Presentation: NC Grant Efficacy Study and Outcomes by Justin Nolan
The presentation, delivered by Justin Nolan of the UNC Environmental Finance Center, examines the effectiveness of two grant programs administered by North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): the Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA) Grant and the Merger/Regionalization Feasibility (MRF) Grant. These programs aim to support small and distressed utilities in managing water infrastructure challenges.
Purpose and Impact
The AIA grant, introduced in 2016, provides up to $150,000 to help small towns develop asset management plans, inventory infrastructure, and prioritize improvements. Many of these communities lack the resources to maintain detailed records, making this grant crucial for long-term sustainability.
The MRF grant, offering $50,000, encourages collaboration between utilities by funding feasibility studies on regional partnerships, shared resources, and system consolidation. This initiative helps utilities explore cooperative solutions, though implementation remains challenging.
Key Findings
- AIA Grant Outcomes
- Enabled towns to initiate asset management planning and identify critical infrastructure needs.
- Plans are actively used and updated, though they often reveal significant funding gaps for necessary improvements.
- MRF Grant Impact
- Fostered regionalization discussions and strengthened utility partnerships.
- Political and economic barriers, such as local autonomy concerns and infrastructure costs, hinder full regional integration.
- Challenges and Next Steps
- Utilities struggle with securing additional funding to implement identified improvements.
- DEQ aims to integrate these grants into the Viable Utilities Program, providing more structured support for distressed systems.
Conclusion
While the AIA and MRF grants have proven valuable in initiating planning efforts, their success depends on transitioning from strategy to implementation. DEQ is working to enhance support mechanisms, ensuring these programs drive long-term improvements in North Carolina’s water infrastructure.
Bio
Justin Nolan, project director, UNC Environmental Finance Center
Justin Nolan is a project director for the UNC Environmental Finance Center. He has been with the organization for going on two years now doing work on a variety of projects including EPA P2, the 2024 Appalachian Regional Commission study, C2 Technical Assistance for Communities, and providing learning opportunities for water utility staff across the EPA Region 4. Justin graduated from UNC with his master’s degree in City and Regional Planning and immediately went to work with the Environmental Finance Center. He continues to apply the skills from his origins in the NC education system to the work he does engaging with NC citizens around the state.