JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 16, 2021 - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is extending the deadline for Missouri communities to submit information on their water infrastructure funding needs.
Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects in Missouri are critical to providing essential service to Missouri citizens and businesses, but are largely underfunded.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides funds that may be used to make necessary investments in water and sewer infrastructure to state, local and tribal governments. However, most communities have water funding needs that far exceed the amount of ARPA grant funds they were directly allocated.
Governor Mike Parson has announced a commitment to offer grants from the state’s ARPA allocation for water infrastructure improvements. He will present his plan to the General Assembly at his State of the State address in January 2022.
To better understand the scope of Missouri infrastructure needs associated with wastewater, drinking water and stormwater utilities, the department is asking Missouri communities to complete a brief survey. The information gleaned from survey responses will help identify water infrastructure funding needs across the state and be used to develop state grant programs to help meet those needs.
The survey is intended to identify prospective projects that could be funded if grant funds were made available. The department is particularly interested in water infrastructure projects for which an engineering report has already been prepared, as well as projects that are difficult to finance with existing resources. Communities are encouraged to complete the survey with details about their projects, including estimated costs, available local cost share funding and the community’s demographic information.
Grant programs will favor applicants who propose projects that are necessary for compliance and public health protection, demonstrate financial need and that provide local cost share funds to complete the work. Communities should consider retaining their local ARPA allocations to offer as cost share funds for state ARPA grant programs, likely increasing the community’s chances of being awarded state ARPA grant funding.
To submit water infrastructure projects, visit surveymonkey.com/r/MoDNR-ARPA. Surveys may now be submitted until 5 p.m. Nov. 30, 2021.
For more information, please contact the Water Protection Program’s Financial Assistance Center at fac@dnr.mo.gov or 573-751-1192.
To learn more about using ARPA funds for water infrastructure, visit State of Missouri’s Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Toolkit for Water, Wastewater and Stormwater at oa2.mo.gov/ARPAtoolkits/water-infrastructure.