The Division of Water Infrastructure will conduct its Spring 2026 Funding Application Training Feb. 23 - March 4 at three locations statewide, including a March 4 virtual option that will be recorded and posted on the Division’s website.
Spring 2026 funding applications must be received by the Division no later than 5 p.m. on April 30, 2026. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend training. There is no cost to register. For this funding round, low-interest loans and grant funding for drinking water and wastewater projects are available.
Training will cover information on funding programs, how to complete the application package, Priority Rating Systems, and funding timelines. Training will include instructions on how to apply for multiple funding programs, including funding for drinking water and wastewater construction projects, funding to evaluate options to address PFAS contamination, funding to identify and replace lead service lines, and Viable Utility Reserve grants. Additional information related to the various funding programs will also be provided.
Schedule and Locations for Spring 2026 Application Training Sessions
RSVP by registering online prior to the desired session. All training sessions contain the same content. Application materials will be available on the Division website before training begins.
Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Hickory, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Western Piedmont Council of Governments
1880 2nd Avenue, NW, Hickory, NC 28601
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Greenville, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Greenville Utilities Water Treatment Plant
1721 Waterway Road, Greenville, NC 27834
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Research Triangle Park, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Central Pines Regional Council (Longleaf Room)
4307 Emperor Boulevard, Suite 110, Durham, NC 27703
A virtual option is also available on this day only.
Webex link for online participation:
https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=mb55fe9c1162cf5434bc37a86d9cbf903
(Password: NCDWI, Call-In #: 415.655.0003, Access Code: 2426 093 0718).
A recording of the training will be available on the Division’s website.
Funding Availability for Spring 2026 Applications
Applications will be considered for the following programs and will be covered during the training sessions:
Applications for drinking water and wastewater construction projects will be considered for funding from the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure program, the State Revolving Funds, including Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds, and the Viable Utility Reserve. Local government units and nonprofit water/wastewater corporations may apply for funding. Investor-owned drinking water utilities may apply for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
- The Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure (CDBG-I) program will provide grants to fund projects in areas that meet the U.S. Housing and Urban Development low-to-moderate income threshold. CDBG-I is available to non-entitlement municipalities and counties and offers grants up to $3 million per applicant every three years.
- The State Revolving Funds (SRFs) will provide low-interest loans (including loans that may be partially forgiven) for drinking water and wastewater projects. In addition to the SRF funds typically available, this round will include the use of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds, IIJA Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) funds and IIJA Lead Service Line Replacement funds. Eligible utilities may apply for up to $25 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loans and up to $35 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans. Limits vary by project type for Emerging Contaminants and for Lead Service Line Replacement funding.
Viable Utility Reserve (VUR) projects: Grant funding will be available for drinking water and wastewater projects that move a local government unit designated as distressed toward viability, per G.S. 159G-32(d). New information on requirements for applying for VUR grants, eligibility and availability of VUR grant funds will be shared during training.
Applications for drinking water and wastewater planning projects will be considered for grant funding from the VUR for local government units designated as distressed for the following purposes:
- Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA) grants: to inventory the existing water and/or wastewater systems of the local government units designated as distressed and document the condition of the inventoried infrastructure.
- Merger/Regionalization Feasibility (MRF) grants: to determine the feasibility of consolidating the management of multiple utilities (including local government units designated as distressed) into a single utility operation or to provide regional water/wastewater treatment and the best way to develop the project.
Learn more about the Division of Water Infrastructure’s training programs here.