Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training Grants

The Rural Water and Wastewater Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Program for Fiscal Year 2025 is administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency under the Rural Development (RD) mission area of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This program supports private nonprofit organizations in delivering technical assistance and training services to improve water and wastewater systems in eligible rural areas. The RUS aims to ensure equitable access to rural development resources, enhance infrastructure, and reduce climate pollution while increasing rural community resilience. The TAT Program helps eligible entities address water and waste management challenges by funding services that include technical training, application assistance for federal loans and grants, system operations improvements, and efforts to mitigate contamination of water sources by emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Funded activities may also address lead remediation, cybersecurity, decentralized infrastructure, disaster resiliency, and water reuse strategies. Approximately $35 million is expected to be available in FY 2025, though this is subject to appropriations. There are no specified minimum or maximum award amounts, and awards are made through grant agreements with a performance period spanning from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. Eligible applicants must be private nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status, including Tribally owned nonprofit entities, legally established within a U.S. state by the application deadline. Ineligible applicants include individuals, for-profit entities, federal agencies, public bodies, and private businesses. Applicants must have demonstrated experience and capacity to provide technical assistance and training either through internal staff or through agreements with qualified affiliated or nonaffiliated organizations, within limits defined by regulation. Applications open on October 1, 2025, and are due by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET via Grants.gov. The application process requires active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and completion of required certifications and representations. All proposals must comply with eligibility and program purpose guidelines outlined in 7 CFR part 1775. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. The evaluation criteria include organizational reach and experience, staffing levels, demographics and income levels of service areas, project clarity and alignment with key federal priorities, and sustainability of efforts beyond the grant period. Special scoring consideration may be given to projects serving disadvantaged or socially vulnerable communities, distressed areas, or those supporting climate resiliency or infrastructure expansion. Award notifications are expected by June 2025. Awards will be reimbursed based on eligible expenses incurred and must not duplicate services funded by other federal programs. Contact for this opportunity is Lorrie Davis, who can be reached at Water-RD@usda.gov or 202-720-1938. Additional details and application materials are available via the USDA Rural Development website or on Grants.gov. The program is governed by various federal statutes including the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and related USDA grant and environmental compliance regulations.