USDA Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training (TAT) Grants

Competitive USDA grants that fund private nonprofits to deliver hands-on technical assistance and training helping rural water and wastewater systems solve operational problems and prepare funding applications.

The Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training grant program funds qualified private nonprofit organizations to work directly with small rural water and wastewater systems. Funded activities include identifying and evaluating solutions to water and waste problems, helping communities prepare applications for USDA water and waste disposal loans and grants, and improving the day-to-day operation and maintenance of existing water and waste facilities. For H2O Water Network members, this program matters in two ways. Regional technical assistance providers such as RCAP and state rural water associations use TAT funding to deliver free services, so member systems can request help without paying for it. Larger member nonprofits with the staff capacity to serve multiple counties can also apply directly to become providers themselves, which turns technical assistance work into a funded program line rather than an unfunded favor. Funding is awarded through an annual competitive notice of funding opportunity; check the program page and Grants.gov for the current cycle. Eligible service areas are rural areas and towns of 10,000 or fewer residents.