(October 21, 2020) – The US Department of Agriculture is seeking applications for grants under a pilot program to help develop innovative treatment solutions of regional wastewater systems in rural America.

The funding will help historically impoverished communities (defined as any county that has had 20 percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30 years) develop regional solutions to longstanding wastewater treatment problems where soil conditions make traditional wastewater treatment ineffective and economically unfeasible.

USDA is making up to $5 million in competitive grants available to eligible entities that include a consortium of institutions of higher education; academic, health and research institutes; or economic development entities. The consortium must include a regional university, or the proposed scope of work must include coordinating with one, to solve untreated raw sewage issues with innovative technologies, strategic management and regulatory models.

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on November 4, 2020. For additional information, please see page 62691 of the October 5 Federal Register.