Household Water Well System Grant Program

What is the purpose of the program? Who is eligible to apply? How can funds be used? How much assistance can our group apply for?           When can we apply for assistance? How will our application be evaluated? How do we apply?

What is the purpose of the program?  return to top
The Household Water Well Grant program provides grants to qualified private non-profit organizations to establish lending programs for household water wells. Eligible individuals may borrow money from grant recipients to construct or upgrade their private well systems.

Who is eligible to apply?  return to top

• Private, non-profit organizations that have been granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.
• Must have legal capacity and lawful authority to carry out the grant purposes.
• Must have sufficient expertise and experience in lending and promoting the safe and productive use of individually owned household water well systems.

How can funds be used?  return to top

• Provide loans to eligible individuals for the construction, refurbishing, and servicing of individual household water well systems, with the following criteria:
• Individuals must have a median household income that is equal to or below the statewide nonmetropolitan median household income
• Individuals must own and occupy the home being improved
• Homes must be an existing structure in a rural area
• Projects cannot substitute for water service available from collective water systems
• Pay administrative expenses associated with providing loans to eligible individuals.
• Examples of recently funded projects:

How much assistance can our group apply for?  return to top

• At least 10% matching funds required
• No minimum/maximum grant amounts

When can we apply for assistance?  return to top

• Grant applications are accepted during an application window which is announced in a Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA).
• Typically, the window for submitting applications is open for 60 days from the date the NOFA is published in the Federal Register.

How will our application be evaluated?  return to top

• Expertise and experience in promoting the safe and productive use of individually-owned household water well systems
• Expertise and successful experience in making and servicing loans to individuals
• Percent of applicant contribution
• Quality of work plan, goals, and objectives
• Ratio of projected administrative expenses to loan advances

How do we apply?  return to top

• Applications are processed through the National Office in Washington DC. Applicants are encouraged to contact their local Rural Development Office to discuss potential projects.
• For more information, access to the Notice of Funding Availability, and to obtain application documents, visit the National Office website at http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/well.htm.

Please send any comments or suggestions to:
keith.bastow@ia.usda.gov
Iowa Rural Development
Revised on: April 16, 2008