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Special Public Works Fund (SPWF)

Special Public Works Fund (SPWF)

The Special Public Works Fund provides low-cost financing to eligible municipalities for planning, design, and construction of utilities and facilities essential to industrial growth, commercial enterprise, and job creation.

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Municipally incorporated entities are eligible to receive funds. These include:
  • ​C​ities, 
  • Counties, 
  • County service districts (organized under ORS Chapter 451​), 
  • Tribal councils, 
  • Ports, districts (as defined in ORS 198.010), and 
  • Airport districts (as defined in ORS 838). 
​Projects funded by the program include but are not limited to:
  • ​Emergency projects as a result of a disaster, 
  • Energy systems, 
  • Levee certification, and 
  • T​elecommunication systems.
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Loan funding is available for financing small to large projects with favorable interest rates and terms up to 30 years or the useful life of the project, whichever is less, for most projects. Limited grant funding is available for technical assistance and emergency projects based on financial analysis. ​
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Applications are accepted year round based on funding availability. Applicants must submit a completed application to Business Oregon. ​​For more details on the application process, please contact your Regional Development Officer. ​

In order to request and receive funding from the Special Public Works Fund (SPWF), the following criteria must be satisfied:
• The project must result from an "Emergency" (as defined in ORS 401.025​), and have federal disaster relief assistance funds committed to it.
• The facility must be municipally owned.
• The funding request shall not exceed the local matching share (25%) required by the federal government.
• Allowable project costs are those eligible for federal assistance, unless a specific item or cost is precluded by a restriction in state law.
• Eligible project activity costs shall not duplicate costs that will be paid under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Grant Program​. 
• The benefited area must be included in the designated disaster area.

Emergency project assistance is used for reconstruction of essential community facilities that provide or support services vital to public health and safety. Examples of facilities include but are not limited to:
• Water and sewer utilities,
• Local roads, bridges, and other transportation system facilities,
• Emergency services buildings, including 911 system and ambulance facilities.
• Police and fire stations,
• Medical treatment centers,
• Emergency and auxiliary shelters,
• Storm water drainage,
• Port facilities,
• Infrastructure required for access to school,
• City halls,
• City and county courts, and
• Jails​.