South Carolina
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Rural Development's Utilities Programs staff is responsible for programs to develop and improve
water and wastewater systems as well as programs supporting the development of
telecommunication and distance learning systems.
Currently, the Federally funded Utilities Programs are:
Water and Waste Disposal Program (Loan and Grant funds and Guaranteed Loan funds):
Funds may be used for the development and improvement of public water and waste disposal (including solid waste and storm drainage) systems in towns/cities with a population not in excess of 10,000 and in rural areas. Public bodies, nonprofit corporations (water companies, etc.), and Federally recognized Indian Tribes can be eligible applicants. To qualify applicants must be unable to obtain the financing from other sources and/or their own resources at rates and terms they can afford. Grants are used to supplement direct loans for the purpose of reducing user rate costs to a reasonable level when compared to comparable systems and similar size communities with similar economic and income conditions. The interest rate is dependent on the median household income of the service area. Terms cannot exceed the useful life of the facility or 40 years. For guaranteed loans, Rural Development may guarantee up to 90% of loss of principal and interest on a loan. Normally, guarantees will not exceed 80% unless extraordinary circumstances exist.
Appalachian Regional Commission Grants:
Grants are funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and administered by USDA Rural Development. Applicants must be located in the Appalachian Region. In S.C., this includes the counties of Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg. Applicant eligibility and grant purposes are the same as the Rural Development requirements for Water and Waste Disposal grants. Grants from ARC cannot be used to diminish Federal or State funds for the same type of projects in the Region.
Technical Assistance and Training Grants and Solid Waste Management Grants:
Applicants must have the proven ability, background, experience, legal authority and actual capacity to provide technical assistance and/or training to entities eligible for Water and Waste Disposal loans and grants. Preapplications are filed between October 1 and December 31 each year. Applicant eligibility determinations and grant approval decisions are made by the Rural Development Administrator in Washington, DC. Technical Assistance and Training grant funds are provided to Nonprofit Corporations that have been granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Funds may be used to provide technical assistance and/or training on a wide range of issues relating to the delivery of water and waste disposal service. Solid Waste Management grant funds are provided to Nonprofit Corporations that have been granted tax exempt status by the IRS and also to Public Bodies. Funds may be used to provide technical assistance and/or training to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources and improve planning and management of solid waste sites.
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants:
Grant funds may be provided to Public Bodies and Nonprofit Corporations serving towns/cities with a population not in excess of 10,000 and rural areas in the event of natural disaster. The median household income of the service area cannot exceed $26,378. The maximum grant is $500,000 when a significant decline in quality or quantity of water has occurred within 2 years, or $75,000 to make emergency repairs and replacement of facilities on existing systems. Project must compete on a national basis for available funds.
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants:
This program aims to encourage, improve and make affordable the use of advanced telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced technologies in rural areas. Applicants may include traditional education and health care providers as well as other providers of learning, training, and retraining. Eligible purposes include acquiring equipment or software, providing technical assistance for using equipment or software, developing instructional programming, providing engineering or environmental studies relating to the financed project, and providing facilities. Projects compete nationally. Each year the requirements and deadlines are posted in the Federal Register.
Please send any comments or suggestions to:
Marlous.Black@sc.usda.gov
Revised on:
August 3, 2005