Last week, EPA released the Climate Resilience and Adaptation Funding Toolbox (CRAFT), which is a user-friendly, comprehensive website that contains resources and fact sheets to help federal funding applicants find, develop, apply for, and implement climate-resilient investments. The website helps applicants consider climate adaptation resilience before, during, and after applying for EPA funding opportunities. 

According to EPA, CRAFT is a resource for technical assistance providers helping to guide investments of federal funding – including the historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act – to local solutions, while also supporting investments that deliver results in the face of climate change. Water and wastewater utilities are encouraged to explore the site and see what programs would be most effective for them. Resources in the toolbox include:

• Program overviews of EPA’s financial assistance programs where climate-safe investment opportunities are available; 
• Climate risk assessment tools and decision support resources that can inform the development, design, and implementation of projects;  
• Communications materials to facilitate discussions about adaptation, resilience, and environmental justice; 
• Meaningful engagement resources on how to perform targeted community involvement efforts effectively and intentionally when implementing climate-smart projects; and 
• Definitions of common terms to use during technical assistance consultations, engagement efforts, and the development of project proposals.

Some sections offer downloadable materials, such as worksheets and guides, that can be filled out by the individual applicant or a recipient that technical assistance providers may be supporting. In short, CRAFT could help water and wastewater utilities more easily identify funding opportunities and apply for projects that meet multiple policy and infrastructure goals, including nature-based solutions and flood resilience. Access the CRAFT website here.