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SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households in North Carolina

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What does this program do?

This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.

Who may apply?

  • Most state and local governmental entities
  • Nonprofits
  • Federally recognized tribes

What is an eligible area?

Areas to be served must be rural and financially distressed:

  • Rural areas with a population of 2,500 or less
  • Have a median household income below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income based on latest Census data

How may the funds be used?

To pay predevelopment planning costs, including:

  • Feasibility studies to support applications for funding water or waste disposal projects
  • Preliminary design and engineering analysis
  • Technical assistance for the development of an application for financial assistance

Are there additional requirements?

The predevelopment planning costs must be related to a proposed project that meets the following requirements:

  • Construct, enlarge, extend or improve rural water, sanitary sewage, solid waste disposal and storm wastewater disposal facilities
  • Construct or relocate public buildings, roads, bridges, fences or utilities, and to make other public improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities
  • Relocate private buildings, roads, bridges, fences, or utilities, and other private improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities

How do we get started?

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

What governs this program?

  • Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7, Part 1774 - 7 CFR 1774
  • Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

To help very small, financially distressed rural communities extend and improve water and waste treatment facilities that serve local households and businesses.

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

704-471-0235

844-325-6850 Fax

Email: kevin.oliver@usda.gov

Counties Served: Forsyth, Alexander, Burke, Davie 

STATESVILLE LOCAL OFFICE

444 Bristol Drive

Statesville, NC 28677

704-471-0235

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.gray@usda.gov

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

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