Grants may be made to eligible entities for the study, design, or construction of regional wastewater systems for historically impoverished communities that have had difficulty installing traditional wastewater treatment systems due to soil conditions.
The area to be served must be: historically impoverished (meeting persistent poverty guidelines, which according to Section 740 of the General Provisions of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Public Law 116-94, dated December 20, 2019, is any county that has had 20 percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, and 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-year average.); and rural. Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less – check eligible addresses; Tribal lands in rural areas.
Funds may be used:
This program helps small communities extend and improve waste treatment facilities for households and businesses. Good practices can save tax dollars, improve the natural environment and may be necessary for manufacturers and other types of businesses to locate or expand operations.
The focus of this grant is raw sewage discharge in rural communities in the Mid-South, particularly historically impoverished communities that have had difficulty utilizing USDA programs. These communities face unique challenges, both due to income level and soil type. Emphasis should be placed on promoting racial equity of service in rural communities and ensuring access to communities suffering from systemic racism and other forms of discrimination.
Estimated Total Program Funding:
