Financing

News and Updates

How to Pay: Challenges and Solutions of Environmental Protection - ICMA Webcast Materials
Hear information on the ins and outs of financing environmental systems, modifying rates, capital investment, asset replacement, and other fundamental financial management decisions. Learn about various options and obtain practical resources to improve public health by ensuring that your community has sound financing plans to pay for environmental infrastructure.

For more information.

The Cleanup War Chest: State Bond Financing for Environmental Initiatives and Brownfields Redevelopment
While many states have incentives for cleanup of contamination, only a few are regarded as funded at a level that approaches the vast need. The Cleanup War Chest: State Bond Financing for Environmental Initiatives and Brownfields Redevelopment from Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMW) details some of the largest state-level financial commitments to brownfield remediation and environmental protection.

For more information.

National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program
The National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program provides funding to reduce emissions from existing diesel engines through a variety of strategies, including but not limited to: add-on emission control retrofit technologies; idle reduction technologies; cleaner fuel use; engine repowers; engine upgrades; and/or vehicle or equipment replacement; and the creation of innovative finance programs to fund diesel emissions reduction projects.

For more information.

Issue Summary

For local governments, financing is a critical issue ro support infrastructure and programs that ensure environmental compliance and protection. The resources below provide information on programs, publications, and organizations that can assist local governments.

Resources

General

Grants under the Recovery Act of 2009
The Recovery Act includes $7.2 billion for projects and programs administered by EPA. For information on funding opportunities and awards, visit

• Epa.gov/recovery
• Recovery.gov
• Grants.gov

Guidebook of Financial Tools:
Paying for Sustainable Environmental Systems

This 2008 revision of the Guidebook of Financial Tools is a reference document for officials with environmental responsibilities. It is designed to assist all interested with finding the means of financing environmental protection initiatives that are appropriate for them.
Over 300 financial tools that can be used to pay for environmental systems.
Ten sections cover topics ranging from raising capital and enhancing credit to financing pollution prevention activities, community-based environmental protection, and brownfields redevelopment. New section "Tools for Accessing State and Local Financing," includes many state grant programs.

For more information.

EPA Financing for Environmental Compliance. A step-by-step financial planning process that can help your community determine capital asset technical and financial needs and find available air, waste and water resources to meet your compliance goals.

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE): provides funding to build broad-based partnerships to reduce environmental risks at the local level.

Environmental education: projects to help the public make informed decisions that affect environmental quality.

Environmental Information Exchange Network: provides funding to develop an Internet-based, secure network that supports the electronic collection, exchange, and integration of high-quality data.

Environmental Justice: includes the EJ Community/ University Partnership Grants Program and the Environmental Justice Through Pollution Prevention Grants Program.

Fellowships and other student programs: Grants, Fellowships, Research Associateships and the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program

National Clean Diesel Campaign: building diesel engine emission reduction programs across the country to improve air quality and protect public health.

Brownfields

Brownfields: existing facilities where redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived contamination.

Groundwater

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. EPA awards grants to states to establish revolving loan funds to assist public water systems with infrastructure improvements.  The program also allows states to reserve a portion of their grant to fund activities needed for source water protection and enhanced water systems management.

Stormwater

Guidance for Combined Sewer Overflow Funding Options. This document describes the options that may be available to fund the capital, debt service, and operational costs of CSO controls.

An Internet Guide to Financing Stormwater Managemen. Developed by the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in cooperation with the Watershed Management Institute, Inc., this Web site seeks to help communities find ways to pay for stormwater management projects.

Watersheds

EPA is administering Clean Water Act (CWA) grant programs in ways that encourage watershed protection. Under section 319, State, Territories, and Indian Tribes receive grant money which support a wide variety of activities including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, demonstration projects, and monitoring to assess the success of specific nonpoint source implementation projects.

Wetlands

State/Tribal/Local Wetlands Grant Program. Since 1990, this Federal grants program has supported State, Tribal, and local efforts to protect wetlands by providing funds to enhance existing programs or develop new programs.

Wetland Program Development Grants - Funding History

Five Star Restoration Training Grants

Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDG) Guidelines - specifics on eligibility, requirements, and priorities for the Wetlands Program Development Grants. [US EPA Headquarters and Regional Offices]

State/Tribal Environmental Outcome Wetland Demonstration Program Grant Pilot (WDP) - a one-time State/Tribal Environmental Outcome Wetland Demonstration Program (WDP) grant pilot, within the broader WPDG, to investigate the effectiveness of and demonstrate environmental outcomes of comprehensive State and Tribal wetland programs.

Wetland Program Development Grant (WPDG) Case Studies This document highlights successful use of WPDGs in building one or more elements of a wetlands protection program and serves as an example to others who are striving to develop comprehensive programs.

Catalogs of State Wetlands Protection Grants

Solid Waste

Financial Assurance Mechanisms for Corporate Owners and Operators of MSW Landfill Facilities.

Energy Star

State Energy Program. Provides funding to states to design and carry out their own energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

Department of Energy Financing Solutions and Incentives. DOE provides useful resources for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for the home, business, industry, utilities, and government.

Weatherization Assistance Program. Provides information on grant money available to states, which states can, in turn, award to local agencies to perform weatherization services

Green Building

EPA Green Building Funding Opportunities. Numerous sources of funding for green building are available at the national, state and local levels for homeowners, industry, government organizations and nonprofits.

Smart Growth

Grants and Funding. Find out about financial assistance available to organizations and communities.