The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is seeking applications for grants to support household water well systems in rural areas.
USDA's Household Water Well System Grants are not provided directly to individuals. Instead, qualified private nonprofits will use the grants to establish lending programs to help homeowners finance the construction or repair of individually-owned household water well systems. The revolving loan fund may provide loans of up to $11,000 per household at a one percent fixed interest rate over 20 years. The wells installed or repaired with this financing must serve existing homes in a rural area with a population of 50,000 or less.
Applicants must have expertise in household water well systems and lending activities, and they must provide matching funds of 10 percent.
The deadline to apply is May 27, 2019. Applications may be submitted online through grants.gov or mailed to the following address:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Rural Development, Rural Utilities Service
Water and Environmental Programs
STOP 1570, Room 2229-S
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250-1570
For additional information, including details on how to apply, see the Funding Opportunity Announcement RDRUS-19-01-HWWS.
Questions related to USDA's Household Water Well Grant Program in Oregon may be directed to Ella Nichols, (503) 414-3354. Those with project proposals outside of Oregon should contact USDA Rural Development in the corresponding state.