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The proposed infrastructure package has been on everyone's radar, despite uncertainty about what fine print will ultimately be passed by Congress. The new plan could be the largest investment in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in American history and bipartisan support for these efforts means that new funding opportunities for a range of stakeholders are likely.
This makes it all the more important to know how to apply for and manage funding when it becomes available, as well as understand your needs and eligibility. Navigating the world of funding can feel intimidating, but there are many resources available to help aid the process. Preparing ahead of time is the best way to make sure your organization is ready to respond to funding opportunities.
This preparation begins with a capacity development approach. Capacity development is a process that water systems can use to acquire and maintain adequate technical, managerial, and financial capacity. Programs have been established in every state to help public water systems continue to strengthen their capacity and you've likely crossed paths with training, resources, or technical assistance provided through these programs.
In this special issue newsletter, we're highlighting a selection of our favorite capacity development resources that can help systems (and those who serve them) undertake readiness efforts for potential infrastructure investment.
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Managerial capacity for short and long term planning includes:
- Ownership accountability
- Staffing and organization
- Effective external linkages
Resources:
Water System Owner Roles and Responsibilities: A Best Practices Guide
This guide can help owners and operators of public water systems serving less than 10,000 people better understand their responsibilities.
Strategic Planning: A Handbook for Small Water Systems
This handbook was designed to help operators serving less than 3,000 people develop a strategic management plan.
Manual for Assessing Public Water Supply System Capability
This manual goes through each of the components of capacity development, technical capacity, managerial capacity, and financial capacity.
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Financial capacity for short and long term planning includes:
- Revenue sufficiency
- Creditworthiness
- Fiscal management and controls
Resources:
Water Finance Clearinghouse
This portal was created by the U.S. EPA to help water operators locate helpful financial resources.
Grant (Loan) Writing 101 - Right Grant, Right Time, Right Project
This 31-slide presentation explains the numerous steps that are included in writing a grant from start to finish.
Introduction to Grant Writing
This 25-slide presentation addresses the basics of grant writing in the state of Utah.
A Financially Healthy Water System Now and Into the Future
This presentation introduces questions that should be considered regarding the financial health of your system and how to understand your system's present and future needs.
U.S. EPA Grants Management Training for Applicants and Recipients
This online training course designed by the U.S. EPA includes six modules that explain the grant life cycle process.
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Asset management is the practice of making the most of capital assets, while also delivering the best customer service. It is essential to establishing sustainable infrastructure. Building an asset management team can lead to increased knowledge management, financial efficiency, and work efficiency.
Resources:
Building an Asset Management Team
This factsheet outlines the steps to take to build a functioning asset management team.
Asset Management: A Handbook
This handbook, designed specifically for small water systems, reviews the basic concepts of asset management and lists tools to help develop a concrete plan.
Reference Guide for Asset Management Tools
This reference guide is a collection of asset management plan components and implementation tools that drinking water and wastewater systems can use.
You can find thousands of additional helpful resources in our database.
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Featured Video: Asset Management for Small Water Systems in Minnesota
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“Financial fitness is not a pipe dream or a state of mind it’s a reality if you are willing to pursue it and embrace it.”
Will Robinson
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No Community Left Behind with Water Finance Exchange’s Brent Fewell
The Water Values Podcast Episode #196
This episode of the Water Values Podcast features Bret Fewell who talks about the Water Finance Exchange, a community-based platform that helps facilitate financing for long-term solutions to local water challenges.
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Asset Management Switchboard Tool
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The Southwest Environmental Finance Center collaborated with the U.S. EPA to create a collection of documentation and tools related to Asset Management.
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Small System Asset Management Training
Hosted by Communities Unlimited
September 9th, 2021 at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time
This workshop was developed for water system staff including operators, board members, managers, and maintenance staff. The training session will provide an overview of Asset Management and review some of the tools available to water and utility staff and managers.
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Want to find additional training opportunities for operators,
including events in your area?
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Groundwater & Well Care for Public Water Systems is a free online course from WaterOperator.org. Certificates are provided and the course is currently pre-approved for 2 hours continuing education credit in a number of states.
Click here to learn more.
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WaterOperator.org is a free service, grant-funded to support small community water and wastewater operators with comprehensive resources and information in one easy-to-use place. We also serve the 800+ training, primacy, and technical service organizations, by helping operators get to their information. We aren't buying, selling, or advertising anything. You can call us at 1-866-522-2681 if you need assistance.
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