Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program (CWIFP)
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
CWIFP enables local investment in critical non-Federal dam safety projects that enhance community resilience to flooding, promote economic prosperity, and improve environmental quality by providing long-term low-cost credit assistance to non-Federal borrowers. Funding priorities are announced with the release of each Notice of Funding Availability.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- U.S. State Government
- Interstate Organization
- Federally Recognized Tribal Government
- County Government
- Local Government Consortium
- Tribal
- For-Profit Organization
- State
To be eligible for CWIFP credit assistance, a prospective borrower must be at least one of the following: A corporation A partnership A joint venture A trust A State or local governmental entity, agency, or instrumentality A tribal government or consortium of tribal governments A State infrastructure financing authority
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Applying for financing through CWIFP is a two-step process:
Preliminary Application: Borrowers will need to submit a preliminary application. After reviewing preliminary application submissions, USACE will invite projects that are reasonably anticipated to meet the eligibility requirements and for which CWIFP has sufficient budget authority to apply to the full application.
Full Application: Once invited to apply, applicants will have one year (365 days) to complete and submit a full application. The applicant will receive funding after closing of the loan consistent with the terms of the loan agreement and disbursement schedule.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 90 to 120 days
- Appeal: From 1 to 15 days
Once preliminary applications are received, USACE will take up to 90 days to evaluate the applications and invite selected applicants to submit full applications. Applicants will then have 365 days to submit a full application. Upon receipt of the full application, USACE will work with the applicant to expeditiously as possible move towards issuance of a loan.
Program details & compliance
Description
The Corps Water Infrastructure Program(CWIFP) provides long-term, low-cost credit assistance for water resource infrastructure projects (currently limited to dam safety projects that are non-federally owned, operated, and maintained). The program provides funding of up to 49% of project costs, or up to 80% of project costs for projects that serve economically disadvantaged communities. Eligible borrowers include: local, state, tribal, government entities, partnerships and joint ventures, corporations and trusts, and clean water and drinking water state infrastructure financing authorities.
Mission Categories
Primary: Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation
Other categories:
Economic Development
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
A project, submitted by an eligible borrower, must have costs reasonably anticipated to be at least $20 million and must fall under one of the following three categories per the WIFIA authorization:
1) Any project for flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, environmental restoration, coastal or inland harbor navigation improvement, or inland and intracoastal waterways navigation improvement that the Secretary determines is technically sound, economically justified, and environmentally acceptable, including:
a) A project to reduce flood damage;
b) A project to restore aquatic ecosystems;
c) A project to improve the inland and intracoastal waterways navigation system of the United States; and
d) A project to improve navigation of a coastal inland harbor of the United States, including channel deepening and construction of associated general navigation features.
2) Acquisition of real property or an interest in real property. The acquisition must either be integral to the project or would mitigate the environmental impacts of water resources infrastructure projects otherwise eligible for CWIFP credit assistance.
3) A combination of projects described in paragraphs 1 and 2, above, secured by a common security pledge, each of which is eligible for CWIFP credit assistance, for which an eligible entity, or a combination of eligible entities, submits a single application.
Required Documentation
Prospective borrowers should complete applications electronically via the online application portal located at https://CWIFPapp.usace.army.mil. Applications must be completed in the online application portal.
Once a NOFA is posted notifying the public that new funding is available, USACE will be ready to accept preliminary applications from prospective borrowers. “This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.”
Matching Requirements
CWIFP can provide credit assistance of up to 49% of total project costs, and up to 80% of total project costs for projects that serve economically disadvantaged communities. Federal funding cannot exceed 80% of total project costs.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements