The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) passed in March represents the largest potential federal funding investment in water and sewer infrastructure since the original EPA Construction Grant program in the 1970s and 1980s. This $1.3 TRILLION stimulus bill directs more than $8.9 BILLION in state and local funding to North Carolina.
One of the four primary eligible uses of these fund are investments in water and sewer infrastructure. While the ARP has the potential to fill the need for infrastructure grant funds, there will be substantial challenges in meeting the timing and other requirements for the state, local governments, engineers, and contractors to maximize the utilization of these funds.
This presentation will cover the federal legislation and all updated guidance, including best practices to prepare for the receipt and spending of funds and the requirements for ongoing administration and reporting. There will also be a discussion of other pending federal infrastructure funding and how it may depend on the success of the ARP.
Seth Robertson is currently the Vice President of Funding & Asset Management at WithersRavenel. He spent more than a decade with the State of North Carolina managing critical-need water and wastewater infrastructure programs, including the administration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In his presentation Maximizing American Rescue Plan Investment in Water and Sewer Infrastructure, he will share his decades of experience in obtaining and using state and federal funds to discuss how you can successfully manage ARP funding for your utility.
This preview is part of our AWWA Speaker Preview series, which highlights the WithersRavenel staff invited to speak at the 2021 NC AWWA-WEA Spring Symposium.