The New Hampshire Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs will be hosting the 2021 Water Infrastructure Financing Webinar Series May 4-13, 2021. The webinar will include a series of 1 hour sessions focusing on funding program updates and educational opportunities.
The intended audience includes current/future loan recipients, community/financial decision makers, public works personnel city/town managers, commissioners, selectmen, municipal and regional planners, consultants/engineers, operators, and other interested parties.
Please see the Agenda or session descriptions below to access the registration links for each session.
Credits: 1 Total Contact Hour (TCH)/ 0.1 Continuing Education Credit (CEU) per session up to 5 hour maximum.
All sessions will be through the GoToTraining web-hosted online training service. The GoToTraining Attendee Guide and information on GoToTraining System Requirements can be found at the following links:
https://support.goto.com/training/att-guide
https://support.goto.com/training/help/system-requirements-for-attendees-g2t010003
All participants are strongly encouraged to review the Attendee Guide and System Requirements well in advance of the Webinar Series.
Sessions
Day 1- May 4, 2021
The New Hampshire Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) Programs will kick-off the 2021 Water Infrastructure Financing Webinar series with welcome remarks, and program updates– including the 2021 pre-application process, funding allocations, website updates, and more from the CWSRF and DWSRF.
“The ABCs of Borrowing” Stephen Buckley from the New Hampshire Municipal Association will present an introduction to essential budgeting laws for cities and towns: fundamentals of municipal borrowing, limits and purposes of borrowing, how bonds and notes are approved, procedural requirements, role of the official budget committee, warrant article language, revolving loan fund statutes, and do’s and don’ts.
Day 2- May 5, 2021
“DWSRF Small Systems Session” This session will focus specifically on small drinking water systems (serving less than 1,000) and the DWSRF process. Taking on a drinking water infrastructure project and navigating the process to do so can be overwhelming for small water systems typically run by a group of volunteers. The NHDES Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau (DWGB) Small System Section and DWSRF Program staff are dedicated to helping small systems successfully complete DWSRF funded projects to provide customers with safe, reliable, efficient, and affordable drinking water. During the morning session, DWBG staff will provide small public water system participants with an overview of the funding program and application process from application submittal, project design, bid, construction through construction completion, and disbursement process.
9:00-9:30 Pre-Application, Final Application, Loan Documents, Disbursements
9:30-10:00 Federal Requirements (Environmental Review, Davis Bacon, American Iron & Steel, Disadvantaged Businesses)
10:00-11:00 Overview of Design, Bid, Construction & Business Plan Project Requirements
“Small Systems DWSRF-Optional Afternoon Session” The afternoon Small Systems Session will be a “hands-on” workshop for those interested in starting their pre-application for the 2021 round, to learn how to best position their project for the funding priority ranking. We will spend time on the Water System Business Plan for small systems to justify their Asset Management planning efforts, and will discuss how to document to system’s current or planned energy and water efficiency efforts to qualify for the “green” ranking points.
Day 3- May 6, 2021
Sharon Nall, NHDES Wastewater Engineering Bureau, and Mark Toussaint, Eversource Energy will be presenting. There is a blend of federal, state and efficiency funds available to help you implement energy efficiency projects at your wastewater and drinking water facilities. Sharon and Mark will help identify opportunities to save and help you learn how to access the funding sources for your projects.
“Checking the Boxes: DWSRF & DWGTF Asset Management” Luis Adorno, NHDES, Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau, will present. This presentation is primarily intended to provide clarity on the Asset Management requirements for the projects funded through the DWSRF and DWGTF. Another goal of the presentation is to provide examples on how to go beyond the requirements and utilize this as an opportunity to implement an entire asset management program for your organization.
Day 4 – May 11, 2021
“Green Project Reserve” James Bourne with EPA’s Region 1 office will provide attendees with information to assist in determining which Wastewater and Stormwater projects may have the potential to qualify for GPR. The four specific GPR categories will be examined: green infrastructure, water efficiency, energy efficiency, and environmentally innovative. Examples of the types of projects and activities that fit within each category will be provided.
“Stormwater and Infrastructure and Planning, Oh My!” Deborah Loiselle, NHDES Watershed Management Bureau, will provide attendees the opportunity to learn what New Hampshire communities are doing with their CWSRF Stormwater loans and how your community can take advantage of this loan opportunity. An overview of the types of potential projects, essential contacts, and process will be presented.
Day 5 – May 13, 2021
“PFAS Remediation Loan Fund” Amy Rousseau, NHDES PFAS Response Administrator, will present on The Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Remediation Loan Fund, a low interest loan program with need based loan forgiveness and contingent reimbursement available to qualifying community and non-profit non-transient non-community drinking water systems for addressing PFAS contamination. Specifics of the loan program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply will be discussed.
“Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund (DWGTF) Program Updates” Erin Holmes, NHDES DWGTF Administrator, will provide an overview of the application process for the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund and discuss what “project readiness” means to the Drinking Water and Groundwater Advisory Commission and how it influences their selection of projects for funding.
Please contact us if you have questions or visit our website at: https://www.des.nh.gov/business-and-community/loans-and-grants/state-revolving-loan-fund
Questions/Contact: Kathleen Bourret, CWSRF at: Kathleen.Bourret@des.nh.gov and/or Emily Nichols, DWSRF at: Emily.Nichols@des.nh.gov