City of Medford Receives Funds to Strengthen Wastewater Infrastructure

The City of Medford recently announced receiving one of three Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans in Oregon and Washington was awarded to the City of Medford to make improvements required by federal environmental standards.

“This WIFIA loan approval is an important milestone for Medford,” said Interim City Manager John Vial. “It provides long-term, low-cost financing that allows us to move forward with critical infrastructure improvements while managing costs for our ratepayers. We appreciate the support of Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, and Congressman Bentz throughout this process and their continued partnership in securing resources for our community.”

“This $147 million WIFIA loan is a major win for the City of Medford and its residents,” said U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz. “This loan will allow the City to upgrade critical wastewater infrastructure while using long-term, low-cost financing to help keep ratepayer costs under control.”

About WIFIA

Established by Congress in 2014, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program is administered by EPA to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure. The program provides long-term, low-cost loans for regionally and nationally significant water and wastewater projects. Since its inception, EPA has announced more than $22 billion in WIFIA financing, supporting more than 140 projects nationwide.