The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on June 29 it will waive fees for small communities who apply for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
By waiving the WIFIA Application and Credit Processing Fees, small communities can save almost $200,000 when applying for a WIFIA loan, clearing a notable barrier to accessing funding to improve water infrastructure through this successful program.
The WIFIA program currently has approximately $11 billion in flexible financing available to support water infrastructure projects across the country, including in small and rural communities where WIFIA can finance up to 80 percent of project costs. The EPA is currently accepting letters of interest.
Eighty percent of community water systems are small groundwater-supplied water systems serving 10,000 or fewer people. Click here to learn more.