Climate-Resilient Water Infrastructure in the Great Lakes

ASAP is Excited to Support Delta Institute as an EPA Region 5 Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for Water Infrastructure

We are excited to announce that ASAP Is teaming up with Delta Institute as a partner in an Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for EPA’s Region 5 alongside the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and Current Water (Current), focusing specifically on Category 2: Regional Water Infrastructure. We’re excited to support the delivery of targeted technical assistance to local governments, states, Tribal governments, and non-governmental organizations to protect public health, safeguard the environment, and advance environmental justice. 

The EFC will support historically underserved communities that have struggled to access federal water infrastructure funding, improving these communities’ access to resources for water infrastructure improvements. Over the next five years, the EFC plans that more than 200 communities will benefit from clean water and drinking water finance technical assistance services, specifically those that are disproportionately impacted by climate change and have previously lacked funding access.

ASAP’s role will include: 

• Co-developing strategies for effective implementation of EFC objectives.
• Recruiting and supporting TA providers. 
• Identifying potential communities to receive TA.

Here are a few ways ASAP Members can get involved:

1. Help us identify communities within EPA Region 5 that would benefit from technical assistance leading to applications for State Revolving Funds (SRF). You may direct those communities to the EFC to help answer their initial questions, or send any questions to ASAP and Delta Institute.
2. Help us identify opportunities to connect with communities in the near future, e.g. through upcoming community meetings or other gatherings.
3. Share your insights on the types of Water TA communities need to successfully apply for SRF.
4. Help us identify individuals and organizations interested in becoming TA providers through the EFC.
5. Share your insights on how to effectively structure technical assistance to engage to communities at multiple levels, center lived experiences and grassroots activities, and address historical and current lack of access to technical services.