Rural Utilities Service

Rural Utilities Service helps to improve the quality of life in rural America through a variety of loan and grant programs for electric energy, telecommunications, and water and waste disposal projects.

Water and Waste Disposal Direct loans and grants may be made to develop water and wastewater systems, including solid waste disposal and storm drainage, in rural areas and to cities and towns with a population of 10,000 or less. Funds are available to public entitites, such as municipalities, counties, special-purpose districts, and Indian tribes. In addition, funds may be made available to corporations operated on a not-for-profit basis. Priority will be given to public entities in areas with less than 5,500 people, to restore a deteriorating water supply, or to improve, enlarge, or modify a water facility or an inadequate waste facility. Also, preference will be given to requests which involve the merging of small facilities and those serving low-income communities. Applicants must be unable to obtain funds from other sources at reasonable rates and terms. The maximum term for all loans is 40 years; however, no repayment period will exceed State statutes or the useful life of the facility.

Guaranteed loans may be made for the same purpose as direct loans. They are made and serviced by lenders such as banks and savings and loan associations. Normally, guarantees will not exceed 80 percent on any loss of interest and principal on the loan.

Technical Assistance and Training Grants are made to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and/or training to associations located in rural areas and to cities and towns with a population of 10,000 or less. Assistance may be provided to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems, to improve the operation and maintenance of existing water and waste disposal facilities, and to assist associations in preparing applications for water and waste disposal facilities.

Solid Waste Management grants are made to public and private nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and/or training to associations located in rural areas and to cities and towns with a population of 10,000 or less to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources, and improve planning and management of solid waste facilities. Assistance may be provided to enhance operator skills in operation and maintenance, identify threats to water resources, and reduce the solid water stream.

Rural Water Circuit Rider Technical Assistance provides on-site technical assistance to help assure cost-effective operation of rural water systems. RUS has assisted rural water systems, via contracting, with day-to-day operations, financial and management problems. The assistance is provided at no charge and may be requested by officials of rural water systems, or by Rural Development personnel. It complements supervisory assistance provided by Rural Development personnel.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Programs were created to encourage and improve telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. Loan and grant funds may be used for purchase or lease of capital equipment, acquiring instructional programming or technical assistance and training.

For more information on these programs, please contact:

Rhonda Shippee at (802) 828-6030

Thomas Weiss, State Engineer and Environmental Coordinator at (802) 828-6030

Gary Beem at (802) 828-6032

State Director Welcome

Staff Directory

USDA, Rural Development

The following home pages will give you more information on sewer and water projects.

National Small Flows Clearinghouse

National Drinking Water Clearinghouse

Please send any comments or suggestions to:
webmaster@rurdev.usda.gov