Department loan programs
The DNR administers the following loan programs.
Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP)
Eligibility & Purpose: Provides subsidized loans (reduced-interest rate loans) to communities within Wisconsin for publicly-owned wastewater and water-quality-related storm water infrastructure projects that are needed to achieve or maintain compliance with federal and state regulations, such as a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit. Review CWFP project & cost eligibilities. It also includes pilot projects to fund non-traditional projects to comply with a municipality's permit limit.
Deadline: October 31 is the notice of Intent to Apply (ITA) deadline for the following state fiscal year (SFY) funding cycle. September 30 is the financial assistance application deadline if requesting principal forgiveness (PF) for the current SFY funding cycle. Otherwise, applications are accepted year-round for CWFP projects not seeking PF.
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 loans (reduced-interest rate loans) to communities within Wisconsin for publicly-owned drinking water infrastructure projects that are needed to protect public health and achieve or maintain compliance with federal and state regulations relating to water supply. Review SDWLP project & cost eligibilities. There are funding options for lead service line (LSL) replacements.
Deadline: October 31 is the notice of Intent to Apply (ITA) deadline for the following state fiscal year (SFY) funding cycle. June 30 is the financial assistance application deadline, whether competing for principal forgiveness (PF) or not, for the upcoming SFY funding cycle.
Contact: SDWLP Coordinator