Redefining “Disadvantaged Communities” in a New Water Infrastructure Era

On May 30, 2024, from 2:30 – 4:00 PM Eastern Time, the Source Water Collaborative is hosting the 4th webinar in its Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Webinar Series titled, Redefining “Disadvantaged Communities” in a New Water Infrastructure Era. 
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created a number of opportunities for equitable outcomes for disadvantaged communities in the financing of water infrastructure. The law now requires State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs to provide 49% of BIL money to disadvantaged communities as principal forgiveness loans or as grants. This allows additional communities that have struggled to access water infrastructure funding to receive the support they need.
The SRF programs are given authority to determine what constitutes a “disadvantaged community” and this varies greatly across the country. Many states have forged ahead and have worked diligently to ensure their definitions bring about the most equitable outcome possible and reach those communities most in need. In this webinar, representatives from Utah, Delaware, and North Dakota Drinking Water SRFs will discuss how they approached redefining disadvantaged communities to meet the spirit of the BIL, the role public participation requirements had in modifying their definitions, and the degree to which these approaches have changed their programs. We will also discuss the challenges states have had in implementing the funding, and what clean water advocates can do to help states achieve the most equitable process possible for source water protection in their programs.
Expected Webinar Audience: The webinar is targeted to states, water utilities, source water protection staff, state BIL funding program staff, source water collaboratives, federal agencies, and other water stakeholders. Register here