The Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service is seeking technical assistance and training grant proposals from 501(c)(3) nonprofits to support rural water and wastewater infrastructure solutions. The grant aims to help rural communities identify and evaluate water and waste problems, assist with loan and grant applications, and improve water system management and operations. Eligible applicants will be evaluated using a complex scoring system with up to 200 possible points across 15 different criteria, including organizational experience, project scope, population served, and median household income of target areas. Key evaluation factors will prioritize organizations providing hands-on technical assistance, addressing water contamination issues, and serving small rural populations. The application deadline is December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET, with electronic submissions required through Grants.gov.
The funding opportunity anticipates approximately $35 million in available grants, with individual awards likely ranging from $100,000 to $8.5 million. The performance period for selected grants will run from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, with an anticipated award date in June 2026. Selected grantees will focus on providing technical assistance and training to rural water and wastewater system managers across multi-state, regional, or nationwide areas, with a particular emphasis on supporting low-income communities. Funds cannot be used for capital assets, political activities, construction, or facility maintenance, but are designed to support direct technical assistance and training services.
Generated 10/1/25, 6:52 AM