Sewage Facilities Program (SFP)

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED), offers the Sewage Facilities Program (SFP) to support compliance with the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act. This initiative is funded by the Marcellus Legacy Fund as established by Act 13 of 2012. The primary goal of the program is to fund planning activities that enable municipalities and other eligible entities to meet state sewage facility requirements, thereby ensuring the protection of public health and the environment. Eligible applicants for this program include a broad range of entities such as municipalities (counties, cities, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships, home rule municipalities), councils of governments, authorized organizations involved in environmental and conservation activities, institutions of higher education, watershed organizations, and for-profit businesses, excluding producers of natural gas as defined in Act 13. The program specifically funds planning work required under the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, as well as certain administrative costs capped at two percent of the grant amount. Ineligible costs include public relations, lobbying, litigation, interest on borrowed funds, and other unrelated expenses. Applicants are required to provide matching funds of at least fifty percent of the total project cost. Additional program requirements stipulate compliance with Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage laws for construction work, adherence to nondiscrimination policies, maintenance of accurate project records, and transparency regarding any potential conflicts of interest. The program also requires compliance with all applicable bidding and procurement laws and mandates that project commencement must not occur before grant approval to maintain eligibility for funding. The maximum grant amount available under this program is $100,000 per project. Applications must be submitted via the electronic Single Application for Assistance found at grants.pa.gov. The application period opens annually on February 1 and closes on May 31. Along with the online application, required supplemental documents include a Task/Activity Report approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, a detailed project description, proof of matching funds, and a formal resolution from the applicant’s governing body. Applications are evaluated by the Commonwealth Financing Authority based on factors such as project cost, strategic importance, and anticipated impact. Upon approval, a grant agreement and commitment letter are issued electronically. Grant recipients must designate authorized individuals to execute agreements electronically and comply with reporting and reimbursement requirements, including certification of expenses and submission of supporting documentation. Program inquiries can be directed to the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, Office of Business Finance and Workforce Development - CFA Programs Division, located at the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Contact is available via phone at (717) 787-6245, fax at (717) 772-3581, or email at ra-dcedsitedvpt@pa.gov. Additional program guidelines and resources are accessible online at dced.pa.gov.