PFAS regulation, including established drinking water levels, and the significant costs that will be required for compliance, counsel should understand how the WIFIA loan program works so that they can help their clients decide whether and how to pursue this financing option to potentially alleviate compliance costs.

Listen as our expert panel provides a comprehensive overview of the WIFIA and SWIFIA programs and the EPA's most recent funding announcement. The panel will discuss the agency's priorities and how these may impact project funding approval. The panel will also offer best practices for assisting clients in evaluating whether and when to apply for a WIFIA/SWIFIA loan and for navigating the application process.

READ MORE

Outline

  1. Introduction
    1. The Water and Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
  2. WIFIA and SWIFIA loan programs
    1. WIFIA/SWIFIA loan features
    2. Eligible projects
    3. Qualifying applicants
    4. EPA project selection and approval
  3. EPA's most recent $7.5 billion funding and priority areas
    1. PFAS
    2. Disadvantaged communities
    3. Others
  4. When clients should consider WIFIA funding
  5. Assisting clients with the application process
  6. 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

Callender, Ryan
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

Letnes, Amelia
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

Attend on December 19

Early Discount (through 11/22/24)

Cannot Attend December 19?

Early Discount (through 11/22/24)

You may pre-order a recording to listen at your convenience. Recordings are available 48 hours after the webinar. Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

To find out which recorded format will provide the best CLE option, select your state:

CLE On-Demand Video