Federal Grant Award Summary

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy received a $36.055 million capitalization grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program (CFDA 66.468), awarded April 1, 2026, with a completion date of March 31, 2031. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this award enables the state to provide low-interest rate financing to eligible public water systems for planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure projects, with a primary focus on lead service line identification, replacement, and associated activities. The DWSRF serves as a sustainable, long-term financing mechanism that supports public health protection objectives under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

Beyond direct project financing, the award supports set-aside activities including technical assistance for small water systems, operator certification programs, and source water protection initiatives. These complementary services are designed to build the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of participating public water systems throughout Nebraska. The state will distribute subawards to eligible recipients for specific infrastructure projects, with anticipated deliverables encompassing project financing, planning, design, and construction activities that ultimately benefit citizens across the state through improved drinking water safety and infrastructure resilience.