Eligibility
Cities, counties, townships, sanitary districts or other governmental subdivisions responsible for water treatment are eligible.
Applicants meeting USDA Rural Development eligibility requirements apply directly to Rural Development.
Applicants not meeting Rural Development requirements apply directly to the MPFA as part of an application for a Clean Water or Drinking Water Revolving Fund loan.
Minimum Requirements
Projects must be included on the Project Priority List from the appropriate partner agency (MDH or MPCA). Non-Rural Development projects must also be on the MPFA's Intended Use Plan. Projects must be certified by the MPCA or MDH before the MPFA may approve financing for the project.
A municipality must apply to all other grant funding sources for which the project is eligible before it may receive assistance through the Water Infrastructure Fund.
Municipalities receiving WIF funds must annually deposit a minimum of 50 cents per 1,000 gallons of flow for major rehabilitation, expansion or replacement of the treatment system at the end of its useful life.
Eligible Costs
Eligible costs are those necessary to meet a municipality's existing water treatment needs. Costs related to future residential, commercial and industrial growth are not eligible.
Assistance Amounts
For Clean Water projects, municipalities not receiving funding from Rural Development may receive a WIF grant in conjunction with a CWRF loan when the average per household system costs exceed 1.4% of median household income.
For Drinking water projects, municipalities not receiving funding from Rural Development may receive a WIF grant in conjunction with a DWRF loan when the average per household system costs exceed 1.2% of median household income.
The maximum WIF grant may not exceed $10 million or $20,000 per connection, whichever is less.
Funds Reserved
Each fiscal year the MPFA identifies potentially eligible projects based on their ranking on the Priority Project List from either Minnesota Pollution Control Agency or Minnesota Department of Health, and available project information.
Funds are reserved in priority order when projects receive a funding commitment from USDA Rural Development or submits plans and specifications to the MPCA or MDH. Funds are reserved in an amount based on the project cost estimate at the time the funds are appropriated and awarded in an amount based on that estimate or the as-bid costs, whichever is less.
Disbursement
Funds are disbursed monthly, as costs are incurred.
