Community Programs/Utility Progr

Community Programs/Utility Programs

Community Programs administers programs designed to develop essential community facilities for public use in rural areas. These facilities include schools, libraries, childcare, hospitals, medical clinics, assisted living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings and transportation. Through its Community Programs, the Department of Agriculture is striving to ensure that such facilities are readily available to all rural communities. Community Programs utilizes three flexible financial tools to achieve this goal: the Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program, the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program, and the Community Facilities Grant Program.

Utility Programs provide assistance, such as building, repairing, or improving rural water and wastewater systems, and provide technical assistance and training to solid waste facilities. Programs also exist for telecommunications equipment for classrooms and healthcare facilities and broadband equipment for rural facilities and communities.

FORMS RELATED TO PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR WATER AND WASTE PROGRAMS

The Environmental Infrastructure Working Group (EIWG) is a group of representatives from various state and federal agencies that meets with communities to discuss all funding options for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The group has also reviewed storm water and economic development project funding options.

EIWG Process

Communities request a meeting with the EIWG by submitting the two (2) page In-Take Document to the IRDC (see link below). A meeting will then be scheduled between the EIWG and the community. Project meetings allow communities to collectively meet with agency representatives to evaluate the community's situation and to identify funding and technical assistance options. The project meeting and in-take document process allows communities the opportunity to explore all assistance options at one meeting. It also provides for early coordination of multiple funding sources.