The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Request for Applications for organizations to provide technical assistance and training to support small water and wastewater systems. The agency is providing $25.7 million in grant funding to selected applicants.
The application period for these competitive grants is open now. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, nonprofit private universities and colleges, and public institutions of higher education.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Applications can be submitted to grants.gov under funding opportunity number EPA-OW-OGWDW-22-02. The agency expects to award the cooperative agreements by Fall 2023.
EPA ]expects that about one to five of the cooperative agreements will be awarded in National Priority Area 1, and one to two agreements will be awarded in each of the National Priority Areas 2 and 3.
“Small towns and rural communities are crucial to the progress and prosperity of our nation, but these areas still face significant challenges with drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Technical assistance supports growth and innovation in these systems, ensuring communities have access to the clean and safe water they deserve,” says EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These grants, coupled with unprecedented resources from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support the work needed to maintain and upgrade water infrastructure and deliver environmental and economic benefits to rural America.”
Small water systems often face unique financial and operational challenges, including aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, increasing costs, and declining rate bases. EPA’s grant funding will be used by nonprofit organizations to provide training and technical assistance to small public water systems, small wastewater systems, and private well owners across the country.
