SB36, sponsored by Sen. Whitney Westerfield, allocated $250 million of the state’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address the significant need for updated drinking water and wastewater systems across the Commonwealth. The grant program funded by SB36 has been branded the Cleaner Water Program and is administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA).
WEBINAR: Join KACo on June 21, 2021 at 11 a.m. to learn more about the Cleaner Water Grant Program, administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority.
On June 2, 2021, KIA presented to the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement about new funding for clean drinking water and wastewater grants. Download a copy of the PowerPoint presentation here.
How much grant funding is available?
A total of $250 million has been appropriated for clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky. Funding will be allocated in three ways:
- $150 million - allocated based on county population. See county-by-county allocation HERE.
- $50 million - grants to utilities to provide drinking water services to unserved, rural customers or to utilities under a federal consent decree
- $49.9 million - available to supplement a project grant for a project with a cost in excess of a county’s allocation amount and other available grant sources
How do I apply?
If you are interested in applying, coordinate with the Water Resource Coordinator for the Area Water Management Council at the Area Development District (ADD) to prepare or update your Project Profile.
Starting June 1, Water Resource Coordinators, representing Kentucky’s 15 Area Development Districts (ADD) and Area Water Management Councils, may submit project profiles through the Water Resource Information System (WRIS) portal HERE to indicate interest in funding from the Cleaner Water Grant Program. Eligible government agencies, such as city-owned water or sewer utilities, water commissions, water and sewer districts and counties, may collaborate with Coordinator and Council to submit a project.
The application process will be ongoing throughout 2021 until all funding is committed. KIA will begin reviewing projects this summer and make awards continuously throughout the year. All grant awardees must obligate the funds by December 31, 2024.
How do I get more information?
For information on grant requirements, terms or borrower eligibility please contact Sandy Williams (sandy.williams@ky.gov, 502-892-3088) of the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority.
For more information about completing a Project Profile contact your local Area Development District office or Donald Schierer (donald.schierer@ky.gov, 502-892-3485) of the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority.
