ASHLAND, Ore. — While recent changes to FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant have raised some concerns, the City of Ashland Water Treatment Plant Project remains fully funded through a long-term, low-cost federal loan, and additional grants are still being sought to help reduce the financial burden on local ratepayers.

Ashland Water Treatment Plant Funding

Even as the City navigates shifts in federal grant programs, a $73 million loan from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program is still the cornerstone of the project’s financing.

The WIFIA loan’s flexible repayment terms could save the City approximately $11 million over its life, helping minimize the cost impact on water ratepayers.

While t

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