State Water Implementation Fund of Texas (SWIFT) Program Grant

State Water Implementation Fund of Texas (SWIFT) Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)
Amount: More than US $500,000
Last Updated: March 23, 2025

Summary

The State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) Program provides affordable financial assistance for projects outlined in the state water plan. Managed by the Texas Water Development Board, it offers low-interest loans and flexible repayment options to support water management strategies. Eligible projects include conservation, desalination, and infrastructure development. The program aims to optimize water supplies efficiently and effectively, particularly benefiting rural communities and agricultural water conservation efforts.

Overview

NOTE: Before submitting an Abridged Application, you may want to meet with the Regional Water Project Development Team (RWPD) assigned to your area. Connecting with your regional team early in the process to discuss program requirements as they apply to your specific project can improve the efficiency and timely processing of your Abridged Application. The TWDB solicits SWIFT Abridged Applications for financial assistance up to twice a year. These are ranked using the SWIFT prioritization system.  If approved, applicants ranked within funding availability are invited to submit full SWIFT financial assistance applications. Invitations are sent to applicants via email shortly after the Board meeting, and full applications are typically due within 30 days. State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) Affordable, ongoing financial assistance for projects in the state water plan. Passed by the Legislature and approved by Texas voters through a constitutional amendment, the SWIFT program helps communities develop and optimize water supplies at cost-effective rates. The program provides low-interest loans, extended repayment terms, deferral of loan repayments, and incremental repurchase terms for projects with state ownership aspects. What types of projects are eligible for funding? Eligible SWIFT projects are recommended water management strategy projects with an associated nonzero capital cost in the most recently adopted state water plan at the time abridged applications are due to TWDB for consideration. Alternative water management strategy projects are not eligible unless the regional and state water plans are amended to include them as recommended projects prior to the time abridged applications are due to TWDB for consideration. Eligible projects include conservation and reuse, desalinating groundwater and seawater, building new pipelines, developing reservoirs and wells fields, purchasing water rights, as well as numerous other strategies. Only the project components specified in the plan are eligible for SWIFT financing. For example, if the project is listed in the plan as "construction of a well field," but does not list a pipeline for delivery of that water, the pipeline would not be eligible for the SWIFT program. Recognizing the benefit of conservation and the needs of rural Texas, the legislation creating the program encourages SWIFT funding of projects for rural communities, agricultural water conservation, water conservation, and reuse projects. What type of financing is available? The SWIFT program offers a variety of loans and terms to support the diversity of strategies recommended through the planning process. Grants are not available in the program. Funds can be used for planning, design, acquisition, and construction costs. In order to qualify for multi-year commitments, a borrower must close on a portion of the commitment in the first year. The types of SWIFT assistance are found here. Entities may use any or all of these different structures available to finance their projects.

Eligibility

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