In addition to our initiative toward providing funds to local health departments and districts to upgrade and replace Home Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS), we continue to offer linked deposit funding for HSTS upgrades and sewer laterals through participating county health departments. We also will continue to make available to public entities a local loan capitalization program for HSTS improvements, lateral construction, and septic system abandonment, or for financing green infrastructure improvements on the part of local entities storm water pollution controls. Please contact DEFA staff for more information about these available programs.
The linked deposit program is a mechanism for financing certain WPCLF projects. In general, linked deposits are available to private organizations and individuals for nonpoint source projects. What makes linked deposits different from a loan for nonpoint source activities is instead of borrowing directly from the WPCLF, a linked deposit loan is made to the applicant through a private lending institution at a below-market interest rate. The reduced interest rate for the loan is supported by a WPCLF-funded certificate of deposit with the lender.
Linked deposits can be used on a wide variety of projects, such as home sewage treatment system replacements, agriculture best management practices, urban storm water runoff controls, stream corridor restoration, forestry and land development best management practices.
Linked deposits projects typically follow these basic steps. Assistance from the WPCLF – both in terms of funding and technical assistance – is available for each of these steps.
Development — A Management Plan is developed as a collaborative effort between Ohio EPA and interested local groups (e.g., county Soil and Water Conservation Districts, local health departments, etc.) or individuals working on the linked deposit project. Also, a Memorandum of Understanding is developed, then signed by Ohio EPA and the interested party(ies). Finally, to establish the “links” in the linked deposit system, local banks are contacted (either by Ohio EPA or by the interested party) and a Participating Bank Agreement between the bank, Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) is prepared.
Implementation — When the Management Plan is approved and the Memorandum of Understanding and Participating Bank Agreements are in place, individual linked deposit loans can then be awarded. The homeowner or the landowner develops an individual project plan and obtains a Certificate of Qualification from the interested party, such as the local Health Departments. With the Certificate of Qualification in hand, the homeowner or the landowner applies for a loan from one of the local participating banks.
If you would like funding for development or implementation of linked deposit projects, the first step is to submit a project nomination. Submitting a nomination is not a formal application or a commitment on your part, but rather a nomination helps Ohio EPA ensure that funds will be available for your project when you need them, if you decide to proceed. Typically, we accept nominations during the month of August, and WPCLF nomination forms are available on our website.
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To provide financial assistance for environmental infrastructure from the sale of municipal revenue bonds through loans to local governments in Ohio and from issuance of industrial revenue bonds for qualified projects in Ohio. OWDA offers variety of low interest loans for wastewater, drinking water and storm water projects.
The Ohio RCAP is a nonprofit organization that provides technical assistance to help communities address their drinking water, wastewater and community development needs. Ohio RCAP receives funding from Ohio EPA, U.S. EPA, OWDA, USDA, and the Department of Health and Human Services to provide no cost technical assistance to qualifying communities. Ohio RCAP is administered by the Great Lakes CAP.
Administers the State Capital Improvement Program which provides loan and grant assistance to municipalities for water and wastewater infrastructure.
The Office of Community Development administers Community and Economic Development programs that provide federal and state funding to communities to address a variety of needs. The Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs in Ohio. They offer many programs related to water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure funding. More information can be found on ODSA’s website (see link above).
The Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group (SCEIG) is an association of federal and state agencies, local governments and groups, service organizations, and educational institutions designed to help small communities in meeting their environmental infrastructure needs.
The Appalachian Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life.
USDA Rural Development forges partnerships with rural communities, funding projects that bring housing, community facilities, business guarantees, utilities and other services to rural America. Rural Development works with low-income individuals, State, local and Indian tribal governments, as well as private and nonprofit organizations and user-owned cooperatives.
EDA's mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. The U.S. Economic Development Administration's investment policy is designed to establish a foundation for sustainable job growth and the building of durable regional economies throughout the United States.
Within the parameters of a competitive grant process, all projects are evaluated to determine if they advance global competitiveness, create jobs, leverage public and private resources, can demonstrate readiness and ability to use funds quickly and effectively, and link to specific and measureable outcomes. To facilitate evaluation, EDA has established investment priorities, including environmentally sustainable development, which states that investments that promote job creation and economic prosperity through projects that enhance environmental quality and develop and implement green products, processes, places, and buildings as part of the green economy. This includes support for energy-efficient green technologies.
The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) offers financial and technical assistance to public or private applicants for the planning, design, and construction of a wide variety of projects to protect or improve the quality of Ohio's rivers, streams, lakes and other water resources. In general, WPCLF low interest loans to address and solve wastewater infrastructure challenges are available to public entities (villages, cities, counties and sewer districts) for the following types of projects:
- wastewater treatment plant improvements/expansion
- new/replacement sewers
- excess sewer infiltration/inflow correction
- facilities for unsewered areas including HSTS systems
- combined sewer overflow correction
Wastewater projects seeking loans typically follow these basic steps. Assistance from the WPCLF – both in terms of funding and technical assistance – is available for each of these steps.
Planning — Project planning defines the existing situation, selects the cost effective solution, identifies specific steps to implement the solution, and explains the project to the local public. The future success of a project depends on the thoroughness of the work done during this step. Planning for a wastewater project can take as little as one month for very simple projects, or up to one year or more for very complicated projects. WPCLF low interest loans can be used to finance planning activities.
Design — Once a solution is identified through project planning, you need to develop the detail plans and specifications for the work and submit the documents to Ohio EPA for review and issuance of a Permit to Install (PTI). Detailed plans and specifications can take months to develop, depending on the complexity of the project. WPCLF loan interest loans can be used to finance design activities.
Construction — Once a PTI is issued and construction bids are obtained, a WPCLF construction loan can be awarded based on the actual bid costs for the work. During the construction phase, DEFA staff can review project changes as they occur, and provide advice regarding effective use of mitigative measures. Then, for the first year after construction is complete, we will help you make sure your new facilities are operating as planned.
If you would like planning, design or construction funding, the first step is to submit a project nomination. Submitting a nomination is not a formal application or a commitment on your part, but rather a nomination helps Ohio EPA ensure that funds will be available for your project when you need them, if you decide to proceed. Typically, we accept nominations during the month of August, and WPCLF nomination forms are available on our website.
WPCLF funding is available for the capital costs of storm water activities as long as those activities protect or improve water quality. Planning, design and construction or implementation activities are all eligible. However, WPCLF funding cannot be used for ongoing personnel, operation, and maintenance costs associated with storm water control and treatment. For example, planting trees and shrubs, equipment purchases, environmental cleanups, and the development and initial delivery of education programs are capital projects that are eligible for funding, but the salary of the person operating the purchased equipment is not eligible.
If you would like planning, design or construction funding, the first step is to submit a project nomination. Submitting a nomination is not a formal application or a commitment on your part, but rather a nomination helps Ohio EPA ensure that funds will be available for your project when you need them, if you decide to proceed. Typically, we accept nominations during the month of August, and WPCLF nomination forms are available on our website.
WPCLF low interest loans for nonpoint source activities are available to both public entities (villages, cities, counties and sewer districts) and private entities (e.g, non-profit organizations, private companies, individuals, etc.) for the following types of projects:
- agriculture/silviculture improvements and best management practices
- wellhead protection
- landfill closure
- stream corridor restoration/protection
- hazardous waste cleanup (brownfields)
Nonpoint source projects seeking loans typically follow these basic steps. Assistance from the WPCLF – both in terms of funding and technical assistance – is available for each of these steps.
Planning — Project planning defines the existing situation, selects the best solution, identifies specific steps to implement the solution, and explains the project to the local public, if needed. The future success of a project depends on the thoroughness of the work done during this step. Planning for a nonpoint source project can take as little as one month for very simple projects, or up to one year or more for very complicated projects. Sometimes, other Ohio EPA divisions, such as the Division of Materials and Waste Management, the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, or the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, may be dictating the requirements for project planning. WPCLF loans can be used to finance planning activities.
Design — Once a solution is identified through project planning, you may need to develop detail plans and specifications for the work. Depending on the solution to be implemented, detailed design may not be necessary. If needed, WPCLF loans can be used to finance design activities.
Implementation — Once bids for the cost to implement the work are obtained, a WPCLF construction loan can be awarded based on the actual bid costs for the work. During the construction phase, DEFA staff can review changes that occur and provide advice as needed.
If you would like planning, design or construction funding, the first step is to submit a project nomination. Submitting a nomination is not a formal application or a commitment on your part, but rather a nomination helps Ohio EPA ensure that funds will be available for your project when you need them, if you decide to proceed. Typically, we accept nominations during the month of August, and WPCLF nomination forms are available on our website.
The Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) provides financial assistance for the planning, design and construction of improvements to community water systems and non-profit non-community public water systems. The program is jointly managed by DEFA and Ohio EPA's Division of Drinking and Ground Waters.