HURON, S.D., June 23, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development South Dakota State Director Nikki Gronli today announced the availability of grants to help rural and Tribal communities repair water infrastructure damaged by presidentially declared disasters in calendar year 2022. More than 35 South Dakota counties and tribal areas was impacted by derechos, severe thunderstorms and blizzards throughout 2022.
“When disaster strikes our rural communities and the places we call home, people need somewhere to turn,” Gronli said. “Through these grants, we stand ready to help make sure rural communities across this state who were impacted by natural disasters last year have the the resources they need to repair or rebuild their water infrastructure.”
USDA is making over $247 million in grants available through supplemental disaster funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Funds will remain available until expended.
Eligible applicants include rurally located public bodies, and nonprofit organizations.
Funds may be used to:
- Repair damaged water infrastructure.
- Develop resiliency to reduce long-term risks from future disasters.
Funds may be used in the following presidentially declared disaster counties:
- Aurora, Beadle, Bennett, Bon Homme, Brookings, Butte, Clark, Clay, Codington, Day, Deuel, Grant, Haakon, Hamlin, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jackson, Jones, Kingsbury, Lake, McCook, McPherson, Mellette, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Oglala Lakota, Potter, Roberts, Spink, Stanley, Todd, Tripp, Turner, Ziebach
Funds also may be used on the following presidentially declared disaster tribal reservations:
- Flandreau Indian Reservation, Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, Rosebud Indian Reservation
Applications must be submitted through the RD APPLY application system at rdapply.usda.gov Funds will be available until exhausted.
For more information on how to apply, contact Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program in South Dakota | Rural Development (usda.gov) or visit South Dakota | Rural Development (usda.gov).
Background
This additional funding will help eligible rural communities repair and rebuild essential water infrastructure. It will also help communities access technical assistance and training to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems.
Additional resources to support rural communities seeking disaster assistance are available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.
Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/sd.
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