U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development today announced that the department is accepting grant applications to improve solid waste management, which will help reduce water pollution for people in rural areas.
USDA is accepting applications under the Solid Waste Management Grants program. These grants are available to organizations that offer technical assistance or training to help rural communities manage solid waste sites and eliminate water pollution.
The program is one of the many ways USDA promotes a healthy community and environment, helping to ensure children and families have clean water, safe sewer systems and less pollution.
Eligible applicants include public bodies, nonprofit organizations, federally recognized Tribes and academic institutions in rural areas and towns with 10,000 or fewer residents. Special consideration may be given to projects serving areas with fewer than 5,500 or 2,500 people, multiple states or lower-income populations.
USDA expects to make approximately $4 million available through the Solid Waste Management Grants program.
Funds may be used to evaluate current landfill conditions to identify threats to water resources. Funds may also be used to provide technical assistance or training to:
- Enhance the operation and maintenance of active landfills.
- Help communities reduce the amount of solid waste coming into a landfill.
- Prepare for the closure and future use of a landfill site.
Projects must be completed within 12 months.
USDA will begin accepting applications on Oct. 1, 2023. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, 2023.
USDA is particularly interested in applications that will advance Biden-Harris Administration priorities to:
- Reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
- Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD-funded projects; and
- Help rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.
Additional information is available on Grants.gov.
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For more information about this program, interested applicants in Pennsylvania can contact Linda Thomas, Water and Environmental Program Director, at 814-547-5941 or email at linda.thomas@usda.gov.
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