We are at a pinnacle moment for the industry. It is something we’ve all heard recently, and if my inbox is any indication, the statement is becoming increasingly true. In the past month or so, I have received a plethora of press releases from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding funding that is trickling down for various purposes. In June alone, which is the time I am writing this, the EPA has announced $60 million over the next five years for nutrient reduction efforts through the Gulf Hypoxia Program; $6.5 billion for the 2022 Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and the State Infrastructure Financing Authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program to support the $13 billion in water infrastructure projects; and $3.7 million for programs that restore habitats, protect tribal water quality and preserve wetlands in the Pacific Southwest.
Additionally, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 and Vice President Kamala Harris announced the White House Action Plan on Global Water Security. All these programs should help propel the industry forward. There are a lot of discussions still swirling about how exactly this funding will filter down to states and specific projects, and of course, we will track of that information as it is announced. The momentum seems strong, and I hope it stays that way. I hope we can keep having discussions and brainstorm how this funding can really make the industry stronger. So, let’s keep talking and educating each other. I hope I will see many of you at this year’s StormCon. If so, let’s catch up. If you have not yet registered, visit stormcon.com.
Katie Johns
Katie Johns, editor-in-chief of Stormwater Solutions, graduated from the University of Missouri in 2016 with a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Johns joined the Stormwater Solutions team in September 2019. Johns also helps plan the annual StormCon conference and co-hosts the Talking Under Water podcast. Prior to entering the B2B industry, she worked as a newspaper reporter and editor in Sarasota, Florida, and a magazine assistant editor in the Chicago suburbs. She can be reached at [email protected].
