Fed FUNDS for Water and Wastewater Utilities

Water and Wastewater Utility Mentors and Technical Contacts

Federal disaster funding programs are not tailored exclusively to water and wastewater utilities. Utilities that have successfully received disaster funding have volunteered to offer advice and answer questions for other utilities. Additional technical contacts in the water sector or disaster funding area may have information to help you, too. Both are shown below.

Funding Mentors

There are many benefits to having a funding mentor. Having a mentor helps save time and avoid errors when applying for federal funding assistance.

These volunteer mentors have experience in disaster recovery. They are from utilities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Funding Mentor/Email	Type of Representation	Organization	Topic Areas
David Goldbloom-Helzner (goldbloom-helzner.david@epa.gov)	Federal	EPA Water Security Division	General Water Security and Federal Disaster Funding, Fed FUNDS, and Recovery
Preston Wilson (preston.wilson@dhs.gov)	Federal	FEMA Public Assistance Division	FEMA Public Assistance
Gary Sturdivan (gsturdivan@mac.com)	Utility	East Valley Water (retired)	FEMA Public Assistance and Mitigation
Mike Stuhr (michael.stuhr@portlandoregon.gov)	Utility	Portland Water Authority	FEMA Public Assistance and Mitigation
Jonathan Reeves (jonathan.reeves@dcwater.com)	Utility	DC Water	FEMA Public Assistance and Mitigation
Kurt Blomquist (kblomquist@ci.keene.nh.us)	Utility	Director Public Works, Keene, NH	FEMA Public Assistance and Mitigation
Gary Williams (gary.williams@frwa.net)	Association	Florida Rural Water Association	U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Emergency Water Grants, Damage Assessments, and Rural Systems

Technical Contacts

The following technical contacts may be helpful in answering questions related to disaster and mitigation funding.

State Emergency Management Agencies request disaster declarations and disperse federal disaster funds.
State Hazard Mitigation Officers provide technical guidance, information and other resources needed for utilities interested in conducting hazard mitigation projects.
Rural Water Circuit Rider Technical Assistance provides technical assistance for day-to-day operational, financial and management problems for rural utilities and provides development contracts through the National Rural Water Association (NRWA).
Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) Exitprovides technical assistance for day-to-day financial and management problems for rural utilities and provides supplementary funds for project development.
Water and Wastewater Agency Response Networks (WARNs) Exitare mutual aid networks for utilities within a state
State Water Primacy Agencies have jurisdiction over public water systems.