COSCDA Program
Manager’s Conference
Rural Infrastructure Projects Session
The Small Community Water Infrastructure Exchange,
helping water funding officials strengthen
the assistance provided to
small and/or rural communities with their
environmental infrastructure needs.
Steve Grossman
Executive Director
Ohio Water Development Authority
March 13, 2012
Outline
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Small Community Water Infrastructure Exchange
Ohio’s Small Community Environmental
Infrastructure Group
Nevada Water Wastewater Revision Committee
Texas Water Infrastructure Coordinating Committee
SCWIE Current Activities
Statewide Support Groups
With A Dedicated Website
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Arizona – Rural Water Infrastructure Committee
Indiana – Environmental Infrastructure Working Group
Montana – Water, Wastewater & Solid Waste Action Coordinating Team
New York – NYS Water & Sewer Infrastructure Co-Funding Initiative
North Carolina – UNC Environmental Finance Center
Ohio – Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Exchange
Texas – Texas Water Infrastructure Coordination Committee
Washington – Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council
West Virginia – West Virginia Infrastructure & Jobs Development Council
http://www.sceig.org/sceig0001.asp?pagename=home
http://rwic.azwifa.gov/
http://www.ruralindiana.org/EIWG.php
http://dnrc.mt.gov/cardd/ResourceDevelopment/wasact/Default.asp
http://nycofunding.org/dotnetnuke/Default.aspx?tabid=68
http://www.efc.unc.edu/projects/infrastructurecoordination.htm
http://www.twicc.org/
http://www.infrafunding.wa.gov/
http://www.wvinfrastructure.com/
Statewide Support Groups
Without A Dedicated Website
Alabama
Minnesota
Arkansas
Missouri
California
Nebraska
Colorado
Nevada
Delaware
New Jersey
Florida
New Mexico
Georgia
North Dakota
Idaho
Oklahoma
Illinois
Oregon
Iowa
Pennsylvania
Kansas
South Carolina
Kentucky
South Dakota
Maine
Utah
Maryland
Vermont
Massachusetts
Wisconsin
Michigan
Wyoming
States Without A Statewide
Support Group
Alaska
Connecticut
Hawaii
Louisiana
Mississippi
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Virginia
Helping Small Communities meet
their Water & Wastewater
System Needs
What is S C E I G ?
An association formed in 1990
 Federal Agencies
 State Agencies
 Local/Regional Groups
 Educational Institutions
 Technical Assistance Providers
 Financial & Regulatory
www.sceig.org
Typical Communities
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Smaller communities
With no system, older system
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Lower than average MHI figures
Older, un-employed populations
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Lower Rates, Fewer Increases
Slower than inflation
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Administrative Capacity
Little/no grant experience
www.sceig.org
We usually work with
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Local officials
Elected and Appointed
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Other Federal/State/Local Agencies
Regulators and Funders
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Consulting Engineers
Design and Technologies
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Technical Assistance Provider
www.sceig.org
How We Operate ?
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Coordination of Efforts
5 Committees:
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Finance
Training
Decentralized Wastewater Working Group
Appalachia Environmental Infrastructure
Strategy Work Group
Small Systems Working Group
www.sceig.org
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Coordination of Efforts
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Quarterly Steering Committee Meetings
Goals Statement
Yearly Objectives
Legislative Briefing
Outreach Efforts
Finance Committee
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Meets Bi-Monthly with
Community Leadership and
Consulting Engineer
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www.sceig.org
Project description (Download two
page form at www.sceig.org)
Status of Project
Number of customers
Total estimated costs
User rates
Source of Funding for Counties with Populations
ODOD / Governor's Office of
Under 80,000
Appalachia - Federal Funds
ODOD / Governor's Office of
2000-2005
Appalachia - State Funds
ODOD / Community Development
Block Grant
Ohio Public Works Commission
Grant & Credit Enh
OWDA Emergency Relief
US Army Corp of Engineers
USDA / Rural Development Grant
USDC / Economic Development
USEPA Federal Appropriations
USHUD Community Development
Block Grant - Fed
Drinking Water Assistance
Water Pollution Control Loan
ODOD / Water & Sewer Rotary
Loan
Ohio Public Works Commission
Loan
OWDA Community Assistance
Loan
OWDA Local Economic
Development Loan
USDA / Rural Development Loan
& Loan Guarantee
OWDA Construction Loan
Municipal Bonds
Training Committee
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Workshops for community leaders facing
decisions related to environmental
infrastructure
Water
 Wastewater
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RCAP Training, Toolkit
Technical
 Fiscal
 Managerial
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Ohio RCAP Board Training
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Course 101
Utility Management for Local Officials
Course 201
Financial Management for Local Officials
Course 301
Asset Management, Budgeting, and
Rate Setting for Local Officials
CUPSS Training
Check Up Program For Small Systems
www.glrcap.org/ohio
Decentralized Working Group
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Capacity Building,
Consideration of Alternative
Wastewater Solutions
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Promote de-centralized alternatives and
management options
Educate, disseminate information
Facilitate, provide resources
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Appalachian Environmental
Infrastructure Strategy Work Group
Effective delivery of technical and financial
assistance from multiple sources
Internet-based,
information-sharing network
 Enables providers of public funds
and technical assistance to easily
communicate and share the status
of a designated group of projects
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Small Systems Working Group
Addressing the challenges to bring cost
effective solutions for wastewater collection
and treatment for the “very” small
communities in the areas of:
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Community Leadership
Appropriate Technology
Funding
Technical Assistance
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Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program
Ohio State University Extension
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Ohio Rural University Program
Infrastructure for Nevada
Communities
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Formed in the late 1990s
Discuss troubled systems
and to find solutions
Collaborate & Coordinate
To promote efficient application of
technical and financial assistance
NWWRC
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Nevada Water Wastewater Review
Committee Creation
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Development of joint funding application
form stalled
Focus on small rural communities
Joint “pre-application” determined to be a
viable alternative
NWWRC
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NWWRC Purpose
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Intended to assist communities navigate
multiple Agencies’ application processes
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Improve communication
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Avoid duplication
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Encourage cooperation
NWWRC
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NWWRC Process
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Project Proposal Form (pre-application) for
State Grants, DW/CW SRF, USDA, CDBG
Committee meets within 3-4 weeks of
receiving application
NWWRC recommends most appropriate
funding for applicant
Applicant then completes individual Funding
Agency’s application(s)
NWWRC
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NWWRC Process – Correspondence
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NWWRC prepares comments pertinent to
the technical, operational, or financial aspect
of the project proposal
Recommendation of most appropriate funding
Substantive comments must be resolved prior
to receiving a recommendation from the
NWWRC
NWWRC
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NWWRC Benefits
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Helps small communities identify funding
opportunities & navigate the process
Project Applicants know we are talking with
each other – reduces “answer shopping” and
the Agencies get consistent “stories” because
they know we compare notes
Agencies can help craft loan/grant packages
Texas Background
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As of 2009, at least 17 years attempting
to introduce and maintain a coordinated
funding group
Consistent Issues
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Not legislatively organized/required
Ownership/responsibility
Relationships not solid/mistrust
Lack common goals and objectives
Coordinating Group Formation
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Series of meetings held November 2009 through April
2010 at the request of EPA-Region 6 and facilitated by
the New Mexico Environmental Finance Center
Purpose
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“Discuss options for funding and other assistance to small
water systems in the state of Texas that are not in
compliance with the arsenic and uranium standards of the
Safe Drinking Water Act”
Evolution of Purpose and Outcome
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Based on state interest and needs
Formed Texas Water Infrastructure Coordination Committee
First formal meeting of TWICC on August 18, 2010
TWICC Defined
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Mission Statement
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“TWICC will collaborate to identify water and
wastewater infrastructure and compliance
issues and to seek affordable, sustainable and
innovative funding strategies for the protection
of public health and the efficient use of
government resources in Texas”
TWICC Defined
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Coordination group with four sub-committees
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Finance
Targeting/Priorities
Marketing/Outreach
Uniform Standards
First Year TWICC Activities
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Accomplishments
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Consistent attendance and interest
Developed “Financial Program Comparison Tool”
Established a project database
Developed website (www.twicc.org)
Gave presentation and hosted work session
Developed “Project Profile Form”
Buy in from EPA and public
Met/corresponded with public
Challenges
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Reorganization and reduction in force
SFY 2012 TWICC Goals
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Foster better working relationships
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Prioritize outreach to systems impacted by compliance and drought issues
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Establish communication methods based on system needs
Develop process steps to ensure consistency
Determine frequency based on method utilized
Uniform Standards
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Recommendations from EPA Region 6 and TCEQ
Formalize procedures for Finance Sub-committee
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Internally- between TWICC member organizations
Externally- with water and wastewater systems
Establish guidance for Multi-Agency Environmental Review
Review procurement requirements and Engineering Feasibility Report elements
Marketing and Outreach
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Provide additional presentations
Develop TWICC logo
SCWIE 2012 Activities
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Standardize the format and reporting requirements
of the Preliminary Engineering Report
Ascertain the current level of activity of statewide
support groups
Continue to share experiences on the development
and implementation of well-supported capacity
development strategy to ensure that small systems
acquire and maintain the technical, financial and
managerial ability to provide safe drinking water