DFA News:

SANTA FE — Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) leads the coordination effort, which will bring multiple state agencies to the New Mexico Municipal League Conference 9-10:15 a.m., Wednesday.

DFA will be joined by the Economic Development Department (EDD), Environment Department (NMED), and New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA), to panel “Filling the Funding Gap”, a presentation on federal funding, ways to think outside the capital outlay box, and how to seek and utilize all funding opportunities.

Attendees will be addressed by the following staff and their respective topics:

• Patrick Schaefer, DFA General Counsel- Non-Entitlement Unit Federal Fund Compliance;
• Donnie Quintana, DFA Local Government Division Director- State Matching Funds Initiative;
• Johanna Nelson, EDD Finance Development Specialist- FUNDIT Program;
• John Rhoderick, NMED Acting Water Protection Division Director-Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Rural Infrastructure Program, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law;
• Carmela Manzari, NMFA Lead Finance Manager- Lending programs to help New Mexico communities and businesses; and
• Paula Flores, DFA Federal Grant Bureau Chief- Federal Grant Technical Assistance.

“Our agencies are coming together in a unified and collaborative way to identify all possible funding opportunities for local community projects,” DFA Secretary Debbie Romero said. “Governor Lujan Grisham’s administration is committed to support New Mexico municipalities and provide them with the resources they need to identify different sources of funding.” 

“NMED provides funding directly to communities through below market rate loans and grants from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Rural Infrastructure Program, and also co-administers the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund with the New Mexico Finance Authority to provide affordable loans for planning, designing, and constructing projects,” said Water Protection Division Acting Director John Rhoderick. “We will discuss how communities access these programs and outline a historic infusion of new funding for the next five years under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which emphasizes support for disadvantaged communities and provides targeted funding to address emerging contaminants and lead service lines.” 

“The New Mexico Finance Authority has multiple lending programs to help New Mexico communities and businesses, including loans for infrastructure, schools, water projects, economic development, and more,” said NMFA Managing Director of Lending John Brooks. “NMFA will provide information on how its programs work in the borrower’s best interest to build economic prosperity and create stronger communities in the state.” 

“FUNDIT is a powerful tool to leverage and expand capital for community projects,” said Johanna Nelson Strategic Programs Manager for the Economic Development Department. “The website can connect to over 20 funding agencies to fill financing gaps, and get projects finished sooner.”   

The conference will be held at the Albuquerque Convention Center Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, 2022, and is open to City, Town, and Village governments.

For more information, visit nmml.org.