The application period for the 2016 State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program funding cycle will close on February 5, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) opened the application period for the 2016 SWIFT funding cycle on December 1, 2015. The preliminary, two-page application may be submitted via TWDB’s new online application or by paper-copy.
For the 2016 funding cycle, the TWDB anticipates being able to accommodate approximately $1 billion in financial assistance, with approximately $650 million available for new applications. The TWDB financed approximately $900 million in state water plan projects during the 2015 SWIFT funding cycle.
The TWDB expects to be able to provide entities with interest subsidies that range from 20 to 35 percent, depending upon the length of the loan.
Projects must be listed in the approved 2016 Regional Water Plans and the subsequent 2017 State Water Plan to be eligible for SWIFT program financial assistance.
The preliminary application will provide information the TWDB needs to complete prioritization of the projects. Projects that receive priority for financial assistance will need to submit a full application, which will include a financial, legal, engineering, and environmental review.
SWIFT was established by the Texas Legislature and voters in 2013 to fund projects in the state water plan. SWIFT was created through the transfer of a one-time, $2 billion appropriation from the state’s Rainy Day Fund. The $2 billion will be leveraged with revenue bonds over the next 50 years to finance approximately $27 billion in water supply projects.
For more details on how to apply for the SWIFT program, please visit the TWDB website.