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Funding made available through Senate File 512; First legislation signed into law by Gov. Reynolds
DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds today announced that 23 communities have been awarded a total of $9 million in grants to advance water quality projects. The funding is made available through the Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program, which was created as a part of Senate File 512, the first legislation signed into law by Governor Reynolds in January 2018.

“THE FIRST BILL I SIGNED INTO LAW AS GOVERNOR IN 2018 CREATED A LONG-TERM FUNDING SOURCE TO ASSIST COMMUNITIES IN UPGRADING THEIR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE,” SAID GOV. REYNOLDS.
“This program has done just that, with a total of more than $18 million In investments leveraging more than $375 million in additional funds invested in critical water quality infrastructure projects across the state.”

The 2022 program received 60 applications requesting more than $24 million in water quality grants. A committee consisting of designees from the Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship judged the Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program applications based on the program’s priorities.

Priorities for grant awards include: Disadvantaged communities; Projects that will significantly improve water quality in their watershed; Projects that use alternative wastewater treatment technologies; Communities with the highest sewer or water rates; Projects that use technology to address nutrient reduction; and projects to address improvements to drinking water source waters.

The program receives a portion of the tax on metered water and had more than $9 million available for allocation in 2022. Grants will be awarded through the program on an annual basis through 2039.

The Wastewater program has assisted a total of more than 50 communities through a total of nearly $18 million in water quality grants since the first awards were granted in 2019. The program is expected to have approximately $6 million in available funds in 2023 based on the portion of tax that will be allocated to the program.

The award list is available here.

DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds today announced a total of $4 million in grant awards to assist the communities of Burlington, Grinnell, Keokuk, Mason City and Washington in the rehabilitation of a total of 131 owner-occupied and rental homes through the Home Rehabilitation Block Grant Pilot Program.

“I’VE BEEN STEADFAST IN MY COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT EVERY IOWAN CAN LIVE NEAR THEIR WORK,” SAID GOV. REYNOLDS. “TO MEET THAT GOAL, WE MUST NOT ONLY BUILD NEW HOUSING BUT WE ALSO MUST PRESERVE OUR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK."

“Today’s investments will give new life to more than 130 aging homes so that Iowa families can be proud to call them home for many years to come,” said Reynolds.

“The City of Mason City anticipates preserving a total of nearly 50 owner-occupied and rental homes through this investment,” said Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel. “One of our top goals for 2023 is neighborhood flourishing and this award will give that goal a huge boost. I commend Gov. Reynolds for her transformational investment in housing that supports our efforts to make our communities the choice for Iowans to live, work and thrive.”

The pilot program had $4 million in eligible funds available and received applications totaling nearly $4.5 million. Applications were scored on a competitive basis and included criteria such as housing need, impact, community readiness, public/private partnerships and additional funds leveraged. The projects awarded funding are leveraging an additional $3.3 million in additional funding.

Grant Award Recipients:

Award details, including project descriptions are available here.

The Home Rehabilitation Block Grant Pilot Program was created as a part of Gov. Reynolds’ $100 million investment to increase the supply of housing options and protect and expand housing opportunities for Iowans to live in or near the communities where they work. The funds are made available through Federal American Rescue Act State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds.

Funding made available through Senate File 512; First legislation signed into law by Gov. Reynolds

Des Moines – Governor Reynolds today announced that the communities of Adel, Auburn, Boone, Britt, Carlisle, Chariton, Winneshiek County – Festina, Grandview, Hartford, Indianola, Lake Park, McGregor, Mount Ayr, Perry, Treynor and Wheatland have been awarded a total of $6.2 million in grants to advance water quality projects. The funding is made available through the Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program, which was created as a part of Senate File 512, the first legislation signed into law by Governor Reynolds in January 2018.

“Investing in water quality infrastructure within our state has been a top priority of my administration since day one,” said Gov. Reynolds. “The first bill I signed into law as Governor in 2018 created opportunities for communities to upgrade their water infrastructure and I’ve remained steadfast in my commitment to building upon that.”

The Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program receives a portion of the tax on metered water and had more than $6 million available for allocation in 2021. Grants will be awarded through the program on an annual basis through 2039.

The 2021 program received 18 applications requesting more than $6.5 million in water quality grants.
A committee consisting of designees from the Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship judged the Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program applications based on the program’s priorities.

Priorities for grant awards include: Disadvantaged communities; Projects that will significantly improve water quality in their watershed; Projects that use alternative wastewater treatment technologies; Communities with the highest sewer or water rates; Projects that use technology to address nutrient reduction; and projects to address improvements to drinking water source waters.

The Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program has assisted a total of 33 communities through a total of nearly $9 million in water quality grants since the first awards were granted in 2019. The program is expected to have approximately $6 million in available funds in 2022 based on the portion of tax that will be allocated to the program.

View 2021 Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program Grant Awards