Water & Environmental Programs (WEP) Loans and Grants
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses. Examples of essential community facilities include: -Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities -Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars or street improvements -Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing -Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles or equipment -Educational services such as museums, libraries or private schools -Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment -Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses What are the funding priorities? ---Priority point system based on population, median household income -Small communities with a population of 5,500 or less -Low-income communities having a median household income below 80% of the state nonmetropolitan median household income.
Award Range
Not specified - Not specified
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Rural areas including cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible for this program. Applicant must be eligible for grant assistance, which is provided on a graduated scale with smaller communities with the lowest median household income being eligible for projects with a higher proportion of grant funds. Grant assistance is limited to the following percentages of eligible project costs:Maximum of 75 percent when the proposed project is: Located in a rural community having a population of 5,000 or fewer; and The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 60 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income. Maximum of 55 percent when the proposed project is: Located in a rural community having a population of 12,000 or fewer; and The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 70 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income. Maximum of 35 percent when the proposed project is: Located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 80 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income. Maximum of 15 percent when the proposed project is: Located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 90 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income. The proposed project must meet both percentage criteria. Grants are further limited. Grant funds must be available
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
Grantor
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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