Environmental Loans December 2024 Newsletter
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s Environmental Loans programs provide affordable financial assistance to Wisconsin communities for water infrastructure projects that protect and improve public health and water quality for current and future generations.
Disbursement Schedule Changes For January 2025
Due to the holidays (for the month of January), the Wisconsin DNR and Department of Administration are switching the due dates and wire/ACH dates for disbursement from the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program. The wire/ACH dates will occur on the third and fifth Wednesdays of the month. The regularly scheduled wire/ACH dates of the second and fourth Wednesdays will resume for February. Please refer to the DNR’s Requests for Disbursement webpage.
- Requests due to the DNR by Jan. 3 to receive loan disbursements on Jan. 15.
- Requests due to the DNR by Jan. 17 to receive loan disbursements on Jan. 29.
Market Rate Unchanged
The market rate for the Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program loans with municipal meetings (resolutions approving the municipal obligations and the financial assistance agreements) on or after Jan. 1, 2025, will remain as is today. The market rates will be as follows:
- The market rate for tax-exempt loans with loan terms of 20 years or less will remain at 4.000%, and with loan terms of 21-30 years will remain at 4.200%.
- The market rate for taxable loans with loan terms of 20 years or less will remain at 4.494%, and with loan terms of 21-30 years will remain at 4.719%.
The Lead Service Line Replacement Program interest rate is not tied to the current market rate and is instead set at 0.25%. View current market rates and program-subsidized interest rates on the DNR’s Interest Rates webpage.
Coming Soon – MyWisconsin ID And Multi-Factor Authentication For The Environmental Loans’ Online Systems
To better protect the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s systems, the DNR will be moving to a new identity system called MyWisconsin ID and enforcing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for the Wisconsin DNR’s Environmental Loans’ Online Systems. This system is used for submitting notices of intent to apply with priority evaluation and ranking formula information, and financial assistance applications.
What is MyWisconsin ID?
The State of Wisconsin is moving toward a single-personal account for each customer to ensure private access to participating Wisconsin government resources.
Every customer will benefit from the advanced ID security used to access any State of Wisconsin systems. With one personalized email-based ID, access to many state agency systems will be streamlined with a single sign-on solution where available.
Note that State agencies and programs are migrating to MyWisconsin ID at different times between now and December 2026. The timeline in this message only applies to the Environmental Loans’ Online Systems. Some state systems will transition to using MyWisconsin ID sooner than others. In the meantime, a WAMS ID may be needed for some systems, while a MyWisconsin ID will be needed for others.
What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?
MFA is a method of authentication where the user is asked to provide two independent credentials in order to verify the user’s identity. For example, after a user authenticates with their password, they may also be required to provide a code that is sent to their mobile device.
Why is MFA required?
- MFA is an effective way to enhance security. Traditional usernames and passwords can be stolen, and they've become increasingly more vulnerable to malicious activities.
- MFA creates an additional layer of security to help increase the level of confidence that the user requesting access is actually who they claim to be.
- Reports show that applications and identities are the initial targets in 86% of breaches, so it has become a necessity to protect them using a second layer of security.
- With more applications on external cloud infrastructures, MFA will help ensure our assets are better protected.
What do I need to do?
- When the Environmental Loans’ Online Systems are moved to MyWisconsin ID and MFA, you will be prompted to register for a new MyWisconsin ID and signup for MFA when you try to access the online systems.
- Another communication will be sent with information about registering for a MyWisconsin ID and setting up your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) preferences prior to the implementation of MyWisconsin ID for the Environmental Loans’ Online Systems. The timing of this system’s move to MyWisconsin ID and MFA may be adjusted as needed.
Who should I contact if I have questions?
- Visit the MyWisconsin FAQ webpage for answers to common questions or contact the MyWisconsin Account Service Desk at 608-471-6667.
- Contact Suzy Hasheider, Environmental Loans Section database manager, at Suzan.Hasheider@wisconsin.gov or 608-438-3055 for support with the Environmental Loans’ online systems.
Reminder – Street Reconstruction Cost Policy Effects The State Fiscal Year 2025 Applications
The DNR’s Street Reconstruction Cost Policy is effective on all of the complete street reconstruction projects with financial assistance applications submitted for the state fiscal year 2025 funding cycle and beyond. The policy clarifies how eligible general construction costs will be distributed via the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program for complete street reconstruction projects involving both the drinking water and wastewater utilities.
Highlights:
- One hundred percent (100%) of utility-specific costs are eligible under each loan program.
- Up to twenty percent (20%) of general construction costs per utility are eligible under each loan.
- Examples of utility-specific costs and general costs are listed in the policy.
- General construction costs are not eligible under a loan from the Lead Service Line Replacement Program.
- Relocation or replacement costs of other utilities in conflict with the drinking water and/or wastewater utilities are not eligible under a loan from any DNR loan program.
The policy also ensures that cost distribution standards are applied consistently and equitably across all municipalities, and in correspondence with the cost eligibility requirements in chapters NR162.04 and NR 166.07, Wis. Adm. Code. The DNR's Street Reconstruction Cost Policy was finalized and published on the DNR website on May 23, 2024, along with the response to comments on the draft policy paper.
Timeframe For The State Fiscal Year 2025 Final Funding Lists
In winter 2024-25, the DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2025 final funding lists for the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded Lead Service Line Replacement Program on the Project Lists and Intended Use Plans webpage.
Background
The corresponding program’s funding list will identify all projects with a valid financial assistance application submittal, in priority score order, for the state fiscal year 2025 funding cycle. The funding list will identify each project’s subsidized loan interest rate, requested project costs, and allocated amounts of loan and principal forgiveness dollars.
Please direct questions to:
Time Frame For The State Fiscal Year 2026 Project Priority Lists
In spring 2025, the DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2026 project priority lists for the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program on the Project Lists and Intended Use Plans webpage.
Background
The corresponding program’s project priority list will identify all projects with a valid notice of intent to apply submittal, in priority score order, that are eligible to submit a financial assistance application for the state fiscal year 2026 funding cycle. The project priority list will identify each project’s self priority score, brief description, and estimated costs.
Heads up: The DNR strongly recommends that you give yourself at least a couple of weeks to complete the online application. Information, instructions, and guidance documents, such as next steps for applicants after the intent to apply submittal, are on the DNR's Online Systems webpage to help applicants through the application process.
Please direct questions to:
Upcoming Deadlines And Events
The notices of intent to apply, applications and loan closing deadlines are set in the corresponding program's annual intended use plan (IUP). The IUPs are available on the DNR's Project Lists and Intended Use Plans webpage.
-
Dec. 19: The DNR published the state fiscal year 2025 Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program final intended use plans.
-
Winter 2024-25: The DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2025 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program and Lead Service Line Replacement Program final funding lists.
-
Spring 2025: The DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2026 Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program project priority lists.
-
April 30: The last recommended date for opening bids for the state fiscal year 2025 Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program projects.
-
May 31: Executed construction contracts due to the DNR loan project manager for the state fiscal year 2025 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program projects (earlier submittal is encouraged).
-
June 15: Public Service Commission-approved contracts due to the DNR loan project manager for the state fiscal year 2025 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program projects.
-
June 30: Application deadline if competing for principal forgiveness for the state fiscal year 2026 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program funding cycle. The DNR recommends that all applicants (even those not competing for principal forgiveness) submit an application by the June 30 deadline due to potential limitations on loan capacity. See the Loan Capacity webpage for more information. Note the following reminders:
- Plans and specifications need to be uploaded with the application AND submitted to the DNR Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater through the Public Water System Plan Review process by the application deadline.
- The period to submit both an appeal to an eligibility determination and a priority score reevaluation request opens the day after the application deadline and runs for a period of 30 days.
-
June 30: Readiness-to-proceed deadline for the state fiscal year 2025 Clean Water Fund Program principal forgiveness projects. All required bid documentation, including executed construction contracts, are due.
Loan Project Manager Recruitment
The DNR Bureau of Community Financial Assistance (CFA) will be recruiting for a loan project manager position in the Environmental Loans Section. The job (and full position description) will be announced on Dec. 26 through Wisc.Jobs. The deadline to apply will be listed in the job posting.
The recruitment may also be used for any future vacancies that might occur during 2025.
This position is an excellent opportunity for anyone considering a career focused on the environment and the water/wastewater industry. If you are interested in this type of opportunity with the DNR, please apply!
If you have questions about a position, please reach out to an Environmental Loans Section manager:
|
