The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is seeking applications for grants under a pilot program to help develop innovative treatment solutions for regional wastewater systems in rural America.
Up to $5 million is available nationwide to help historically impoverished communities (defined as any county where 20 percent of more of its population has lived in poverty over the past 30 years) develop regional solutions to longstanding wastewater treatment problems where soil conditions make traditional wastewater treatment ineffective and economically unfeasible.
The grants will help finance wastewater-related technical assistance, including services such as feasibility studies, preliminary design assistance and supervision, oversight, and technical assistance to develop an application for funding. The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.
Consortia of institutions of higher education; academic, health, and research institutes; and economic development entities are eligible to apply. The consortium must include a regional university, or the proposed scope of work must include coordinating with one, to solve untreated raw sewage issues with innovative technologies, strategic management, and regulatory models.
The Technical Assistance and Training for Innovative Regional Wastewater Treatment Solutions (TAT/RWTS) Grant Pilot Program was authorized by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020.
Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 8:59 p.m. PDT on November 4, 2020. Paper applications will not be accepted.
For additional information on the new pilot program and the application process, see page 62691 of the October 5, 2020, Federal Register. Questions related to the new Technical Assistance and Training for Innovative Regional Wastewater Treatment Solutions Grant Pilot Program may be directed to Lois East, Community Programs Specialist, (660) 492-4268.