Water and waste disposal loan and grant programs to promote economic development in rural America are administered by USDA Rural Development through Rural Utility Programs.
Water and Waste Disposal Loans
Purpose: Develop
water and waste disposal systems, including solid waste disposal and storm
drainage, in rural areas and towns with a population of 10,000 or less. Funds
are available to public entities, such as municipalities, counties,
special-purpose districts, and Indian Tribes. In addition, funds may be made
available to non-profit corporations. Preference will be given to requests which
involve the merging of small facilities and those serving low-income
communities.
Water and Waste Disposal Grants
Purpose: Reduce
water and waste disposal costs to a reasonable level for users of the system.
Grants may be made, in some instances, up to 75 percent of eligible project
costs. Eligible applicants are the same as those applying for loan assistance.
Technical Assistance and Training Grants
Purpose: Make
grants to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training
on a wide range of issues about the delivery of water and waste disposal
service. The assistance is available in areas and towns with a population of
10,000 or less.
Solid Waste Management Grants
Purpose: Make
grants to public and private nonprofit organizations to provide technical
assistance and training to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources and
improve planning and management of solid waste facilities. Grants are available
to rural areas and towns with a population of 10,000 or less.
Water
and Waste Program Fact Sheet.
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
Purpose: Assist rural communities that have had a significant decline in
quantity or quality of drinking water. Grants can be made to rural areas, towns,
and cities with a population of 10,000 or less and a median household income not
in excess of 100 percent of the State's non metropolitan median household
income. Grants may be made for 100 percent of a project's cost. The maximum
grant is $500,000 when a significant decline in quantity or quality water has
occurred within two years or $75,000 to make emergency repairs and replacement
of facilities on existing systems.
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program (DLT)
Purpose: To encourage, improve, and make affordable the use of
telecommunications, computer networks, and related technology for rural
communities to improve access to educational and/or medical services. The DLT
demonstrates the ability of rural communities to utilize existing or proposed
telecommunications systems to achieve sustainable cost-effective distance
learning or medical link networks. Eligible applicants consist of rural schools,
libraries, hospitals, health care clinics, and related organizations which
operate rural educational or health care facilities.
Please send any comments or suggestions to:
jane.grant@nd.usda.gov