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Cooperative Funding Initiative (CFI) is sponsored by Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). The Cooperative Funding Initiative (CFI) program supports partnerships between the District and local governments or private entities by cooperatively funding eligible projects that support the District's strategic initiatives.
Beginning in fiscal year 2028, the CFI program will focus on funding projects that benefit first-magnitude spring systems in the northern region and prioritized regional large-scale alternative water supply (AWS) projects.
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Cooperative Funding Initiative | WaterMatters. org Cooperative Funding Initiative Cooperative Funding Initiative This program allows local governments and private entities to share costs for projects that assist in creating sustainable water resources, provide flood protection and enhance conservation efforts. All cooperators are encouraged to apply for state funding for projects by using the links below.
Watershed Planning Program The Florida Division of Emergency Management will accept submissions Dec. 12, 2025 through February 28, 2026 by 5 p. m.
See link above for information. Water Resource Funding in Florida The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Grants Portal will open for submissions on July 7 through Sept. 1, 2025.
See link above for information. Building partnerships for water resources A key program for building partnerships is the District’s Cooperative Funding Initiative (CFI) program. The CFI covers up to 50 percent of the cost of projects that help create sustainable water resources, enhance conservation efforts, restore natural systems and provide flood protection.
All CFI funding decisions are made by volunteer Governing Board members who are well informed on the specific resources and challenges within their areas. Six degrees of preparation… Successful partners follow these steps to fund local projects: Identify a project .
To ensure that money is spent wisely, the CFI is most likely to fund projects that address issues and meet goals identified in plans developed in association with local governments in each region. Each project should address one or more of the District’s areas of responsibility: water supply, flood protection, water quality and natural systems. Match funds .
The CFI was created to leverage funds between the Governing Board and cooperators. At least 50 percent must be a hard-dollar match from other sources. Ask for help .
Government affairs regional managers are available year-round in four locations across the District. Know your competition . Learn about projects that have been approved in your region — and why.
Many of the most successful projects use state-of-the-art technology or best management practices to protect, conserve, restore or enhance the area’s water resources and ecology. Cost-benefit calculations also are important, as is the potential impact of the project across the region. Check your project .
View the forms our staff members use to evaluate proposals. Watch the clock . The CFI schedule requires that all requests for funding be submitted by 5 p.
m. on October 3. Projects submitted after that date will not be considered.
Applications for projects that are in more than one water management district (WMD) should be submitted simultaneously to each WMD. Eligibility and scoring of such projects will be handled in the same manner as projects wholly within this District.
July : Staff reviews CFI project guidelines for possible revisions and begin working with potential applicants August : An Informational workshop/webinar is scheduled October : Applications must be filed by 5 p. m. on Oct.
3 November : Staff begins review of applications and scores projects December : Governing Board receives a copy of project proposals February : District staff presents preliminary evaluations and scoring of proposals, and answers questions from the Governing Board members April : District staff presents final evaluations and scoring of proposals, and answers questions from the Governing Board members June : Projects and budgets reviewed by Governing Board September : Final Governing Board budget approved, including CFI projects, and millage set October : Contracts awarded in new fiscal year Upcoming CFI Public Meetings/Workshops No meetings or workshops currently scheduled.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Local governments or private entities (can include nonprofits) that can partner with the District on eligible projects. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Applications for Cooperative Funding Initiative (CFI) are due October 2, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
Cooperative Funding Initiative (CFI) is funded by Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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Read articleOn June 29, 2026, EPA announced it will waive the $25,000 WIFIA application fee and the credit processing fee — averaging roughly $156,000 per loan — for communities of 25,000 or fewer residents in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Combined, that removes nearly $200,000 in upfront cost from the single most affordable federal water-infrastructure financing program, which carries roughly $11 billion in available capacity and can cover up to 80% of eligible project costs at Treasury-rate pricing. For small towns, rural utilities, and the nonprofits and districts that serve them, this is a rare instance of the federal government lowering the barrier to a program that has historically been out of reach for exactly the communities that need it most. Here is what changed, who qualifies, and how to move on a letter of interest before the window closes.
Read articleFor FY2026 and FY2027, EPA is waiving the $25,000 WIFIA application fee and the ~$156,000 credit-processing fee for water systems serving 25,000 or fewer people — a near-$200,000 discount on access to an $11 billion pool of low-cost federal financing. The waiver removes the single barrier that kept small and rural utilities out of WIFIA for a decade. Here is how WIFIA actually works, who qualifies, why the letter of interest is the real gate, and how a town of 8,000 should think about a program built for billion-dollar projects.
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