Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water
On this page:
- FY22 Grant Announcement
- Available Funding
- Eligible Applicants
- Timeline
- How to Apply
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact Information
FY22 Grant Announcement
EPA Announces $25.7 Million in Grants to Support Water Systems in Rural and Small Communities
Contact: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON (Dec. 12, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $25.7 million in grant funding for organizations to provide technical assistance and training to support small drinking water and wastewater systems that are often located in rural communities. EPA’s funding will help ensure that drinking water in these communities is safe and that wastewater is treated before it is responsibly returned to the environment.
“Small towns and rural communities are crucial to the progress and prosperity of our nation, but these areas still face significant challenges with drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Technical assistance supports growth and innovation in these systems, ensuring communities have access to the clean and safe water they deserve,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These grants, coupled with unprecedented resources from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support the work needed to maintain and upgrade water infrastructure and deliver environmental and economic benefits to rural America.”
Small water systems often face unique financial and operational challenges, including aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, increasing costs, and declining rate bases. EPA’s grant funding will be used by nonprofit organizations to provide training and technical assistance to small public water systems, small wastewater systems, and private well owners across the country.
Eligible applicants for this competitive agreement are nonprofit organizations, nonprofit private universities and colleges, and public institutions of higher education. The application period for these competitive grants is now open. Questions about applying for EPA funding for training and technical assistance must be received by Wednesday, January 11, 2023 and applications must be received by 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. EPA expects to award these cooperative agreements by Fall 2023 and encourages all eligible organizations who have an interest in these projects to apply.
This grant will be competed through a Request for Application process. The funding opportunity will remain open for 50 days on www.grants.gov.
Available Funding
For the FY22 grant cycle, the program is making approximately $25.7 million in federal funds available. The following is the expected total of awards in each of the three National Priority Areas:
- One to five awards are anticipated under National Priority Area 1: Training and Technical Assistance for Small Public Water Systems to Achieve and Maintain Compliance with the SDWA, including Improving Financial and Managerial Capacity, with an estimated total of $22,000,000.
- One to two awards are anticipated under National Priority Area 2: Training and Technical Assistance for Small Publicly-Owned Wastewater Systems and Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater Systems to Help Improve Water Quality and Sustainable Operations, with an estimated total of $1,000,000.
- One to two awards are anticipated under National Priority Area 3: Training and Technical Assistance for Private Drinking Water Well Owners to Help Improve Water Quality, with an estimated total of $2,700,000.
All applicants must demonstrate in their application submission how they will contribute a minimum non-federal cost-share/match of 10 percent of the total amount of federal funding requested for the project.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for this competitive agreement are nonprofit organizations, nonprofit private universities and colleges, and public institutions of higher education. For-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. States, municipalities, or tribal governments are not eligible to apply. Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in prohibited lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply.
Timeline
The solicitation for the grants is posted on Grants.gov. Applicants have 50 days to apply.
How to Apply
The grant program is a competitive program. Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than 50 days post announcement 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, January 31, 2023, in order to be considered for funding.
The Request for Applications (RFA) is viewable here:
FY22 Training and Technical Assistance Grant (pdf)
Click here to apply: Grants.gov
See below for information on frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this RFA must be submitted in writing via e-mail and must be received by the Agency contact identified in the “Contacts” section of this page. 11:59 PM Eastern Time, January 11, 2023.
Please refer to the following document for responses to frequently asked questions.
FY22 Training and Technical Assistance FAQ (pdf)
Contact Information
Email: SmallSystemsRFA@epa.gov