EF@N environmental finance center network Recently Developed Tools and Resources (March 2022) The Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) enhance the ability of communities to tackle environmental finance challenges. Through trainings, applied research, resource and tool development, direct technical assistance and other services, the EFCs' help communities assess complex financial questions and develop sustainable and equitable financing solutions, as well as support utilities in improving the efficiency of operations and financial management. This table highlights some examples of the tools and resources available from the EFCs. With additional funds, the EFCs are able to update and enhance these tools, customize and apply these offerings to expanded geographies, and create new tools and resources in response to emerging needs. Region 1: New England Environmental Finance Center, University of Southern Maine neefc.org Stormwater Management Optimization Tool (Opti-Tool) Opti-Tool is a spreadsheet-based optimization tool that assists New England stormwater managers and consulting engineers in preparing technically sound, cost-effective stormwater management plans that achieve needed pollutant and volume reductions. New England EFC supports EPA Region 1 in Opti-Tool refinement and rollout in the region. www.epa.gov/tmdl/opti-tool-epa-region-ls-stormwater-management- optimization-tool Stormwater Story Maps Interactive story maps designed as education and outreach materials to help inform the public about stormwater issues and provide small steps to reduce runoff and pollution. Storv maps include What Is Stormwater?, Limitina Chemical and Fertilizer Use. and Capturina Rainwater. Drinking Water Program Funding Matrix for Source Water Protection This resource highlights collaborative relationships and financial resources to help Maine's public water systems supply clean, safe drinking water and achieve clean water goals by protecting the land surrounding drinking water sources. neefc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Collab-for-Clean- Water 3.19.198.pdf Climate Resilience Prioritization Toolkit This Toolkit builds community and utility resilience by helping to identify valued assets; understand climate-related hazards, risks and vulnerabilities affecting those assets; and weigh and prioritize actions. Read more about application of this Toolkit in coastal Maine here. ------- Region 2: Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center efc.svr.edu Sustainable Materials Management Stewardship Program (SMM Stewardship Program) The SMM Stewardship Program offers students in New York and Puerto Rico the opportunity to learn fundamental concepts and principles of sustainable materials management (SMM). Through this program, students deepen their understanding of SMM, apply theoretical knowledge from the classroom, develop leadership skills, and gain professional experience. New York State SMM program, Puerto Rico: GREEN-PR SMM Funding Database Online local, state, and federal funding database for SMM related projects in New York and Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership (PRRP) The PRRP was created in 2010 to connect SMM professionals throughout Puerto Rico, with the goal of spurring initiatives that would increase waste diversion from landfills and increase reduction, reuse, and recycling efforts. Outreach Education and Training Program SU-EFC developed the OETP with the help of municipal recycling managers to provide professional development training on a variety of needed topics and skill-development (e.g., communications, outreach, public engagement, grant writing, etc). Recycle Right NY A campaign that prioritizes reduction of wasted materials and promotes reuse and repair, with the goal of improving the quality of recyclables collected, increasing the rate of recyclables captured, and growing the demand for recycled products. Efforts include: NYS Recvclopedia Tool, a searchable recvclopedia; Check Your Local Guidelines Tool to search local recycling guidelines in Counties, Towns, and Villages; and social media content available on Facebook and Instagram. Region 3: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center efc.umd.edu MOST Center The Municipal Online Stormwater Training Center (MOST Center) is an online education and training platform designed to help communities build, enhance and better communicate about local stormwater and resilience challenges, www.mostcenter.umd.edu CLASIC The Community-enabled Lifecycle Analysis of Stormwater Infrastructure Costs (CLASIC) provides communities across the U.S. with an open- source online tool that enables informed decisions regarding stormwater management. It is the first national, online tool to incorporate: planning level stormwater BMP performance; feasibility level cost estimates of implementation and maintenance: and relative cobenefits of green infrastructure. arch.umd.edu/research-creative-practice/centers/environmental- finance-center/proiect-areas/communitv-lifecvcle-cost-analvsis- stormwater-infrastructure-clasic ------- Accounting for Urban Forestry This tool offers a standardized accounting framework for the urban forest community to holistically measure the benefits and costs of urban and community forest investments. The system helps urban forest managers collect information to justify budget requests as well as improves the effectiveness and efficiency of obtaining resources. arch.umd.edu/research-creative-practice/centers/environmental- finance-center/proiect-areas/standardizing-return-investment-urban- and-community-forestry-resources Region 4: Environmental Finance Center at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill efc.sos.unc.edu/ Water and Wastewater Rates Dashboards These dashboards are interactive tools designed to assist water, wastewater, and stormwater utility managers and local officials benchmark rates/fees and financial performance of the utility based on comparisons to utilities of similar characteristics. efc.sog.unc.edu/dashboards/ Water and Wastewater Residential Rates Affordability Assessment Tool This newly redesigned tool has a user-friendly Tableau interface and incorporates Census data with rates data to provide a broader perspective of affordability. UNC EFC commonly uses this tool as part of technical assistance, but the Tableau-interface ensures this tool is easy for utility professionals to use without assistance. efc.sog.unc.edu/resource/water-and-wastewater-residential-rates- affordability-assessment-tool-2021/ Financial Health Checkup for Water Utilities Tool This tool assists users in assessing the financial performance of water or wastewater utility funds by computing key financial indicators. UNC EFC commonly uses this tool as part of technical assistance, but it is publicly available for download as well. UNC EFC is currently seeking funding to update this tool to Tableau to make it more user-friendly. efc.sog.unc.edu/resource/financial-health-checkup-water-utilities/ Water and Wastewater Rates Analysis Model This tool helps users forecast end-of-year fund balances for the next two decades based on rates, water use, and expenses. Commonly used for direct technical assistance, it is also publicly available for download. efc.sog.unc.edu/resource/water-and-wastewater-rates-analysis-model/ Bill Payment Assistance Program Cost Estimation for Water Utilities This tool guides water/wastewater utilities in estimating the costs of low-income residential bill paying support programs. efc.sog.unc.edu/resource/bill-pavment-assistance-program-cost- estimation-water-utilities/ Region 6: Southwest Environmental Finance Center at University of New Mexico www.swefc.unm.edu Asset Management Switchboard Compiles asset management resources from a variety of sources into one place to help systems find what they need. swefcamswitchboard.unm.edu/am/ ------- Water Loss Switchboard Compiles water loss control resources from a variety of sources into one place to help systems find what they need. swefc.unm.edu/wlswitchboard/ State Revolving Fund Switchboard Gathers information on SRF programs in one place. swefcsrfswitchboard.unm.edu/srf/ Integrated Asset Management Framework: Combining Green and Gray Assets This resource combines green and gray assets into one unified framework to help put green solutions on the same page as gray solutions. The framework can be used for green assets, gray assets, or a combination of both green and grav solutions, swefc.unm.edu/iamf/ Water Utility Financial Analysis - WUFA This tool will help an organization assess its financial health. This is the generic version of a tool created for Idaho that collects financial health information on all systems that can be used by the SRF program. swefcapps.unm.edu/wufa/Start Water Shutoff Alternatives for Nonpayment This paper explains alternatives to water shutoffs. swefc.unm.edu/home/resource/water-shutoff-alternatives-for- nonpavment-affordabilitv/ Energy Project Decision Matrix This decision matrix helps utilities assess projects for energy. swefc.unm.edu/home/resource/energv-proiect-decision-matrix/ Region 7: Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center www.wichita.edu/efc Community Sustainability Tool A tool to assess financial sustainability of water and/or wastewater infrastructure investments. Tool developed for 6 states and can be expanded to other states with additional funding. www.wichita.edu/communitysustainabilitytool Assessing Water Infrastructure Needs (AWIN) A tool for the State of Nebraska helping to assess community demographic trends and the long-term financial capacity of communities to sustain wastewater services. Can be expanded to other states with additional funding. deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/AWIN Asset Management Trainings and Resources Training templates, videos, handouts, etc. for water and wastewater operators, managers, administrators, decision makers and boards. www.wichita.edu/amboards Region 9: Environmental Finance Center at Sacramento State www.efc.csus.edu Stormwater: www.efc.csus.edu/stormwater-funding-and-financing/ Stormwater Asset Management Toolkit A Toolkit for Stormwater Asset Management and Funding. Stormwater Funding Storyboard Interactive storvboard with tools and information that stormwater utilities can use to create sustainable stormwater programs. ------- Stormwater Cost and Benefit Resources Two resources on Estimating Benefits and Costs of Stormwater Management: Part 1: Benefit-Cost Analysis Part 2: MS4 Spending in California Resiliency: www.efc.csus.edu/resiliency/ Resilience Planning Tools and resources for communities to assist local agencies and communities with resilience planning. Region 10: Environmi htt ds ://www. rca c. or sntal Finance Center at RCAC K/environmental/environmental-finance-center/ Asset Management Programs and GIS Hub for Very Small Systems A system-specific GIS Hub, smart phone data collection app, and Excel spreadsheets to produce a simple asset management plan for the very smallest utilities. https://www.rcac.org/environmental/environmental-finance- center/gis-hub-small-system-asset-management/ Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC) Tribal Outreach Outreach to Tribes in the state of Washington to encourage participation in the IACC Infrastructure Funding Conference to foster infrastructure finance and sustainability dialog. https://www.rcac.org/environmental/environmental-finance- center/iacc-tribal-outreach/ Alaska Village and Rural Community Decision Tree and Financial Modules Adapt-in-Place vs. Relocate? A culturally considerate decision tree and more detailed infrastructure-specific financial modules for communities impacted by adverse environmental conditions who are making the adapt-in-place vs. relocation decision. This work focuses on community infrastructure finance decisions for location of origin including restoration, relocation and clean up and relocation/site expansion needs including infrastructure options and development. https://www.rcac.org/environmental/environmental-finance- center/decision-tree-financial-module/ Tribal Source Water Protection A Tribal Source Water Protection Plan template, template trainings hosted by Native American Water Masters Association (NAWMA) and direct technical assistance for Tribal systems to complete source water protection plans. https://www.rcac.org/environmental/environmental-finance- center/tribal-source-water-protection/ Agency and Small Utility Source Water Protection Watershed Workshops Facilitation of workshops in EPA Region 10 to bring agency landowners and planners together with small rural water systems, and Tribes that rely on drinking water from the watershed. https://www.rcac.org/environmental/environmental-finance- center/source-water-protection-watershed-workshops/ ------- |