The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is seeking information from Missouri communities on their water infrastructure funding needs.
A news release says drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects in Missouri are critical to providing essential service to Missouri citizens and businesses, but are largely underfunded.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides funds to state, local and tribal governments that may be used to make necessary investments in water and sewer infrastructure. However, most communities have water funding needs that far exceed the amount of ARPA grant funds they were directly allocated.
Governor Mike Parson has announced a commitment to offer grants from the state’s ARPA allocation for water infrastructure improvements. He will present his plan to the General Assembly at his State of the State address in January 2022.
To better understand the scope of Missouri infrastructure needs associated with wastewater, drinking water and stormwater utilities, the department is asking Missouri communities to complete a brief survey. The information gleaned from survey responses will help identify water infrastructure funding needs across the state and be used to develop state grant programs to help meet those needs.
The survey is intended to identify prospective projects that could be funded if grant funds were made available. The department is particularly interested in water infrastructure projects for which an engineering report has already been prepared, as well as projects that are difficult to finance with existing resources. Communities are encouraged to complete the survey with details about their projects, including estimated costs, available local cost share funding and the community’s demographic information.
Grant programs will favor applicants who propose projects that are necessary for compliance and public health protection, demonstrate financial need and that provide local matching funds (preferably local ARPA funds) to complete the work. Communities should consider retaining their local ARPA allocations to offer as matching funds for state ARPA grant programs. This will increase the community’s chances of being awarded funding from the state grant programs now being developed.
To submit water infrastructure projects, visit surveymonkey.com/r/MoDNR-ARPA. Surveys may be submitted until 5 p.m. November 19, 2021.
For more information, contact the Water Protection Program’s Financial Assistance Center at fac@dnr.mo.gov or (573) 751-1192.
To learn more about using ARPA funds for water infrastructure, visit State of Missouri’s Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Toolkit for Water, Wastewater and Stormwater at oa2.mo.gov/ARPAtoolkits/water-infrastructure.