RCAP Selected by EPA to Host Nationwide SRF Infrastructure Financing and Training Workshops
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 8, 2024)– The Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) has been awarded a $1.085 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to plan, prepare, and provide technical support for four annual, three-day National SRF Infrastructure Financing and Training Workshops across the nation.
These dynamic workshops will bring together hundreds of state SRF program officials, financial experts, technical assistance providers, and EPA representatives from across the country to dive deep into the latest developments in the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. Attendees will explore newer initiatives like the Justice40 program, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and compliance with requirements under the Build America Buy America Act (BABA). The workshops will also highlight best management practices, showcase innovative approaches to infrastructure financing, and foster peer-to-peer learning on critical issues like improving water and wastewater system sustainability and resiliency.
“We are honored to continue partnering with EPA on this important initiative,” said RCAP Chief Programs Officer Sarah Buck. “As a national leader in rural water and wastewater technical assistance, we are uniquely positioned to deliver world-class training that will empower SRF programs to maximize their impact and better serve disadvantaged communities across the country, with an emphasis on our bailiwick, which is small, rural, and Tribal.”
Each annual workshop will be hosted in a different region of the U.S., attracting an estimated 300-350 attendees – approximately 90% from state SRF programs and 10% from the federal level as well as other key players in the industry. Participants will engage in expertly crafted sessions, network with peers, and visit local infrastructure projects.
The workshops are expected to drive significant environmental and public health benefits, including increased awareness and knowledge of infrastructure financing best practices among attendees, improved utilization of SRF funds (especially in serving disadvantaged communities), and improved overall health through SRF-funded water quality improvements.
RCAP has received EPA funding for over 30 years and has a strong record of completing all administrative and reporting requirements. During the past three years, EPA has awarded RCAP eight assistance agreements totaling over $34 million. RCAP has consistently delivered on previous EPA agreements, surpassing deliverable goals, and achieving outcomes, including on-time and high-quality reporting that meets EPA requirements.
RCAP’s unparalleled expertise, nationwide reach, and deep relationships with SRF programs and local stakeholders make them the ideal partner to deliver this transformative training series.
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About RCAP
RCAP is a national non-profit network providing opportunity, assistance, and practical guidance to small communities in all fifty states, the U.S. territories, and on Tribal lands to ensure access to safe drinking water, sanitary waste disposal, and economic prosperity for rural America. RCAP and its more than 350 technical assistance providers work together with rural communities and partners across the country to elevate rural voices and build long-term local capacity to improve quality of life, starting at the tap.
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