Purpose: To develop water and waste
disposal (including solid waste disposal and storm drainage) systems in
rural areas and towns with populations not in excess of 10,000. The
funds are available to public entities such as cities, boroughs,
special-purpose districts, Indian tribes, and corporations not operated
for profit. USDA Rural Development also guarantees water and waste
disposal loans made by banks and other eligible lenders.
Water and Waste Disposal Grants
Purpose: To reduce water and waste
disposal costs to a reasonable level for rural users. Grants may be made
for up to 75 percent of eligible project costs in some cases. The same
types of applicants are eligible for grants and loans.
Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grants
Purpose: To make grants to nonprofit
organizations to provide technical assistance and training to utility
managers and operators on a wide range of issues relating to the
delivery of water and waste disposal service.
A percentage of the Water and Wastewater
Grant Program is available each year to provide technical assistance for
rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less. Private, nonprofit
organizations that have been granted tax-exempt status from the Internal
Revenue Service may be eligible for grant funds provided they can
demonstrate the ability, background, experience, legal authority, and
actual capacity to provide technical assistance/training on a regional
basis to small, rural communities. Grant funds may be used to assist
communities and rural areas identify and evaluate solutions to water or
wastewater problems, improve facility operation and maintenance
activities, or prepare funding applications for water or wastewater
treatment facility construction projects.
Solid Waste Management Grants
Purpose: To make grants to public and
private nonprofit organizations for providing technical assistance and
training to utility managers and operators to reduce or eliminate
pollution of water resources and improve planning and management of
solid waste facilities. This assistance is available in rural areas and
towns with populations not in excess of 10,000.
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
Purpose: To assist rural communities
that have had a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking
water. Grants can be made in rural areas and cities or towns with
populations not in excess of 10,000 and a median household income that
does not exceed Alaska’s non-metropolitan median household income.
Grants may be made for 100 percent of eligible project costs. The
maximum grant is $500,000 when a significant decline in quantity or
quality of water occurred within 2 years or $75,000 to make emergency
repairs and replacement of facilities on existing systems.
Rural Water Circuit Rider Technical Assistance
Purpose: to provide technical assistance
for the operation of rural water systems. USDA Rural Development,
through contracting, has assisted rural water systems with day-to-day
operational, financial, and management problems. Officials of rural
water systems or USDA Rural Development may request the assistance. The
program complements USDA Rural Development loan supervision
responsibilities. USDA Rural Development contracts with the National
Rural Water Association (NRWA) to provide this service. NRWA
State Affiliates do the work in their state(s).