U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants in North Carolina

open


What does this program do?

This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.

Who may apply?

  • Rurally located public bodies
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Federally recognized tribes
  • Applicants must show that a major decline in quantity or quality of water occurred within two years of the date of the application. Grants are also awarded when a significant decline in quality and quantity of water is imminent. 

What kind of event can qualify as an emergency?

  • Drought or flood
  • Earthquake
  • Tornado or hurricane
  • Disease outbreak
  • Chemical spill, leak or seepage
  • Other disasters

NOTE: A federal disaster declaration is not required.

What is an eligible area?

  • Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less -- check eligible addresses
  • Tribal lands in rural areas
  • Colonias

The area to be served must also have a median household income less-than the state's median household income for non-metropolitan areas. Contact your local RD office for details.

How may the funds be used?

  • Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply
  • Water source grants up to $1,000,000 for the construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and/or other sources of water (water source up to and including the treatment plant)

Are matching funds required?

  • Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and nonprofit entities are encouraged

How do we get started?

  • Applications for this program are accepted year round, 
    online through RD APPLY or through your local RD office.
  • Program resources are available online (forms, guidance, certifications, etc.).

Who can answer questions?

What governs this program?

  • Code of Federal Regulation, 7 CFR 1778
  • Section 306A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

This program helps prevent damage or restore households and business' access to clean, reliable drinking water in eligible rural areas and towns following natural disasters. Funding can improve the natural environment and encourage manufacturers and other businesses to locate or expand operations.

NOTE: Please select your state in the dropdown menu above to find the state office contact information and speak to a program specialist before attempting to fill out any forms or applications. This will save you time in completing your application.

National Architect Requirements:

There are no other architect, engineering or environmental requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above. 

There are no other additional requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above.
 

ASHEVILLE AREA OFFICE 

Jody Lovelace, Area Director 

160 Zillicoa Street, Suite #2 

Asheville, NC 28801 

828-254-0916  

844-325-6823 Fax 

Email: jody.lovelace@usda.gov 

Counties Served: All Area One Counties 

 JEFFERSON SUB AREA OFFICE 

134 Law Enforcement Dr., Suite 201 

Jefferson, NC 28640 

336-246-2885 

844-325-6823 Fax 

Email: Joyce.Latham@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Ashe, Watauga, Alleghany, Wilkes, Caldwell 

FRANKLIN LOCAL OFFICE 

195 Thomas Heights Road 

Franklin, NC 28734 

828-524-3175 

844-325-6823 Fax 

Email: rebecca.pinto@usda.gov 

Counties Served:  Macon, Haywood, Jackson, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Swain 

MURPHY LOCAL OFFICE 

225 Valley River Avenue, Suite J 

Murphy, NC 28906 

828-837-2721 

844-325-6823 Fax 

Email: jody.lovelace@usda.gov 

SPRUCE PINE LOCAL OFFICE 

11943 S. 226 Hwy Suite D 

Spruce Pine, NC 28777 

828-765-0889 

844-325-6823 Fax 

Email: susan.roland@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Avery, Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania 

SHELBY AREA OFFICE 

Jody Lovelace, Area Director 

844 Wallace Grove Road 

Shelby, NC 28150 

704-471-0235 

844-325-6850 Fax 

Email: kevin.oliver@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Cleveland, Gaston, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Mecklenburg 

WINSTON-SALEM SUB AREA OFFICE 

Forsyth County Agriculture Building Room 102 

1450 Fairchild Drive 

Winston Salem, NC  27105 

336-767-0720 

844-325-6850 Fax 

Email: kevin.oliver@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Forsyth, Alexander, Burke, Davie  

STATESVILLE LOCAL OFFICE 

444 Bristol Drive 

Statesville, NC  28677 

704-872-5061 

844-325-6850 Fax 

Counties Served: Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln 

Email: kevin.oliver@usda.gov 

DOBSON LOCAL OFFICE 

220 Cooper Street 

PO Box 66 

Dobson, NC 27017 

336-386-8751 

844-325-6850 Fax 

Email: debbie.dickerson@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Surry, Yadkin, Stokes 

LUMBERTON AREA OFFICE 

Larry Sampson, Area Director 

PO Box 7426 

440-C Caton Road 

Lumberton, NC 28360 

910-887-3762 

844-325-6830 Fax 

Email: larry.sampson@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Robeson, Bladen, Cumberland, Scotland, Hoke, Columbus 

SMITHFIELD SUB AREA OFFICE 

Johnston County Agric Service Bldg 

2736 Hwy 210 

Smithfield, NC 27577 

919-300-4866 

844-325-6830 Fax 

Email: kristi.wilson@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Johnston, Harnett, Sampson, Wake, Wilson 

BOLIVIA LOCAL OFFICE 

10 Referendum Drive 

PO Box 108 

Bolivia, NC  28422 

910-253-4448 

844-325-6830 Fax 

Email: paula.thrush@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender 

ASHEBORO AREA OFFICE 

Kelley Woodley, Area Director 

847 Curry Drive, Suite 104 

Asheboro, NC 27205 

336-629-4449 

844-325-6822 Fax 

Email: sha.stallings-morgan@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Rowan, Stanly, Cabarrus, Rockingham, Caswell, Alamance 

SANFORD LOCAL AREA OFFICE 

2416 Tramway Road 

Ernest & Ruby McSwain Extension Educ & Ag Center 

Sanford, NC 27332 

919-775-3407 

844-325-6822 Fax 

Email: margarita.marble@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Lee, Chatham, Moore 

ROCKINGHAM LOCAL OFFICE 

123 Caroline Street 

Rockingham, NC  28379 

910-895-3950 

844-325-6822 Fax 

Email: pamela.edwards@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Richmond, Montgomery, Anson, Union 

HENDERSON AREA OFFICE 

Shirlene Alexander, Area Director 

853 S. Beckford Drive, Suite A 

Henderson, NC 27536 

252-438-3134 ext. 4 

844-325-6826 Fax 

Email: kim.hunt@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren, Orange, Durham, Person,  

WINTON SUB AREA OFFICE 

County Office Building 

305 W. Tryon Street 

P.O. Box 8 

Winton, NC 27986 

252-358-7836 

844-325-6826 Fax 

Email: travis.lassiter@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Hertford, Gates, Chowan, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Camden, Currituck, Bertie, Northampton 

HALIFAX LOCAL OFFICE 

Halifax County Agriculture Complex 

359 Ferrell Lane 

P.O. Box 7 

Halifax, NC 27839 

252-583-7171 ext. 4 

844-325-6826 Fax 

Email: pamela.richardson@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Halifax, Nash 

KINSTON AREA OFFICE 

Aaron Gaskins, Area Director 

2044-C Hwy 11/55 South 

PO Box 6189 

Kinston, NC 28501-0189 

252-526-9799 

844-325-6827 Fax 

Email: stephanie.hardison@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Lenoir, Jones, Craven, Pamlico, Onslow, Carteret, Wayne, Greene, Duplin 

GREENVILLE SUB AREA OFFICE 

Pitt County Office Complex 

403 Government Circle, Suite 3 

Greenville, NC 27834 

252-752-2035/252-752-2880 

844-325-6827 Fax 

Email: richard.hines@usda.gov 

Counties Served: Pitt, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell, Dare, Beaufort, Hyde