Water and Waste Technical Assistance and Training Grants

Annual TAT - To identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems in rural areas; to assist applicants in preparing applications made in accordance with 7 CFR 1780; to improve operation and maintenance of water and waste disposal f

Grants are for wastewater-related technical assistance, including such services as feasibility studies, preliminary design assistance and supervision, oversight, or training for the development of an application for financial assistance.

Annual TAT - Eligible entities must be private nonprofit organizations. Applicants must have proven ability, background, experience, legal authority and actual capacity to provide technical assistance and/or training on a regional basis to associations. TAT/RWTS - Eligible entities must be consortiums (regional institutions of higher education, academic health and research institutes or economic development entities, or combination thereof, located in the region identified to be served that have experience in addressing these issues in the region). Applicants must have proven ability, background, experience, legal authority and actual capacity to provide technical assistance .

Entities that may be eligible for water and waste disposal loans and grants (10.760) such as municipalities, counties, districts, authorities, and other political subdivisions of a State, organizations operated on a not-for-profit basis, such as associations, cooperatives, or private corporations, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other federally recognized Indian tribes.

Other criteria specified within 7 CFR 1775.

Annual TAT - Funds may be used to pay expenses associated with providing technical assistance and/or training (TAT) to identify and evaluate solutions to water problems relating to source, storage, treatment, and distribution, and to waste disposal problems relating to collection, treatment, and disposal; assist applicants that have filed a application with RUS in the preparation of water and/or waste disposal loan and/or grant applications; and to provide training that will improve the management, operation and maintenance of water and waste disposal facilities. Grant funds may not be used to recruit applications, duplicate current services such as those performed by a consultant in developing a project, fund political activities, pay for capital assets, purchase real estate or vehicles, improve and renovate office space or repair and maintain privately owned property, pay construction or O & M costs, and pay costs incurred prior to the effective date of grants made. TAT/RWTS - Funds must be used to identify and evaluate innovative regional solutions to wastewater treatment solutions for historically impoverished communities in areas which have had difficulty installing traditional wastewater treatment systems due to soil conditions. The work product must be related to a proposed project that is regional in scope. Grant funds may not be used to recruit applications, duplicate current services such as those performed by a consultant in developing a project, fund political activities, pay for capital assets, purchase real estate or vehicles, improve and renovate office space or repair and maintain privately owned property, pay construction or O & M costs, and pay costs incurred prior to the effective date of grants made. CY22 Disaster CRTA (this is the program title) - Technical assistance that may be provided to eligible communities through the CY 2022 Disaster CRTA Grants program includes: -Short-term disaster and emergency assistance, including on-site technical assistance and troubleshooting; -Identifying and evaluating long-term solutions, inclusive of Risk and Resilience Assessments, Emergency Response Plans, and other planning documentation; -Providing training and other resources to operators and management; -Application development, including any technical work such as feasibility, engineering, and environmental reports; and -Certain other technical assistance efforts that support the resiliency and capacity of eligible systems.

A time limitation is not specified, however, priority will be given to applicants whose time frame for completion of the technical assistance and/or training grant project is 12 months or less (TAT grant program), 24 months or less (CY22 Disaster CRTA grant program - this is the program name), and 60 months or less (TAC-RWTS grant program). The assistance is reimbursed with quarterly (or monthly) requests from the grantee.

Standard application forms as furnished by RUS must be used for this program.

Applications include the criteria specified within 7 CFR 1775.

Assistance will be directed to those applicants who: (1) have demonstrated ability to provide technical assistance and/or training to rural associations; (2) propose to serve multi-state, regional, or nationwide areas; (3) maximize use of grant funds for direct staffing of activities that are delivered to the associations; and (4) the population of the associations served have low income.

The Water and Environmental Programs staff in Washington, D.C. will review and process the application. Following completion of application processing requirements and grant approval, funds are made available to the applicant on a reimbursement basis.

Dependent upon funding availability and the completeness of the application. From 60 to 120 days following the submission deadline.

An application determined ineligible may request a review of this decision with the National Appeals Division of USDA in accordance with USDA regulations at 7 CFR 11.