WWD technical assistance & training grants

The National Rural Water Association (NRWA), doing business as Gene's Place, received a $9.0 million Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service under the Water and Waste Technical Assistance and Training Grants program (CFDA 10.761), awarded on June 26, 2025. This grant funds NRWA's delivery of comprehensive technical assistance and training services to rural and small water and wastewater utilities across the United States, with performance based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Under this award, NRWA provides critical capacity-building services to rural water systems serving populations under 10,000, with particular emphasis on disadvantaged and tribal communities. Key service deliverables include on-site technical assistance, training workshops, feasibility studies, preliminary design assistance, and support for regulatory compliance and utility management. NRWA deploys Water Quality Action Specialists and circuit riders to help rural water systems improve their technical, managerial, and financial capabilities, develop sustainable management plans, and prepare infrastructure grant applications in accordance with applicable federal regulations. The grant prioritizes direct staffing of activities that maximize service delivery to rural associations with low-income populations across multi-state and nationwide service areas.