The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved three Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans amounting to $240 million. These loans are aimed at enhancing water infrastructure in Northwest Oregon, the City of Medford, Oregon, and King County, Washington. The WIFIA program is designed to finance infrastructure improvements while ensuring loan repayments benefit the U.S. Treasury.
Jess Kramer, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, said that "EPA’s WIFIA program is actively working to accelerate investments in water infrastructure through multiple avenues." She added that the program has strengthened since its first loan under the Trump administration and remains committed to bolstering essential water services.
The newly approved loans include a $65 million loan for King County, Washington, to modernize its wastewater system. This project will replace and build new components of the system, extending its useful life by 50 years and supporting over $1 billion in investments. Medford, Oregon, will receive a $147 million loan to improve infrastructure for 166,000 residents and protect the Rogue River's water quality while creating over 900 jobs. A $28 million loan will support Northwest Oregon's Rockwood Water People’s Utility District in improving drinking water reliability for 66,000 people.
In November, EPA announced a Notice of Funding Availability for 2025 with $6.5 billion available through WIFIA and an additional $550 million through State WIFIA (SWIFIA). The agency is currently accepting letters of interest for these programs. Priority areas include ensuring safe drinking water, addressing pollution, supporting local water priorities, fostering innovation in the sector, and promoting economic growth.
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, WIFIA provides long-term credit assistance for significant projects nationwide. It aims to save communities money through competitive interest rates and flexible financing options while accelerating investment by partnering federal funding with state and private investments. To date, WIFIA has announced $22 billion in financing for over 140 projects across the country.
