We are committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America.
This grant program aims to assist eligible rural communities prepare for, or recover from, emergencies impacting the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Such emergencies can range from natural disasters like droughts, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes to human-made incidents including disease outbreaks and chemical spills. The program offers two types of grants: water transmission line grants up to $150,000 for tasks like constructing waterline extensions and repairing leaks, and water source grants up to $1,000,000 to assist with building water sources, intakes, or treatment facilities. The overarching goal is to prevent damage to, or help restore, household and business access to clean drinking water after disasters, improving both the natural environment and the economic prospects of rural areas by encouraging businesses to set up or expand. Applications are accepted year-round through both an online portal and local USDA Rural Development (RD) offices.