Department loan programs
The DNR administers the following loan programs.
Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP)
Eligibility & Purpose: Provides subsidized interest rate loans to municipalities seeking to fund wastewater and storm water infrastructure projects. Also includes pilot projects to fund adaptive management and other non-traditional projects to comply with a municipality's permit limit.
Deadline: Applications are accepted year-round for projects not seeking Principal Forgiveness. Deadline for Intent to Apply (ITA) & Priority Evaluation and Ranking Formula (PERF) is Oct. 31 for the following SFY funding cycle.
Contact: CWFP Coordinator
County Forest Project Loan
Eligibility & Purpose: Counties with lands enrolled in the County Forest Law are eligible to apply for interest free loans to be used for meritorious and economically productive forestry operations including land acquisition. Funds may not be used for construction of recreational facilities or fish and game projects. Projects must be consistent with the county forest comprehensive land use plan (15-year plan).
Maximum Award: Cannot exceed 25% of available funding.
Match: None
Contact: Doug Brown, Douglas.Brown@wisconsin.gov, 715-966-0157
County Forest Variable Acreage Share Loan
Eligibility & Purpose: Counties with lands enrolled in the County Forest Law are eligible to apply for interest-free loans to be used for the purchase, development, preservation and maintenance of County Forest lands. Projects must be consistent with the county forest comprehensive land use plan (15-year plan).
Maximum Award: $.10-.50 per acre of land enrolled as "regular class" County Forest.
Match: None
Deadline: Applications accepted year-round, as long as funding is available.
Contact: Doug Brown, Douglas.Brown@wisconsin.gov, 715-966-0157
Ready for Reuse Loans
Eligibility & Purpose: Cleanup of hazardous substance and petroleum contamination at brownfields.
Deadline: Applications accepted year-round, as long as funding is available.
Contact: Gena Larson, Gena.Larson@wisconsin.gov, 608-261-5404
Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP)
Eligibility & Purpose: Provides subsidized interest rate loans to municipalities seeking to fund drinking water infrastructure projects.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted by June 30 for the upcoming State Fiscal Year (SFY) funding cycle. Deadline for Intent to Apply (ITA) & Priority Evaluation and Ranking Formula (PERF) is Oct. 31 for the following SFY funding cycle.
Contact: SDWLP Coordinator