This action approves an award in the amount of $18,359,000 to the tennessee department of environment and conservation

EPA Region 4 awarded the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation $18.359 million on October 1, 2025, under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (CFDA 66.468) to capitalize the State's DWSRF program. The recipient will provide low-interest rate financing to eligible public water systems for the costs of planning, designing, and constructing drinking water improvement projects. Set-aside activities include technical assistance to small systems for operator certification and source water protection. Performance runs through September 30, 2032, in Tennessee.

The recipient will pass through subawards totaling $21.418 million to entities administering loans for drinking water projects, providing technical assistance to small systems, managing program administration, and overseeing state program management. The University of Tennessee will receive $60,922 and the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts will receive $60,922 to address drinking water projects statewide.

Total dollars obligated to this award are $22.030 million. The anticipated deliverables include financing for planning, designing, and constructing eligible public health-related projects and increased technical, managerial, and financial capacity of public water systems, with public health protection as the expected outcome. The intended beneficiaries are citizens throughout Tennessee.

This agreement provides a capitalization grant for the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund (DWSRF) program. The award furthers the public health protection objectives of the safe drinking water act (SDWA). Activities:the recipient of these funds will provide low-interest rate financing to eligible public water systems for the costs associated with the planning, designing, and constructing of eligible drinking water improvement projects. The recipient may also use some of the funding for specific set-asides, including but not limited to, providing technical assistance to small systems for operator certification activities and source water protection activities. Subrecipient:subawards to be determine in the amount of $21,418,284 will be made for activities such as administering loans for projects, providing technical assistance to small systems, program administration, and state program management, as well as subawards to university of TN for $60,922 and tennessee association of utility districts for $60,922 to address drinking water projects throughout the state. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include financing, planning, designing, and constructing of eligible public health-related projects. Deliverables will also be used to increase the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of public water systems. The expected outcome is public health protection. The intended beneficiaries include citizens throughout tennessee.