Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program
This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that assist rural communities in improving their water and wastewater systems through training and technical assistance.
The Rural Water and Wastewater Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Program for Fiscal Year 2025 is a grant opportunity from the USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). This program provides funding to private nonprofit organizations to offer technical assistance and training for addressing water and wastewater issues in rural areas. The focus includes helping communities prepare applications for water and waste disposal loans and grants, managing and maintaining water facilities, tackling contaminants like PFAS, and supporting lead remediation, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, and water reuse. Approximately $35 million is anticipated for FY 2025, though the final amount depends on congressional appropriations. There is no set minimum or maximum award amount, and grants are competitive, based on scoring criteria. The award performance period runs from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, and funds can be renewed with new applications. Eligible applicants are private nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status, including tribally-owned nonprofits. Applicants must have been incorporated by December 31 of the year the application period occurs and demonstrate experience with similar projects. Federal agencies, public bodies, private businesses, and individuals are ineligible. There is no cost-sharing requirement for this grant. The application deadline is December 31, 2024, and applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. Required documentation includes proof of active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and completed certifications and representations in SAM. Grant applications are evaluated based on criteria such as the applicant's experience, organizational structure, population served, and project goals. Points are awarded for factors like supporting underserved populations, reducing climate pollution, and promoting economic recovery. Applications are ranked, and grants are awarded based on score and funding availability, with discretion held by the RU.S. Administrator for final decision-making. The award process includes reimbursement based on the completion of approved activities. The USDA emphasizes nondiscrimination and equal opportunity, including for religious organizations. Additionally, applicants must comply with environmental policies, civil rights laws, and data transparency regulations. For questions, contact information is available on the USDA TAT Program website or through specified USDA personnel.
Award Range
Not specified - Not specified
Total Program Funding
$37,500,000
Number of Awards
40
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
(a) Entities eligible for grants must be private nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status, designated by the Internal Revenue Service. A nonprofit organization is defined as any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that:(1) Is operated primarily for scientific, education, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest.(2) Is not organized primarily for profit.(3) Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations.(b) Entities must be legally established and located within a state as defined in 1775.2.(c) Organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year the application period occurs to be eligible for funds.(d) Private businesses, Federal agencies, public bodies, and individuals are ineligible for these grants.(e) Applicants must also have the proven ability, background, experience (as evidenced by the organization's satisfactory completion of project(s) similar to those proposed), legal authority, and actual capacity to provide technical assistance and/or training on a regional basis to associations as provided in 1775.33. To meet the requirement of actual capacity, an applicant must either:(1) Have the necessary resources to provide technical assistance and/or training to associations in rural areas through its staff, or (2) Be assisted by an affiliate or member organization which has such background and experience, and which agrees, in writing, that it will provide the assistance, or (3) Contract with a nonaffiliated organization for not more than 49 percent of the grant to provide the proposed assistance. Eligible Projects. Grants may be made to organizations as defined in 1775.35 to enable such organizations to assist associations to: (a) Identify and evaluate solutions to water problems of associations in rural areas relating to source, storage, treatment, and/or distribution (b) Identify and evaluate solutions to waste problems of associations in rural areas relating to collection, treatment, and/or disposal (c ) Prepare water and/or waste disposal loan/grant applications (d) Provide technical assistance/training to association personnel that will improve the management, operation, and maintenance of water and waste facilities (e) Pay the expenses associated with providing the technical assistance and/or training authorized in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
October 1, 2024
Application Closes
December 31, 2024
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