On January 31, 2022, the White House released a comprehensive guidebook on the funding programs in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the bipartisan infrastructure package.
“This guidebook is another step in our effort to be as transparent as possible, so you know what to apply for, who to contact, and how to get ready to rebuild,” according to Mitch Landrieu, White House Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator. “After all, most of the building will actually be done by state, Tribal, and local government partners.”
The Guidebook to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments, and Other Partners provides a section by section review of the infrastructure classes that will receive funding through IIJA. The guidebook contains 13 chapters grouping Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs by issue area.
This includes a section on the water infrastructure funding that received appropriations in IIJA, as well as a link to a spreadsheet of funding levels for each state through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
The guidebook states, “The majority of the water funding will move through the State Revolving Fund programs. Water utilities, non-profits, drinking water providers, and other potential recipients should begin to work with local stakeholders and state program contacts to identify potential projects, with a focus on prioritizing projects serving disadvantage communities.”
More Guidance To Come
The document also states that this is the first version of this product. In the coming weeks, the White House plans to publish subsequent versions to keep people up to date on the latest deadlines and details.
The guidebook also notes that nothing it contains constitutes official guidance on any law, program, policy, application process, or funding eligibility. It advises that applicants consult official agency or program specific guidance for additional information.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that guidance to the state infrastructure financing agencies that manage the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds will be issued in the coming weeks. EPA guidance will provide insights on the kinds of infrastructure projects that will be prioritized and any requirements to receive funding, such as Buy America and environmental justice goals. IIJA also authorized the creation of various wastewater and stormwater infrastructure funding programs that still need to receive congressional appropriations to be established.
