The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is accepting applications for grants to help private nonprofit organizations provide assistance and training to improve water treatment and waste disposal for people in rural areas.
The department is accepting applications through its Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants program. The program helps qualified, private nonprofit organizations provide technical assistance and training to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems; helps communities prepare applications for water and waste disposal loans and grants; and helps associations improve the operation and maintenance of water and waste facilities in eligible rural areas.
The applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, 2022.
USDA says that it expects to make approximately $35 million available through the program. At least $1 million of that may be set aside for applications that support improved sustainability of water and waste services related to manufactured homes.
The department also says that it encourages nonprofits to apply that have the proven ability, background, experience, and capacity to provide technical assistance or training on a national, regional, or state basis. Eligible project areas include cities, towns, and unincorporated rural areas with populations of up to 10,000 residents, or tribal lands in rural areas. Special consideration may be given to projects that serve areas with populations of less than 5,500 residents or less than 2,500 residents.
The funds will support applications that aim to:
- Identify and evaluate solutions to water problems related to source, storage, treatment, distribution, collection, treatment, and disposal.
- Provide technical assistance and training to improve management, operations, and maintenance of water and waste disposal systems.
- Prepare water and waste disposal loan and grant applications. Projects must be completed within 12 months.
