How California Decision-Makers in Small, Rural, and Tribal Communities Can Finance Wastewater Projects & Build Community Trust

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Overview & Objectives
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans are an important source of low-cost financing for wastewater infrastructure investments. Yet, many small wastewater systems across the country have not accessed this financing to make needed upgrades to their systems. To take advantage of the CWSRF and WIFIA program, these small systems need assistance navigating the sometimes-daunting process of preparing and applying for these loans. This training series is specifically tailored with these small systems in mind.

The training has 5 objectives:

1. Demystify the CWSRF and WIFIA application process;
2. Feature successful projects highlighting the range of projects eligible for the CWSRF and WIFIA, including climate-resilient and nature-based projects;
3. Demonstrate how CWSRF and WIFIA loans, particularly forgivable loans, can benefit small, rural, and disadvantaged communities;
4. Equip participants with resources to build trust with their local community groups and customers to advance community-centered projects; and
5. Put participants on the path towards hands-on technical assistance to take the first steps to applying for wastewater infrastructure financing.