Program:

Clean Water State Revolving Fund

Agency:

NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation

Program Description:

Provides low-interest rate financings to municipalities for water pollution control projects including wastewater treatment facilities, sewers, and non-point source projects such as salt storage facilities.

Funding Type:

Interest free short term loans with terms up to 3 years and low-interest rate long term financings with terms up to 30 years.

Eligibility:

Municipalities and public financing authorities in New York State.

Eligibility Assessment:

Projects that protect, maintain or improve water quality. Projects that are ready to proceed and score above the annual funding line are generally funded, limited funds are available.

Program:

Clean Water State Revolving Fund Hardship Assistance

Agency:

NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation

Program Description:

Funds municipal wastewater treatment projects where financial hardship exists.

Funding Type:

Reduced interest rate financings as low as 0% with terms up to 30 years.

Eligibility:

Municipalities with projects under $14 million that serve residential areas.

Eligibility Assessment:

To be eligible, total estimated annual sewer service charge must exceed a target service charge as determined by EFC based on median household income (MHI).

Program:

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

Agency:

NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation and NYS Department of Health

Program Description:

Provides low interest rate financings for drinking water projects including upgrades, treatment facilities, storage facilities, transmission and consolidation of water supplies.

Funding Type:

Interest-free short-term loans with terms up to 3 years and low-interest rate long-term financings with terms up to 20 years.

Eligibility:

Community water systems, both public and privately owned, and non-community, non-profit projects.

Eligibility Assessment:

Projects must have a public health benefit, and are scored and prioritized. Projects that are ready to proceed and score above an established funding line are generally funded. Limited funds are available.

Program:

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Hardship Assistance

Agency:

NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation and NYS Department of Health

Program Description:

Provides interest-free 20 year and up to 30 year financings and grants for projects previously described.

Funding Type:

Interest-free 20 year and up to 30 year financings and grants of up to $2 million or 75% of eligible costs, whichever is less.

Eligibility:

Same as previously mentioned but only for projects less than $14 million.

Eligibility Assessment:

Grant money is only offered if community cannot achieve target user fee with a zero interest financing at 20 or 30 years. Communities above statewide average MHI are eligible for reduced interest rate financing but not grants. To be eligible, total estimated annual water service charge must exceed a target service charge based on MHI. Project must score above the “funding line” in order to be funded.

Program:

Appalachian Regional Commission Area Development Program

Agency:

NYS Department of State

Program Description:

Provides grants for public infrastructure projects in Appalachian New York where there is an economic development (jobs creation/retention) or health and safety threat.

Funding Type:

Grants of $150,000 or up to $200,000 in limited cases.

Eligibility:

Municipalities in the following counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chatauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schohaire, Tioga and Tompkins.

Eligibility Assessment:

Projects addressing public health and safety threats are considered; an economic development component will enhance likelihood of funding.

Program:

Small Cities Community Development Block Grant

Agency:

Office of Community Renewal

Program Description:

Provides grants for community and economic development activities, wastewater and drinking water facilities, housing and public infrastructure projects.

Funding Type:

Annual Round Competition (Public Facilities Category): Grants up to $600,000 for cities, towns and villages; $750,000 for counties and $900,000 for joint applications. Public facilities projects will solve serious problems affecting the public health, welfare and safety.

Economic Development Open Round: Grants from $100,000 - $750,000 may be requested for projects providing water, wastewater or other infrastructure to create or retain jobs for low- to moderate- income persons (at $15,000 per job created/retained).

Applicants should only apply for the amount of funding that can be fully expended and the type of activities that can be completed within the specified project completion period of twenty-four (24) months.

Eligibility:

Must primarily benefit low-and moderate-income persons, and help correct or prevent public health and safety problems, slums or blight. Applications should have been made to other public funding programs, if required.

Eligibility Assessment:

For a complete list of eligible communities and counties, please go to
our website, www.nysocr.org and click on "Eligible Communities".

Program:

Rural Utilities Service Water and Wastewater Disposal Loan
and Grant Program

Agency:

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Program Description:

Provides loans and grants to water and wastewater facilities and services to low-income rural communities whose residents face significant health risks with service area populations up to 10,000.

Funding Type:

Loan terms up to 40 years. The interest rate is indexed to the Median Household Income of the service area. Minimum “Poverty Rate” is 4.5%. The “Market and Intermediate” rates vary as per the Federal Financing Bank Rate every three months.

Eligibility:

To provide loan and grant funds to water and wastewater projects serving the most financially needy communities. Financial assistance should result in reasonable user costs for rural residents.

Eligibility Assessment:

Competition is intense; applications far exceed available funds.

An equal opportunity lender, provider and employer. Send discrimination complaints to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, DC 20250-9410

Other Agencies for Consideration

Other agencies provide funding for sewer and water projects, for economic development or energy purposes. They include the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration; and the New York State Empire State Development Corporation, and Energy Research and Development Authority.