(AGENPARL) – lun 30 ottobre 2023 Issued: Oct 30, 2023 (11:38am EDT)
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $120 Million WIFIA Loan to Strengthen
Climate Resilience in Florida
WASHINGTON (Oct. 27, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) announced a $120 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
(WIFIA) loan to the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This funding will
improve stormwater management and bolster climate resilience in the city’s
most flood-prone neighborhoods. Since its creation, EPA’s WIFIA program has
announced $19 billion in financing to support 114 projects that are
strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure and
creating tens of thousands of jobs.
“With this investment, Fort Lauderdale will strengthen its climate
resilience, develop innovative green infrastructure projects and upgrade
traditional stormwater systems to reduce flood risk for local residents and
businesses,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox.
“Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic $50 billion
investment in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the
availability of innovative financing options like WIFIA, EPA continues to
provide funding so communities across the country can address urgent water
infrastructure concerns.” 
The City of Fort Lauderdale’s Neighborhood Stormwater Improvements Project
will enhance climate resilience, upgrade stormwater infrastructure, and reduce
water pollution. The City of Fort Lauderdale is at elevated risk of climate
impacts, including sea-level rise, elevated groundwater, and more frequent and
severe rain events. This WIFIA loan supports implementation of green and gray
infrastructure to help manage stormwater in impacted neighborhoods, including
many with environmental justice concerns. Additionally, the city will improve
water quality in intercoastal waterways by replacing aging, corroding
pipelines that leach heavy metals and contaminants. 
“We are tremendously grateful to the EPA for granting our city this generous
loan as we recover from April’s historic flooding and prepare for a
resilient future,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.
“Neighborhoods that are hardest hit by storms including River Oaks,
Dorsey-Riverbend, Durrs, Progresso Village, Victoria Park, Melrose Manors, and
Southeast Isles will greatly benefit from the stormwater improvements these
funds will finance.”
“Fort Lauderdale continues its historic commitment to investing in climate
resiliency and stormwater mitigation,” said District 1 Commissioner John
Herbst. “This funding from our federal partners will assist us in doing more
to improve our infrastructure for the benefit of our residents and
visitors.”
“A large portion of my district is waterfront with some locations just a
short walk from the ocean,” said District 2 Commissioner Steven Glassman.
“As sea level rises, we are grateful for the support from our federal
partners in fortifying our beautiful City and will continue to work with the
EPA to keep our neighbors safe and resilient.”
“No community is left behind, including my district; 15 communities which
were hit hard during April’s historic floods,” said Vice Mayor Pam
Beasley-Pittman. “I am grateful as this much-needed support will help us
build a stronger and more resilient community for future generations.”
“I was out there with my constituents who were some of the hardest hit
during April’s historic floods, most notably in Edgewood and River Oaks, and
it was heartbreaking to see the devastation,” said District 4 Commissioner
Warren Sturman. “Being able to share this wonderful news with my district
means so much to me as we continue to recover together.”
The City of Fort Lauderdale will save approximately $26 million by financing
with a WIFIA loan. Investing in local water infrastructure will create
approximately 200 jobs. 
Learn more about EPA’s WIFIA Program and water infrastructure investments
under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Background 
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014,
the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The WIFIA
program’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water
infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance
for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an
active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in
billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.
EPA recently made the 7th round of WIFIA financing available and is currently
accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. There is $6.5
billion available through WIFIA, and $1 billion is available through SWIFIA,
which is a loan program exclusively for State infrastructure financing
authority borrowers. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA
and SWIFIA loans. Learn more about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA
loan.
In addition to WIFIA loans, there are many federal funding resources available
for communities and utilities to improve vital water and wastewater resources.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation
investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. The
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $50 billion investment in
upgrading critical water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
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