June 17 Debt Isn’t A Bad Word 2nd Webinar: SFY26 IUP Deep Dive: Policy Updates, Affordability Criteria, and Debt Strategy for Local Governments

Join us on Tuesday, June 17, at 12 p.m. to learn more about the major updates in the State Fiscal Year 2026 Clean Water and Drinking Water Intended Use Plans (IUP), including changes to the affordability criteria, the new grandfathering policy, and how these shifts will impact municipal applicants. The session aims to help local governments understand the revised application criteria while reframing long-term debt as a smart, future-focused investment. Attendees will also be introduced to tools and support available through the Funding Navigator program to help them access state funding more effectively.

Published in January, the Intended Use Plan (IUP) is a list of documents, developed by the Department of Environmental Protection every State Fiscal year, that sets the project priorities and the funding packages established in the New Jersey Water Bank (NJWB). The NJWB is a partnership between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to provide low-cost financing for the design, construction, and implementation of projects that help to protect, maintain and improve water quality and projects to ensure safe drinking water.

This is the second webinar installment in New Jersey Future’s Funding Navigator utilizing debt for the long-term series. When used wisely, debt is an investment in the future that can prevent financial burdens. It is a means of financing large capital assets such as crucial infrastructure improvements, development, and the acquisition of large equipment. Debt can be leveraged to create long-term value by ensuring that investments increase over time, ultimately providing greater income and capital growth than the amount spent on servicing the loan.