Stormwater management and flood mitigation infrastructure protect communities from increasingly severe precipitation events, reduce water pollution, and enhance climate resilience across the United States. From green infrastructure systems that manage rainfall at the source to flood control channels that reduce inundation risks and nature-based solutions that restore watershed functions, these projects require specialized financing that accounts for distributed benefits, long planning horizons, and multiple stakeholder coordination. CBO Financial structures comprehensive funding solutions for stormwater and flood mitigation by integrating EPA water quality programs, Community Development Financial Institutions lending, New Markets Tax Credit equity, and climate adaptation finance. Whether implementing green infrastructure networks, constructing flood control facilities, or restoring natural floodplains, strategic financing structures can protect vulnerable communities while delivering water-quality improvements and climate-adaptation benefits across the United States and its territories.
Federal Financing Programs for Stormwater and Flood Mitigation
Multiple federal programs provide essential capital for stormwater management and flood protection infrastructure:
The National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) supports stormwater and flood mitigation projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions through green infrastructure, wetland restoration, and nature-based solutions that sequester carbon while managing water. EPA NCIF financing covers bioretention systems, permeable pavements, urban tree canopy programs, and constructed wetlands that provide climate mitigation alongside water quality and flood protection benefits through construction loans and multi-benefit infrastructure investment.
The Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) prioritizes stormwater investments in environmental justice communities where inadequate drainage creates flooding hazards, standing water breeds disease vectors, and water pollution disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations. Through Community Change Grants, EPA programs, and lending facilities, community financial institutions can finance green infrastructure, flood protection upgrades, and drainage improvements serving disadvantaged communities that bear disproportionate climate risks.
For stormwater and flood mitigation projects serving qualified low-income communities or areas with repetitive flood losses, NMTC eligibility financing provides substantial equity that enables comprehensive resilience investments protecting communities that lack resources for flood insurance, property elevation, or voluntary relocation from high-risk areas.
Who Can Access Stormwater and Flood Mitigation Financing
CBO Financial structures stormwater and flood protection financing for diverse public and private sector stakeholders:
Municipal Governments and Stormwater Utilities implementing citywide green infrastructure programs, upgrading stormwater collection systems, or constructing flood control facilities can access specialized public finance through CDFIii program partnerships and municipal bond markets, with structures that account for stormwater fees, FEMA grant requirements, and multi-jurisdictional coordination.
Flood Control Districts and Watershed Authorities constructing regional detention basins, levee systems, flood diversion channels, or dam safety improvements require financing coordination among multiple jurisdictions, property owners, and regulatory agencies, while addressing complex hydrology and substantial land-acquisition requirements.
Transportation Agencies implementing roadway drainage improvements, culvert upsizing, bridge replacements, addressing scour risks, or highway green infrastructure retrofits can utilize infrastructure financing, accounting for transportation planning integration, right-of-way constraints, and traffic management during construction.
Property Developers and Real Estate Owners implementing on-site stormwater management, low-impact development practices, or flood protection measures to meet regulatory requirements or reduce insurance costs require financing structures recognizing both compliance obligations and property value protection benefits.
Conservation Organizations and Land Trusts implementing floodplain restoration, wetland creation, stream daylighting, or watershed protection easements that provide natural flood storage and water-quality benefits can access conservation finance to support nature-based solutions with multiple ecological and community benefits.
Stormwater and Flood Mitigation Project Types We Finance
Our financing expertise encompasses the complete spectrum of stormwater management and flood protection applications:
Green Infrastructure Networks, including bioretention systems, rain gardens, permeable pavements, green roofs, urban forests, and infiltration basins that manage stormwater at the source while providing air quality, urban heat island reduction, and quality of life benefits, require financing accounting for distributed implementation, maintenance partnerships, and multiple environmental co-benefits beyond water management.
Regional Flood Control Infrastructure, including detention basins, retention ponds, flood diversion channels, levee systems, and pump stations that protect communities from riverine or coastal flooding, requires capital-intensive financing for land acquisition, earthwork, hydraulic structures, and long-term maintenance while coordinating among property owners and jurisdictions.
Combined Sewer Overflow Control systems, including green infrastructure, storage facilities, high-rate treatment, and conveyance improvements that reduce untreated discharges during wet weather, require comprehensive financing that addresses Clean Water Act mandates, consent decree schedules, and the integration of gray and green infrastructure solutions.
Floodplain Restoration and Nature-Based Solutions that reconnect rivers to historic floodplains, restore wetlands, remove obsolete structures, or implement stream naturalization provide natural flood storage and ecological restoration, requiring financing for land acquisition, conservation easements, construction, and long-term stewardship to ensure perpetual protection.
Property-Level Flood Protection, including elevation of structures, dry floodproofing, wet floodproofing, acquisition and demolition of repetitive-loss properties, or voluntary buyouts that remove vulnerable properties from floodplains, requires financing, coordination with FEMA hazard mitigation grants, local cost-sharing, and property owner participation.
CBO Financial’s Stormwater and Flood Financing Approach
With specialized expertise in climate adaptation infrastructure and multi-benefit projects, CBO Financial provides comprehensive advisory services:
Multi-Benefit Valuation and Financial Modeling quantifies stormwater quality improvements, flood damage reduction, property value protection, climate mitigation, air quality benefits, and quality-of-life enhancements to create comprehensive business cases that support financing beyond traditional single-purpose infrastructure approaches.
FEMA Grant Coordination and Cost-Share Structuring navigates Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Flood Mitigation Assistance, and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities programs to maximize federal funding while structuring non-federal match requirements through state programs, local bonds, and private investment.
Green Infrastructure and Gray Infrastructure Integration develops hybrid approaches combining nature-based solutions with traditional infrastructure to optimize performance, cost-effectiveness, and community acceptance, while structuring financing to account for different implementation timelines, maintenance requirements, and performance verification needs.
Integrated Capital Stack Design combines EPA water quality programs, CDFI lending, NMTC equity, FEMA hazard mitigation grants, state resilience funding, municipal bonds, stormwater utility fees, and traditional debt to create comprehensive financing for capital-intensive flood protection and distributed green infrastructure implementation.
Climate Risk Assessment and Adaptation Planning incorporates future climate projections, extreme precipitation scenarios, and sea level rise impacts into infrastructure design and financing structures, ensuring long-term performance and avoiding maladaptation investments that become obsolete as climate conditions change.
Stormwater and Flood Mitigation Financing Across All U.S. Regions
CBO Financial structures stormwater and flood protection financing throughout the United States, from coastal communities managing sea level rise and storm surge to inland cities addressing riverine flooding, and from arid regions experiencing flash flooding to areas with increasing precipitation intensity. Our team understands regional variations in:
- Flood hazards include riverine flooding, coastal storm surge, urban flooding, flash flooding, and dam failures
- National Flood Insurance Program requirements, Community Rating System participation, and floodplain management regulations
- State stormwater regulations, MS4 permit requirements, and watershed management approaches
- Climate change impacts on precipitation patterns, flood frequency, and infrastructure design standards.
- FEMA flood map updates, benefit-cost analysis requirements, and hazard mitigation planning processes
We also serve U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, where stormwater and flood mitigation infrastructure faces extreme challenges including hurricane-driven flooding, mountainous terrain creating flash flood risks, limited drainage capacity in dense urban areas, coral reef degradation reducing natural storm protection, and climate change intensifying precipitation events, requiring comprehensive resilience investments protecting vulnerable island communities from increasingly severe weather impacts.
Protect Your Community from Flooding
Whether you’re developing hazard mitigation plans or ready to finalize stormwater infrastructure construction financing, CBO Financial can accelerate your flood protection and water quality projects. Our team will evaluate your community’s flood risks, regulatory requirements, climate adaptation needs, and financial capacity to identify optimal financing structures and connect you with capital providers experienced in resilience infrastructure and environmental finance.
Request a stormwater and flood mitigation assessment to discuss your project financing needs. Our consultants will analyze your flood vulnerabilities, infrastructure solutions, applicable funding programs, and develop a comprehensive strategy to secure capital for your stormwater and flood mitigation investment.