ND Rural Water’s Environmental Finance Center (EFC) program is designed to close the technical gap by providing assistance to rural water and wastewater systems in EPA Region 8 through hands-on technical assistance to ensure systems incorporate the best and most effective managerial and SRF/BIL-related guidance for the system’s future sustainability.
The objectives of the EFC programs are to:
1) ensure disadvantaged, underserved, tribal systems and other eligible utilities that have never received SRF funding are prioritized to receive technical assistance and training to complete project planning activities and apply for BIL funding;
2) that disadvantaged, underserved, tribal systems and other eligible utilities receive hands-on, on-site technical assistance from NRWA’s cadre of technical assistance providers in Region 8;
3) to build the local capacity of utilities and local communities so that they have the knowledge and connections to apply for SRF/BIL funding in the development of utilities climate resilient and sustainable projects and pursue federal funding; and
4) to serve as change agents in communities by providing assistance with project ideation based on sound asset management plans and a better understanding of how to build a competitive proposal.
Our Project and Funding Specialist provides technical assistance in the areas of project design and funding, including asset management, best management practices, bid support, capacity building, decisions-maker and board education, emerging contaminants, environmental reviews, financial planning, funding application support, identification of funding options, lead service line inventories, plan development and coordination, plan studies and assessments, preliminary engineering reports, and rate and revenue analysis.
GIS Mapping Agreement and Work Order
Project & Funding Specialist: Julie Hein