Moonshot, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping underserved communities access healthy drinking water and clean waterways and led by CEO & Founder George Hawkins, has been awarded $7.5 million over 5 years by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to serve as a National Environmental Finance Center (EFC). The EPA has created a network of four national and 25 regional EFCs to help disadvantaged communities access federal and state funding to improve drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
With a team that includes some of the most experienced and highly regarded water professionals in the country, Moonshot was selected to serve as a National EFC. “Though it seems hard to believe, there are thousands of people across our country with no access to clean, safe drinking water and healthy waterways,” said Hawkins. “Moonshot is honored to help solve water problems that have plagued communities for generations. This generous award from EPA will ensure we can assist hundreds more.”
Much of the country’s water infrastructure was built in the early mid-twentieth century, some of which dates to before the Civil War. Although the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides over $50 billion over five years for water infrastructure, this opportunity also presents a challenge: understaffed and underfunded utilities rarely have the time, expertise, or funding to gain access to federal and state loans or grants. Moonshot can provide that crucial missing link. With over 250 years of combined experience in utility operations, finance, governance and leadership, Moonshot’s team provides communities with both direct technical assistance as well as support to gain desperately needed funding.
“Everyone deserves access to clean and safe water,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “EPA’s WaterTA initiative is assisting underserved communities across America to apply for historic funding provided through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We appreciate Moonshot’s partnership and look forward to changing the odds for underserved communities through improved water infrastructure and services.”
“We are water professionals with public service hearts,” noted Hawkins. “We feel blessed that EPA has given us an opportunity to offer our unique advice and services. We can’t wait to help usher in improvements to water quality and supply, green infrastructure, energy conservation, resilience and more, while often improving affordability.”