Funding

Varela has completed over 250 successful wastewater, drinking water, stormwater, and transportation projects ranging from $50,000 to $15 million. We have prepared strategic funding plans and funding applications that have resulted in over $217 million in grants and loans for our clients.

Varela partners with clients in developing infrastructure funding plans and applications, and they appreciate our considerable experience with funding contract negotiation, administration, and audit support.

We access multiple funding sources to create strategic funding packages that alleviate the financial impacts of major projects on client's budgets. In many cases, our relationships with funding agencies help us raise the visibility of our client’s projects and leverage relatively small local funds into large grant/loan packages.

Backed by decades of funding expertise, Abby Gromlich, Varela's Director of Project Funding & Development, helps clients develop funding strategies for infrastructure projects and positions them to be competitive on grant and low-interest loan programs.

Varela has extensive experience in numerous public infrastructure funding programs, such as:

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA RD)

Department of Ecology Water Quality Programs (CCW, CWSRF, SRF)

Transportation Improvement Board (TIB)

Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) Funding Programs

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)

Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Grants

Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB)

Public Works Trust Fund (PWB)

Our record of funding acquisition is one of the reasons clients choose Varela for their projects. Funding administration requirements are increasingly complex, while at the same time, many of our clients’ staff sizes have decreased. We tailor our funding support to meet your organization’s specific needs. For example, we can provide periodic support, train your staff, or handle all funding contract administration requirements.

This approach has been very successful for Varela clients, as reflected by our funding track record. Our focus on funding procurement is a unique benefit we bring to communities.