Water and Waste Grants and Loans and Loan Guarantees (Section 306C)

 

Provide water and waste disposal facilities and services to low income rural communities whose residents face significant health risks.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
10.770
Federal Agency/Office
Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants; E - Direct Loans
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Authorization
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Section 306C, 7 U.S.C. 1926(c), as amended; Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, Title XXIII, Public Law 101-624.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Local level governments, Indian Tribes on Federal and State reservations, and other federally recognized Indian Tribes, U.S. Territories and possessions, and nonprofit associations can receive assistance under this program. Except for rural areas known as "Colonia" along the U.S./Mexico border, the projects funded under this program must primarily provide water and/or waste disposal services to residents of a county where the per capita income of the residents is not more than 70 percent of the most recent national average per capita income, as determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and unemployment rate of the residents is not less than 125 percent of the most recent national average unemployment rate, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also the residents must face significant health risks due to not having access to an affordable community water and/or waste disposal system.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Users of the applicant systems, which are previously described as public bodies, private nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes, and individuals.
Credentials/Documentation
Evidence of legal and organizational capacity, and economic feasibility. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applications include the criteria specified within 7 CFR 1777. This includes, but is not limited to, the requirement of applicants to file an application Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, with the appropriate Rural Development (RD) Office.
Award Procedure
Applications will be reviewed and scored for funding priority by the RD State Office. Applications must compete on a national basis for available funds.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Dependent upon funding and whether the application is considered complete. A determination on a complete application will be made within 15 federal working days. If complete, an eligibility and funding determination will be issued within 45 working days.
Appeals
An application determined ineligible may request a review of this decision with the National Appeals Division of USDA in accordance with USDA regulations at 7 CFR 11.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
A proposed project servicing a rural area with a population not in excess of 1,500, a median household income not in excess of 50 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income, with leveraged financing, and, for Colonias funding, servicing residents with access or health risk issues in a Colonia along the U.S./Mexico border will be given priority. The Rural Development State Director will rate applications on a point system and points received will be considered in selecting projects for funding.
How may assistance be used?
Funds may be used for up to 100 percent of costs to: (1) construct, enlarge, extend, or otherwise improve a community water or waste system, including extending service lines to and/or connecting individual residences to a system; (2) allow applicant to make grants directly to individuals to extend service lines and/or connect residences plumbing to the applicant's system; (3) improve an individual's residence to allow use of water and/or waste disposal system; (4) pay reasonable charges and fees for connecting to system, installation of plumbing and related fixtures; (5) construction in dwelling for a bathroom; and, (6) pay costs for closing abandoned septic tanks and water wells.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Required to maintain records and accounts to assure funds are used for authorized purposes.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Not Applicable Requests for funds are granted as needed.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Consult local telephone directory under United States Government, Department of Agriculture, for Rural Development office number. If no listing contact appropriate Rural Development State Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Assistant Administrator
Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20250 US
charlesd.stephens@usda.gov
Phone: 202-619-8500
Website Address
http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/water-environmental-programs
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-1980-0-1-452
Obligations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$32,895,461.00; FY 23 est $23,395,891.00; FY 24 est $23,395,891.00; FY 21$26,231,430.00; FY 20$25,778,516.00; FY 19$29,784,220.00; FY 18$31,268,806.00; - Colonias Grants(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$25,189,479.00; FY 23 est $25,288,952.00; FY 24 est $25,288,952.00; FY 21$25,720,751.00; FY 20$27,380,790.00; FY 19$15,515,292.00; FY 18$25,057,172.00; - Native American Tribe Grants and Persistent Poverty Native American
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$421,500 to $9,000,000. Average: $2,765,950
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
7 CFR 1777.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 


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