It is my pleasure to introduce the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority's (MPFA) newly appointed executive director, Steve Walter. Before assuming this role, Steve was the MPFA's Chief Financial Officer. He has worked with the MPFA since its inception in 1987, starting as an Accounting Officer.

Steve brings with him a wealth of experience in public finance, accounting and administration. A Minnesotan native, he majored in Accounting at the University of Minnesota and has worked with the State since 1984.

Steve is responsible for an innovative approach MPFA is taking with its most recently added program, Lead Service Line Replacement. This will make this important program more streamlined and effective as MPFA works in strong partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health to meet the state's goal of replacing all lead service lines by 2033.

I look forward to working closely with Steve as he takes up leadership of the MPFA, where he will spearhead the agency's outreach and communication with the communities we serve around Minnesota. The MPFA is a multi-agency authority that provides municipal financing expertise and infrastructure financing programs to enhance the environmental and economic vitality of the state.

Steve will lead the MPFA in managing the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and other infrastructure financing programs. The authority's programs give grants and low-interest loans to communities throughout Minnesota to fund high-priority wastewater and safe drinking water systems. It helps finance infrastructure that might otherwise be unaffordable to communities if they had to borrow money for the projects at market rates.

Funding from the MPFA is a vital resource for many towns statewide and is an investment with an impact felt long after project completion. Since 1987, the MPFA has financed $6.9 billion in public infrastructure projects, impacting most every community in Minnesota. In the most recent fiscal year, the MPFA awarded over $360 million to 99 wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects across the state.