FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 23, 2025 – The Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN), led by the Southwest Environmental Finance Center (SWEFC) at the University of New Mexico, is proud to announce two new cooperative agreements awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These awards, totaling $17.74 million, will usher in a new wave of support for small, rural, and tribal communities working to improve their drinking water and wastewater systems across all 50 U.S. states and territories.
With this funding, the SWEFC, alongside the Environmental Finance Centers at Syracuse University (SU-EFC) and Wichita State University (EFC WSU), will lead a national partnership of university and non-profit organizations to deliver technical assistance, training, and capacity building. Together, the EFCN will work alongside hundreds of communities to secure funding, address regulatory requirements, and strengthen critical water infrastructure that protects public health and drives local economies.
Across the country, many small and rural communities continue to face serious challenges – from a rapidly retiring water workforce and chronic staffing shortages to a growing crisis of aging infrastructure, where pipe breaks and system failures are becoming more frequent and costly. These new awards will allow the EFCN to continue breaking down barriers by offering practical, tailored support that helps communities tackle these obstacles, build capacity, and move forward.
As part of this effort, Syracuse University will lead the launch of a new Rural and Tribal Outreach Bench. This initiative will make it easier to bring valuable resources and expertise directly to communities that are often hardest to reach. By building on-the-ground partnerships to provide targeted outreach, promote training opportunities, and connect local leaders with EFCN services, this approach will ensure that technical support reaches the places that need it most.
“Small drinking water and wastewater systems are the foundation of many rural communities across the U.S. They often rely on volunteers and lack the technical, managerial, and financial capabilities and resources needed to serve their customers reliably and sustainably.” said Heather Himmelberger, Director of the Southwest EFC. “We – the entire Environmental Finance Center Network team – are grateful for EPA’s continued trust in us and are excited to partner with small communities to build stronger, more viable, and compliant systems nationwide.”
“Rural communities across the United States urgently need to upgrade their wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, with the EPA estimating $625 billion in drinking water system needs and $630 billion in wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 20 years,” said Tess Clark, Assistant Director of the Syracuse University EFC. “Nearly half of public water systems serve communities of fewer than 500 people, and over 20% of U.S. households rely on septic systems – many of which are aging, undersized, or failing – posing serious risks to water quality and public health.”
“One-on-one work with small water and wastewater utilities is some of the most meaningful work we do. Our team regularly sees communities take long-awaited steps toward their planning, financial, compliance, or infrastructure goals after we spend dedicated time working with them on their unique challenges,” said Tonya Bronleewe, Director of the EFC at Wichita State University.
These awards build on more than 30 years of Environmental Finance Centers supporting communities nationwide, and over a decade of partnership through the Environmental Finance Center Network to help local governments and water systems across all 50 states and territories deliver clean, safe, and reliable water.
In addition to project leadership, this national partnership draws on the expertise of universities and nonprofit organizations across the country, including:
- Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland
- The Capacity Collaborative
- Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center at Michigan Technological University
- Moonshot Missions
- Mississippi State University Water Resource Research Institute
- Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina
- Tennessee Water Resources Research Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Colorado State University
- Morgan State University
As the nation continues to invest in infrastructure and rural economies, the EFCN remains committed to making sure that no community is left behind – no matter how small. For more information about the EFCN and its services, visit efcnetwork.org.
To learn more about EPA’s latest investments in rural water infrastructure and technical assistance, visit the following:
- EPA Announces $30 Million in Grant Funding to Strengthen Drinking Water and Wastewater Management in Rural America
- Training and Technical Assistance Program for Rural, Small, and Tribal Wastewater Systems
About the Environmental Finance Center Network
The Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) is a national collaboration of non-profit and university-based organizations creating innovative solutions to the difficult how-to-pay issues of environmental protection and infrastructure. The EFCN works collectively and independently to address these issues across the entire U.S., including the 5 territories and the Navajo Nation. By partnering with the public and private sectors, the EFCN delivers training, direct technical assistance, and practical resources that support sustainable infrastructure while bolstering efforts to manage costs.