Clients Secure $200 Million in 2019 Funding
In 2019, clients secured more than $200 million in financial assistance to help them better serve their communities.
Providing assistance with funding needs is nothing new at Freese and Nichols. FNI continues to help public entities identify funding sources for capital improvement and infrastructure initiatives. Navigating funding programs is another step in how Freese and Nichols partners with our clients to get projects done.
Here’s a quick look at client successes from 2019:
Duncan Public Utilities Authority Approved for $11.3 million – Dec. 6, 2018, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board approved the Duncan Public Utilities Authority a $11,325,000 Nonpoint Source (NPS) Loan through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program. The project commenced in February 2019 with Freese and Nichols providing design of upgrades and improvements to the Clear Creek Lake spillway structure. Freese and Nichols Account Director Jennifer Wasinger assisted with the application with Project Manager Colin Young leading the project.
Enid Municipal Authority Approved for $52.7 million – On Jan. 16, 2019, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board approved the Enid Municipal Authority for $52,700,000 loan from their Financial Assistance Program (FAP) for Phase III of the Kaw Lake Water Project. Freese and Nichols is part of the consultant team providing program management services for a 70-mile, 36-inch raw water transmission line. Freese and Nichols is also providing final design for a 10-mile segment of the pipeline. Freese and Nichols staff Scott Maughn, Clay Herndon and Jennifer Wasinger provided support for the application.
City of Brady Approved for $14.5 million: On May 9, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved more than $14.5 million in financial assistance to the City of Brady, financing construction costs associated with wastewater system improvements. Freese and Nichols previously assisted the City with gaining financial assistance for planning and design. The City will replace its existing wastewater treatment plant with a new 0.6-million-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant, raising it out of the floodplain. The funding includes a $10,435,000 low interest loan and $4,250,000 in principal forgiveness (a form of grant) as a disadvantaged community. Freese and Nichols Project Manager Coby Gee helped the City with application preparation, coordination with agency staff during technical review, and will continue to represent the City before the TWDB with ongoing program compliance assistance.
Owasso Public Works Authority Approved for $28.2 million: On June 18, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board approved a $28,170,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan to the Owasso Public Works Authority for construction of water and wastewater System Improvements. Teamed with another consultant on the design, Freese and Nichols provided overall Quality Control, design of the influent lift station and headworks facilities, as well as overall structural and process support. Freese and Nichols’ staff Clay Herndon, David Sloan and Jennifer Wasinger provided support for the application.
City of Kerrville Approved for $1 million: On June 24, TWDB approved $1 million in financial assistance for the City of Kerrville to fund planning, acquisition and design costs associated with a disaster recovery project. The funding comes in the form of principal forgiveness. Three pipelines and associated aerial crossing appurtenances were destroyed during the Central Texas floods of the Guadalupe River in the Fall of 2018. The funding will assist the City replace the infrastructure. Freese and Nichols Division Manager John New, Environmental Scientist Patrick Garnett, and Funding Specialist Mark Evans helped the City complete and submit the applications and represented the City before the TWDB during the application review process. Mark continues to assist the City with on-going program compliance.
City of Cleburne Approved for $42 million: On June 24, the TWDB approved $42 million in financial assistance to help the City of Cleburne meet future wastewater treatment capacity and water supply needs. The City will use the assistance to finance planning, acquisition, design and construction costs associated with wastewater and reuse system improvements. The funding consists of a $41 million low-interest loan and $1 million in principal forgiveness as a green project. Freese and Nichols Project Manager Nick Landes and Funding Specialist Mark Evans helped the City with applications, including justification for the Green Project Reserve loan forgiveness. Freese and Nichols is also leading the design and construction phases of the project.
City of Port Arthur Approved for $60.6M: On Nov. 21, TWDB approved $60.6 million in financial assistance to help client City of Port Arthur meet wastewater system needs. The City will use the assistance to finance construction costs associated with wastewater system improvements related to the Main Wastewater Treatment Plant. The funding consists of a $56,310,000 low-interest loan and $4.25 million in principal forgiveness as a disadvantaged community. Freese and Nichols Project Manager Murali Erat and Funding Specialist Mark Evans helped the City with application preparation, coordination with agency staff during technical review, and will continue to represent the City before the TWDB with ongoing program compliance assistance.
Roanoke County Approved for $581K: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality awarded a grant of $581,078 to Roanoke County, Virginia. The County will use the assistance for restoration of Wolf Creek at Goode Park. Freese and Nichols staff Bryan Dick, Ian Jewell and Emily Darr assisted with the application. The funding was from the Virginia Stormwater Local Assistance Fund.
Looking Ahead
2020 is already shaping up to be a great year with funding initiatives in the works for lift station improvements, treatment plant expansions, ongoing compliance, regional water systems and interceptor update projects.
We’re also very focused on disaster recovery and stormwater funding as new stormwater/flood funding sources are made available in 2020 such as the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund through the Texas Water Development Board, the Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation Program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities programs through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
For more information regarding potential funding opportunities, contact Mark Evans at mark.evans@freese.com or your Freese and Nichols project manager.