Good to Know:
Contact a program official in your state (see contact tab below) to ask questions or explore other programs that may be a better fit for your needs.
What does this program do?
This program provides funding to financially-distressed rural communities to pay for predevelopment feasibility studies, pre-design assistance and technical assistance for 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?
Grant funds can be used to pay for eligible predevelopment planning costs and activities, including:
- Feasibility studies to support applications for funding water or waste disposal projects
- Preliminary design and engineering analysis
- Technical assistance and environmental impact analysis to develop applications for financial assistance
Are there additional requirements?
Yes. Predevelopment planning costs must be related to a proposed project that builds, enlarges, extends, or improves rural water, wastewater, solid waste, or storm water disposal facilities.
How do we get started?
- Applications for this program are accepted year round through your local RD office
- Program resources such as guidance, forms, certifications, and so on, are available at RD Apply
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
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.
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.
AREA OFFICES
Forrest City Area Office
Flora Pruitt, Area Specialist (Flora.Pruitt@usda.gov)
Seth Harrison, Area Specialist (seth.harrison@usda.gov)
Phone: 870-633-3055 (Ext. 4)
Fax: 855-681-7082
USDA Service Center
4401 N. Washington
Forrest City, AR 72335
Counties served: Arkansas, Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Lonoke, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, Pulaski, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff Counties.
Fort Smith Area Office
Susan Staggs, Area Specialist (Susan.Staggs@usda.gov)
Matthew Hudson, Area Specialist (Matthew.Hudson@usda.gov)
Phone: 479-646-8300 (Ext. 4)
Fax: 877-504-6540
USDA Service Center
3913 Brooken Hill Drive, Suite 400
Fort Smith, AR 72908-9289
Counties served: Conway, Crawford, Franklin, Faulkner, Johnson, Logan, Perry, Pope, Sebastian, Scott, Van Buren, and Yell Counties.
Harrison Area Office
Matthew Hudson, Area Specialist (Matthew.Hudson@usda.gov)
Phone: 870-741-8600 (Ext. 4)
Fax: 855-681-7080
Federal Building, Room 219
402 N. Walnut
Harrison, AR 72601
Counties served: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Fulton, Izard, Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy, Stone, and Washington Counties.
Hope Area Office
Amy Smith, Area Specialist (Amy.Smith3@usda.gov)
Phone: 870-777-8800 (Ext. 4)
Fax: 855-747-7792
USDA Service Center
300 W. Commerce Blvd., Suite D (Mail to P. O. Box 768)
Hope, AR 71802
Counties served: Clark, Garland, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Pike, Polk, Saline, and Sevier Counties.
Jonesboro Area Office
Keith Huskey, Area Specialist (Keith.Huskey@usda.gov)
Phone: 870-972-4671 (Ext. 4)
Fax: 855-681-7081
USDA Service Center
3407 S. Caraway, Suite 4
Jonesboro, AR 72404
Counties served: Clay, Cleburne, Craighead, Green, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph, and Sharp Counties.
Monticello Area Office
Brian Montgomery, Area Specialist (Michael.Montgomery3@usda.gov)
Marisa Harris, Area Specialist (Marisa.Harris@usda.gov)
Phone: 870-367-8400 (Ext. 4)
Fax: 855-747-7791
USDA Service Center
419 West Grimes Street, Suite 4
Monticello, AR 71655
Counties served: Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Ouachita, and Union Counties.
STATE OFFICE
Tim Smith, Acting Community Programs Director (Tim.Smith3@usda.gov)
Phone: 501-301-3265
Fax: 855-747-7800
David Kirchner, Community Programs Specialist (David.Kirchner@usda.gov)
Phone: 501-301-3265
Fax: 855-747-7800
Richard Maurer, Community Programs Specialist (Richard.Maurer@usda.gov)
Phone: 501-301-3265
Fax: 855-747-7800
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