The Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service awarded $5.848 million to the National Rural Water Association on September 26, 2025, under the Water and Waste Technical Assistance and Training Grants program (CFDA 10.761). The award funds technical assistance and training services for rural water and wastewater systems, with performance through September 26, 2027, at Empire City, Oklahoma.
The National Rural Water Association, a tax-exempt nonprofit based in Duncan, Oklahoma and doing business as Gene's Place, delivers technical assistance and operator training to rural, tribal, and economically disadvantaged water systems serving populations under 10,000. The organization operates a nationwide network of 50 state affiliate offices that deploy circuit riders and Water Quality Action Specialists to provide on-site technical assistance, compliance support, and infrastructure planning guidance. Services include feasibility studies, preliminary design assistance, regulatory compliance training, and operator training. The organization structures service delivery through subawards to state affiliate offices and third-party technical specialists.
The National Rural Water Association holds approximately $781.7 million in combined federal grants and contracts, with the vast majority flowing from USDA Rural Utilities Service and EPA Office for Water. The organization operates almost exclusively as a prime recipient, with 99 percent of awards held in prime status.