About the Forum
Georgia Communities need funding for water projects. Funders need strong applicants. The Georgia Funders’ Forum brings them together.
What the Forum Is
The Georgia Funders’ Forum is a quarterly meeting of the agencies that fund water, wastewater, and stormwater projects in Georgia. Convened and facilitated by IB Environmental, with funding support from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, the Forum gives funders a place to share what’s working, compare notes on common challenges, and hear from guest speakers on topics the funders choose themselves.
The goal is simple: find more efficient, effective ways to put limited dollars to work for Georgia communities, while honoring each agency’s own mandate.
“The Georgia Funders’ Forum is second to none in helping me achieve that goal.”
Joyce White (USDA Rural. Development Georgia State Director)
What we offer Georgia communities:
Funding Tables
Public funding sources for water, wastewater, stormwater, and septic projects, in one place.
Annual Workshop
Funders present their program directly, alongside sessions on a yearly theme.
Webinars
Practical sessions on topics like rate setting, asset management, and stormwater fees.
Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
State Water Infrastructure Financing
GEFA is Georgia’s main lender for water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure. It offers low-interest loans through the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds and the Georgia Fund. GEFA also provides funding support for the Georgia Funders’ Forum.
Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency
Hazard Mitigation & Disaster Recovery
GEMA/HS administers FEMA hazard mitigation and public assistance funds. These help local governments build resilient water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure and recover quickly after disasters.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Water Quality & Watershed Grants
EPD, part of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, runs the Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant and the Regional Water Plan Seed Grants. Both fund projects that improve water quality across the state.
USDA Georgia Rural Development
Rural Water & Waste Programs
USDA Rural Development offers loans, grants, and loan guarantees for water and waste disposal systems in rural communities of 10,000 people or fewer. It has taken part in the Forum since it began in 2007.
IB Environmental
Forum Convener & Facilitator
DCA administers Community Development Block Grants and Appalachian Regional Commission funds. They help communities build water and sewer infrastructure that supports local economic development.
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Community Development Grants
IB Environmental convenes and facilitates the Georgia Funders’ Forum, which founder Stacey Isaac Berahzer started in 2007. ibE organizes the quarterly funder meetings, the annual workshop, and webinars, and maintains the funding table.