Chicago Construction News staff writer
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new funding opportunity for communities that don’t have wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities.
As part of the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, $20 million is available for grants through the Unsewered Communities Construction Grant Program. Proposals are being accepted for projects that will provide wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities for areas where there are currently none.
A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted to the Illinois EPA website
Applications for the UCPGP program will be accepted September 12, 2022 through 12:00 PM (CST) on Nov. 15.
Applicants must pre-qualify through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Grantee Portal.
“No community should face the dangerous effects of untreated or mismanaged wastewater,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. “With IEPA’s support, local projects can rebuild sewer and wastewater infrastructure, creating construction and engineering jobs, and securing safe and clean water for their communities.”
In 2020, $100 million was approved over five years and the first round funded projects in five communities, which were announced in December of 2021.
“We know our small and disadvantage communities are working to provide a safe and healthy environment for their residents. For many of those communities, obtaining funding to develop appropriate wastewater collection and treatment systems is the primary hurdle,” Kim said.
UCCGP forms and information is available here.
