Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group SCEIG Helping Small

Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group (SCEIG) Helping Small Communities meet their Water & Wastewater System Needs Begin Presentation

What is S C E I G ? An association formed in 1990 u Federal Agencies u State Agencies u Local/Regional Groups u Educational Institutions u Technical Assistance Providers u Financial & Regulatory www. sceig. org 2

Typical Communities u Smaller communities With no system, older system u Lower than MHI figure Older, un-employed populations u Lower Rates, Fewer Increases Slower than inflation u Administrative Capacity Little/no grant experience www. sceig. org 3

We usually work with u Local officials Elected and Appointed u Other Federal/State/Local Agencies Regulators and Funders u Consulting Engineers Design and Technologies u Technical Assistance Providers www. sceig. org 4

How We Operate ? u u u Coordination of Efforts Identify Most Appropriate Resources 4 Committees: Finance Committee § Training § Decentralized Wastewater Working Group § Appalachia Environmental Infrastructure Strategy Work Group § www. sceig. org 5

Finance Committee u Coordination of Effort § § § u www. sceig. org Project description Status of Project Number of customers Total estimated costs User rates Meets Bi-Monthly 6

Project Profile 7

Training Committee u Workshops for community leaders facing decisions related to environmental infrastructure Water § Wastewater § u RCAP Training, Toolkit Technical § Fiscal § Managerial § 8

The Puzzle http: //ohioline. osu. edu/b 910/index. html 9

The Financing Game u Needs, Alternatives, and Planning u Obtaining Financing and Financial Packaging u Implementing a Water System Project u Operating a Water System u Need System Upgrade 10

Ohio RCAP Board Training u u u Course 101 Utility Management for Local Officials Course 201 Financial Management for Local Officials Course 301 Asset Management, Budgeting, and Rate Setting for Local Officials www. glrcap. org/ohio 11

Management for Local Officials 12

Decentralized Working Group u Capacity Building, Consideration of Alternative Wastewater Solutions § Promote de-centralized alternatives and management options § Educate, disseminate information § Facilitate, provide resources 13

Appalachian Environmental Infrastructure Strategy Work Group u Effective delivery of technical and financial assistance from multiple sources § § Internet-based, information-sharing network Enables providers of public funds and technical assistance to easily communicate and share the status of a designated group of projects 14

Resources u u u Own-Source Revenues Financial Strategies Public Sources grants, loans § planning, construction § u Technical Assistance feasibility analysis, planning § grant preparation, management § 15

Project Planning Process u u Assess problem Analyze alternatives Determine Project Priorities Estimate Total Project Costs § u Include operation & maintenance (O&M) Involve Community 16

Ten Tips for a Successful Project 1. Coordinate with OEPA 2. Designate a Local Contact 3. Available Resources 4. Focus of Project Details 5. Review Cost Estimates 17

Ten Tips (continued) 6. Relationship with C/E firm 7. Keep Public Involved 8. Maintain Project Schedule 9. Explore Options 10. Operation & Maintenance 18

Understand Guidelines u u u u Source of Funds Stated Purpose, Criteria/Priorities Type of Assistance (grant, loan) Eligibility Affordability Time Limits, Terms, Conditions Audit/Environmental Requirements 19

Rural Development Goals u u u Loan/Grant funds for water, wastewater, and storm water projects serving most financially needy communities Facilities that are modest in size, design, and cost Reasonable user costs for rural residents, rural businesses, and other rural users http: //www. rurdev. usda. gov/oh/ 20

Advantages of RD Direct Funding u u u Low interest rates Longest fixed rate term available Availability of grants - up to 45% or 75% RD project commitment prior to design RD commitment to customer service No pre-payment penalties http: //www. rurdev. usda. gov/oh/ 21

Direct Loans and Grants 22

Division of Drinking and Ground Waters u Drinking Water Assistance Fund § Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) § Planning, Design and Construction loans Offer Financial and Managerial technical assistance to small systems via an agreement with Ohio RCAP http: //www. epa. state. oh. us/ddagw/ 23

Division of Drinking and Ground Waters u Additional grant and loan funding options § Disadvantaged Community Loan Program § Program includes some principal forgiveness and extended term loan repayment Drinking Water Emergency Loan Fund One year interest free loan up to $25, 000 for emergency repairs to the drinking water system http: //www. epa. state. oh. us/ddagw/ 24

Division of Environmental & Financial Assistance (OEPA) u Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) Low-Interest Loans § Direct Technical / Administrative Assistance § Assistance for Private Activities § Full Subsidy for stream/lake protection § http: //www. epa. state. oh. us/defa/ 25

OEPA Assistance Opportunities u Wastewater Treatment Troubleshooting u 1 -Stop Environmental Compliance Center u Water Quality Grants for Non-Point Pollution Control u Environmental Education Grants 26

ODo. D – Office of Housing & Community Partnerships u Community Development program § § u Non-entitlement counties, cities benefit low- and moderate-income persons and/or eliminate blighted areas Water and Sanitary Sewer program § § Create a safe and sanitary living environment needy communities in rural areas of Ohio as they work to comply with Environmental Protection Agency mandates http: //www. odod. state. oh. us/cdd/ohcp/ 27

ODo. D – Governor’s Office of Appalachia u Appalachian Regional Commission § u 29 Appalachian counties of Ohio Appalachian Development program § 3 Local Development Districts u BH-HV RDD OMEGA OVRDC Distressed Counties Program http: //www. firstohio. com/goa 28

ODo. D – Governor’s Office of Appalachia All project applications must meet one of the following goals: 1. 2. 3. 4. Increase job opportunities and per capita income in Appalachia to reach parity with the nation. Strengthen the capacity of the people of Appalachia to compete in the global economy. Develop and improve Appalachia’s infrastructure to make the region economically competitive. Build the Appalachian Development Highway System to reduce Appalachia’s isolation. http: //www. firstohio. com/goa 29

SCIP Projects State Capital Improvement Program funds: Roads Bridges Water Supply Wastewater Solid Waste Storm Water 30

SCIP Assistance provided in the form of: Grants Loans Credit Enhancement (aka Loan Assistance) 31

SCIP Applicants Counties Cities Townships Villages Water / Sewer Districts (6117 or 6119) 32

OPWC - Inventory 33

OPWC – Capital Improvement Plan 34

Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) u u Provides financial assistance for environmental infrastructure from the sale of municipal revenue bonds through loans to local governments in Ohio. Planning and construction loans are provided to all Ohio communities at reasonable terms and conditions. www. owda. org 35

Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) LOAN PROGRAMS u Drinking Water u Sewage and Water Pollution Control u Stormwater u Community Assistance u Interim Financing u Emergency Assistance grants www. owda. org 36

Economic Development Administration (EDA) u u Investment Focus § Support long-term, coordinated and collaborative regional economic development approaches • Support innovation and competitiveness • Encourage entrepreneurship 3 Key Investment Programs § Expand upgrade physical infrastructure (Public Works) § Design and implement strategies to diversify economies (Economic Adjustment) § Learn from leading-edge economic development best practices (Technical Assistance) www. eda. gov 37

Technical Assistance u Ohio Rural Communities Assistance Program u Ohio Rural University Program u Ohio State University Extension u Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 38

Ohio RCAP Services u u u Program Planning Facility Development Operation and Maintenance Management and Finance Source Water/Wellhead Protection Planning www. glrcap. org/ohio 39

Ohio RCAP Field Agents 40

Rural Universities Program u Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs – Miami u Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affiars – Ohio U u Center for Regional Development BGSU 41

OSU Extension u u Family and Consumer Sciences 4 -H Youth Development Agriculture and Natural Resources Community Development 42

Things to Consider u u “Strings Attached” “Play by the Rules” Complete the Requirements § Respond to Stated Criteria § u u u Technical Assistance Providers Qualifications-Based Selection Affordability/Rate-setting 43

Qualifications-Based Selection 44

QBS Process Documents 45

“Affordability Threshold” u u Annual Combined Water & Sewer Bills Compare local MHI (median household income) to Ohio MHI If lower, then affordability factor is 2. 3% § If higher, then affordability factor is 3. 0% $38, 500 (X) 2. 3% = $885. 50 annual / 12 months = $73. 79 monthly water & sewer charge § 46

“Rate Setting” u u u determine Full Cost of providing service determine Current Revenues determine O & M Expenses determine Reserve requirements determine Rate, Rate Structure Implement and Evaluate 47