This document provides an overview of the SWIFT funding process administered by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). It describes the eligibility requirements for SWIFT funding, including that projects must be recommended water management strategies in the state water plan. It outlines the application process, including submitting an initial abridged application, being invited to submit a full application, and receiving funding commitments. It also discusses other TWDB resources for project financing, science, and data.

1. Texas Water Development Board
Conservation and the SWIFT
Application Process
Tom Entsminger
TWDB State Programs Coordinator
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2. Topics
• SWIFT Overview
• Project Eligibility
• Application Process
• Other TWDB Resources
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3. 3
Finances
implementation of
Recommended
Water
Management
Strategies
Financing options
• Low-interest
Loans
• Deferred Loans
• Board
Participation
Multi-year
Commitments
All Phases Eligible
• Planning
• Acquisition
• Design
• Construction

4. Is My Project Eligible for SWIFT?
Is it a Recommended Water
Management Strategy in the state water
plan?
Is there an associated capital cost?
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5. Not Sure?
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• If you aren’t sure whether your project fits
within Plan language, call us! TWDB’s Planning
staff can help.

6. The Path to Recommending Strategies
identify
“potentially
feasible”
strategies
evaluate
potentially
feasible
strategies
compare
evaluated
strategies
recommend
strategies that
are “cost-
effective &
environmentally
sensitive” 31 TAC
357.35(b)
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7. Evaluation of Strategies
Based on:
• water quantity and reliability
• financial costs
• impacts to environment and agriculture
• impacts to water quality
• other factors such as regulatory
requirements, time required to implement,
etc.
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8. 8
Amendments
• Regional and State plans can both be amended to add
strategies and/or capital costs
• The process takes time and is not free
• First step: contact your regional planning group

9. Regional
Group
considers
request
TWDB
validation of
“minor”
classification
(up to 45 days)
14-day
notice
period
Regional
Group
makes
decision
14-day
follow-up
comment
period
Regional Amendment Processes
Regional
Group
considers
request
30-day
hearing
notice
Hearing
30-day
comment
period
Regional
Group
makes
decision
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Major Amendments: 62+ Days
Minor Amendments: 30 - 45+ Days

10. State Water Plan Amendments
Regional
Amendment
sent to
TWDB
TWDB
reviews
amendment
30-day
hearing
notice
Hearing
TWDB
makes
decision on
adoption
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The State Water Plan is amended only after regional amendments are finalized.

11. SWIFT Funding Cycle
Submit Abridged
Application
TWDB Staff perform
Prioritization &
capacity modeling
Invitation to submit
full applications
Application review
and funding
commitments
Applicants close on
loans
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12. Abridged Application
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Online option also available

13. Abridged Application
• Asks only for the info needed to complete
prioritization (31 TAC §363.1304)
• Uses information already developed during the plan
process: no new work required
• No commitment associated with Abridged
Application submittal
• Technical assistance available throughout the
process
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14. Full Application
• Contact Information
• Legal
• Financial
• Project Details
Technical Assistance
Available
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Online option also available

15. How to Get Started
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CONTACT US!
Team 1
Panhandle/West
A/O/E/F
Lee Huntoon
(512) 463-6021
Team 2
Brazos
G/B
Caaren Skrobarczyk
(512) 475-1128
Team 3
Northeast
C/D
Luis Farias
(512) 463-0250
Team 4
East
H/I
Nancy Richards
(512) 463-0250
Team 5
Central
J/K/L/P
Clay Schultz
(512) 463-6277
Team 6
South
M/N
Mireya Loewe
(512) 475-0590

16. Conservation at TWDB
• Offers low interest rates based on TWDB’s cost
of funds
Texas Water
Development Fund
(DFund)
• Offers subsidization of 125 basis points below
borrower’s cost of funds and partial principal
forgiveness
Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
• Fund projects and research with ag conservation
benefit
Agricultural Water
Conservation
Grants/Loans
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17. Conservation at TWDB
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Regardless of the funding source, applicants
requesting $500,000 or more must have
active Water Conservation Plans on file
TWDB’s Conservation staff provide technical
assistance to help systems develop their
plans

18. Other TWDB Resources
Project
Financing
• Water
• Wastewater
• Flood Control
• Conservation
• Nonpoint
Source Pollution
Control
Science
• Groundwater
availability
• Environmental
flows
• Lake surveys
• Conservation
Planning
• State Water
Plan
• Water Use
SurveysData
• Mapping & GIS
• Demographics
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19. Interactive State Water Plan
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TexasStateWaterPlan.org

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21. Thanks!
Tom Entsminger
TWDB State Programs Coordinator
(512) 936-0802
Tom.Entsminger@twdb.texas.gov
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