May 2014 Luncheon

Speaker: JD Solomon and Kim Colson, North Carolina State Water Infrastructure Authority

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2014

Topic: Funding, Priorities, and Innovation: The New State Water Infrastructure Authority (SWIA) and the State of North Carolina's Water Resources

Presentation: Download

Summary: The new State Water Infrastructure Authority was formed by legislation passed in the 2013 session of the General Assembly.  SWIA in responsible for working with the NCDENR Division of Water Infrastructure to prioritize and approve the state's loan and grants program's related to water resources, as well as such things as developing  a master plan for the state's water resources, providing information related to utility best management practice, and providing recommendations related to the potential use of public-private partnerships.  The Board began meeting in January 2014 and has already implemented consolidation of the state's loan application process and consolidating the priority criteria for applications.

JD Solomon, PE is a VP, Area Manager for CH2M HILL in North Carolina.  He serves as the firm's Eastern US Leader for the Strategic Consulting Platform that focuses on water utility management.  He has a Professional Certificate in Strategic Decision and Risk Management from Stanford, an MBA from the University of South Carolina, and a BS Civil Engineering from NC State.   He is a licensed Professional Engineer in 3 states.

Kim Colson, PE received his B.S. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in North Carolina. He has been in the water resources industry for over 25 years and has been with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). In his role as acting director for the Division of Water Infrastructure in DENR, he manages the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the infrastructure program within Community Development Block Grants, and state-funded water infrastructure fund programs.