Keller Procures Critical Funding for Communities

Oct 3, 2024

As a multi-disciplinary civil engineering firm with community ties across the West, Keller has helped our clients acquire much-needed project funding for over thirty years. Funding is vital to many communities that require assistance to pay for critical infrastructure projects, including new or updated wastewater treatment plants, roadways, and potable water systems.  

Similar to college loans and grants, communities can apply for low-interest loans or grants from numerous agencies including the State Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), USDA Rural Development (USDA-RD), State Transportation Departments, U.S. Army Corps, and others.  

Keller’s experienced funding experts, Stillman Norton, PE who manages Keller’s Clarkston office, and Margaret Cole, an Administrative Assistant and Certified Grant Administrator, have been instrumental in helping clients in their area obtain millions of dollars for their infrastructure projects.



Keller has historically worked with communities of varying sizes, and in the beginning, most of our work was with small, Idaho communities that needed assistance to complete much-needed projects to improve their infrastructure.

“[Company Founder] Jim Keller did everything that we’re doing because a lot of our clients have been smaller; they need funding assistance to make their projects even happen,” Norton said. “Most of the clients we work with are smaller communities that are less than 20,000 in population.”

This includes communities like the City of Juliaetta which recently received $11,905,904 in grant support because of Keller’s application efforts. Located northeast of Lewiston, Idaho, Juliaetta is a small community with a population of 634. The burden of paying back a loan is typically felt more acutely by populations this size, so outside grant funding was needed to fund their wastewater treatment plant project. Beginning in 2016, Keller helped the City apply for and receive the necessary funding.


Juliaetta Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Funding Quick Stats

  • Idaho DEQ ARPA = $1,700,000
  • Idaho DEQ Principal Forgiveness = $542,491
  • USDA-RD Grant = $7,913,413
  • Community Development Block Grant = $500,000
  • U.S. Army Corps Grant = $1,250,000
  • USDA-RD Loan = $750,000 (1.5% at 40 years)

This effort included reapplying to one funding source three times before receiving approval. 

“USDA-RD had reached out to let me know that they might have another possible funding option to procure the remaining grant funding needed, though it may be a long shot,” Norton said. “We put together an eight-page letter detailing what was needed, why it was needed, and other details. This was a great example of funding agencies working for you to get the needed funding. This attempt resulted in an additional grant award of $5.7 million.”

According to Norton and Cole, many small communities do not have the staff or availability to apply for funding. Instead, they look to consultant firms for application assistance.

“A lot of times, all they have is the city clerk and an operator and they just don’t have the time or the know-how to go out and [apply for funding],” Norton said. “So that requires Margaret and me to be their go-between to advocate for them with the various funding agencies that we work with.”

Although most of Keller’s funding procurement occurs with smaller clients, our team has also helped source funding for larger communities like the City of Lewiston that has a population of just over 35,000. Keller identified funding for a $35 million wastewater treatment plant project that we also designed.

City of Lewiston’s Wastewater Treatment Plant

Cole explained that most applications are detailed, time-consuming, and potentially difficult to navigate.  This is especially true for those with limited experience applying for funds. Each agency has different formats, processes, and security features. Substantial application coordination is needed between the City, its public works department, the treasurer and clerk, the engineer, and the agency’s project manager. According to Cole, a coordinator who has navigated agency applications helps make the process easier for everyone involved.



It is typical to apply for multiple loans to cover the costs of larger projects. And, because the funding process can take time (eight years in Juliaetta’s case), Norton explained that Keller typically works closely with the client during the early stages of a project and throughout completion.

“In some cases, the project doesn’t even happen unless we’re identifying the need beforehand,” Norton said. “We know that they’re going to need some funding to at least get the planning for that project started.”

It is important to communicate with funding agencies before applying for a loan or grant to raise awareness of future projects.

Norton believes funding procurement is part of his role as a Civil Engineer.

“When we’re hired to work with somebody and we know what they’re trying to accomplish, it’s our job. We need to advocate for them to get the money for the project to make it happen.”

Norton attributes Keller’s funding success to understanding the various agencies’ rules and regulations and our relationships with clients and each funding agency.

“We must communicate frequently with these funding agencies so that they know what’s needed, and they know more about the project. Then, all of a sudden, they’re working hard to get the money for you,” Stillman said.

Keller staff at the Lewiston Wastewater Treatment Plant

Cole connects with funding agencies and communities by phone to work on building a relationship with them. She attributes this communication method to Keller’s funding procurement success rate.  

“That’s one of the things I love about this job–we are helping small communities,” Cole said.  

Norton and Cole believe their efforts go beyond helping to fund a project; Keller helps to improve lives. This belief coincides with several of Keller’s Core Values, including staying Connected and being Human.  

“This is more than just building a nice wastewater treatment plant,” Cole said. “This is about helping people that pretty much couldn’t do it on their own.”

“We care a lot about these communities that we work with,” Norton said. “Because we are involved with them for so long, we genuinely care about the outcome and the result, and we feel like we’re part of their community by the time we’re done.”