«EPA
Funding and Technical Resources for Lead
Service Line Replacement in Small and
Disadvantaged Communities

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Funding and Technical Resources for Lead Service Line Replacement in
Small and Disadvantaged Communities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed this guide to help
small and disadvantaged communities identify potential federal funding
sources for lead service line replacement (LSLR) and technical assistance
related to LSLR.
Exposure to lead in the environment continues to be a concern, especially for
vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. Sources of lead
exposure may include lead-based paint, drinking water, and soil contaminated
by historical sources. Lead and copper enter drinking water mainly from the
corrosion of plumbing materials containing lead and copper. Individuals that
are concerned about lead in their drinking water can learn about steps to
reduce lead in drinking water by visiting EPA's website: https://www.epa.gov/
ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-
water.
EPA encourages communities to prioritize infrastructure improvement projects
including those that remove lead service lines (LSLs) and reduce lead
exposure. Communities may need to identify resources to support projects,
particularly those on private property. Most funding sources do not explicitly
list LSLR as an eligible activity, yet LSLR still fits in the purview of multiple
federal grant and loan programs. This compilation of factsheets includes
federal funding programs available to small, disadvantaged communities and
includes additional technical resources about LSLR. This guide is located on
EPA's website: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-
information-about-lead-drinking-water.
Environmental Justice
EPA is committed to protecting
the health and environments of
all people living in the United
States. Low-income, minority,
tribal, and indigenous
communities are most often
impacted by environmental
hazards or most likely to live near
contaminated lands. The Agency
focuses its environmental justice
efforts on better protecting and
working to improve these
vulnerable and overburdened
communities.
EPA is the lead agency for the
implementation of Executive
Order 12898 - Federal Actions to
Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-
Income Populations. More
information is available in the
EPA Annual Environmental Justice
Progress Report FY2019.
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Federal Funding Programs
i- • -i
— -c
The information below includes an overview of funding sources included in this resource. Click on the headings to navigate
to more detail and different funding programs included under each source that can be used toward LSLR in disadvantaged
communities.
Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act
The 2016 WIIN Act supports the improvement of America's drinking water infrastructure through three new drinking water grants, two
of which provide financial assistance for LSLR. Contact: WIINDrinkingWaterGrantsffiepa.gov
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
EPA provides funding directly to state DWSRF programs, who disburse the funds to eligible projects as low-interest loans and loans with
principle forgiveness. Complete service line replacement is an eligible expense regardless of pipe material and ownership of the
property on which the service line is located. Funding from the DWSRF can also be used to locate LSLs.
Contact: https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf/state-dwsrf-website-and-contacts
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program
The WIFIA program, administered by EPA, provides loans for eligible water and wastewater infrastructure projects, such as those
eligible for the DWSRF including reconstruction, rehabilitation, and replacement activities. Contact: wifia(a)epa.gov
Healthy Communities Grant Program
The Healthy Communities Grant Program provides funding for projects in EPA Region 1 to benefit human and environmental health.
Eligible activities include capacity-building, community and ecosystem resilience, environmental justice, emergency preparedness, and
community-based partnerships and projects. Contact: Marrese.Katie@epa.gov
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Fund
The USDA provides a variety of grant and loan programs to rural communities, organizations, businesses, and individuals to finance
infrastructure repair and replacement, including LSLR. Contact: https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
CDBGs distributed by HUD provide funding for projects that benefit low- and moderate-income persons and address urgent conditions
that threaten health or welfare of the community. Contact: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg/
The Healthy Homes Program
The Healthy Homes Demonstration Grant program provides funding to develop, demonstrate, and promote cost-effective, preventive
measures for identifying and correcting residential health and safety hazards.
Contact: https://www.hud.gov/program offices/healthy homes/leadstaff
Public Works and Economic Development Program
The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) provides funding through the Public Works and
Economic Development program to support investment in construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects to
implement economic development strategies, new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed
communities. Contact: https://www.eda.gov/contact/
EPA Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center
The Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center provides resources and tools related to effective financing and technical
assistance, including for planning LSLR projects, but does not provide direct funding.
Contact: https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter/forms/contact-us-about-water-infrastructure-and-resiliency-finance-center
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WIIN Act Drinking Water Grant Programs
Assistance for Small and Disadvantaged
Communities
The Assistance for Small and Disadvantaged Communities Grant program is
administered by EPA under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the
Nation (WIIN) Act and supports drinking water projects and activities in small
and disadvantaged communities that are unable to finance projects to comply
with drinking water regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The
grant program also provides funding assistance to communities to manage
drinking water concerns through household water quality testing, including
testing for unregulated water contaminants.
Eligible Activities
Grants can be used to support projects and activities in small and disadvantaged
communities that include:
•	Investments necessary for a public water system to comply with the
SDWA
•	Assistance that directly and primarily benefits a disadvantaged
community
•	Programs to provide household water quality testing, including testing
for unregulated contaminants
•	Activities necessary and appropriate for a state to respond to a
contaminant
Full LSLR is covered under this grant program.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
•	States on behalf of an underserved community
Projects must either serve 1) disadvantaged communities or 2) small
communities of less than 10,000 individuals that lack the capacity to incur the
debt necessary to carry out the project or activity. For this grant program, a
disadvantaged community is one meeting the state's established affordability
criteria.
Eligibility to apply for and receive funds is limited to the geographical 50 states,
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and tribes within the U.S.
Application Process
Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, as applications are submitted before
the deadline of June 30, 2021 or until all funds have been awarded. EPA
Regional offices are the primary points of contact to approve grant applications
and award funding. Communities will apply to their respective state program for
assistance.
Contact Info
Visit State and Territory Agency
Contacts for a list of agency
contacts.
For more information, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/dwcapac
ity/wiin-grant-assistance-small-
and-disadvantaged-
communities-drinking-water-
grant
Funding Cycle
The deadline for states to apply
for funding from the 2019
Assistance for Small and
Disadvantaged Communities
Drinking Water Grant Program
is June 30, 2021.
Funding Amount l $ ")
EPA will award approximately
$42.8 million in grant funds to
eligible entities.
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WIIN Act Drinking Water Grant Programs
Reducing Lead in Drinking Water
The Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Grant program is administered by EPA
under the WIIN Act and supports projects to address increased concentrations
of lead in drinking water in disadvantaged communities. This grant includes two
priority areas:
• Reduction of Lead Exposure in the Nation's Drinking Water Systems
through Infrastructure and Treatment Improvements
Reduction of Children's Exposure to Lead in Drinking
Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities
Eligible Activities
This grant broadly covers drinking water infrastructure and treatment
improvements for water systems serving disadvantaged communities and lead
remediation in schools and child care facilities in disadvantaged communities.
Planning, training, and technical assistance projects are not eligible for funding.
Under the first priority area, example projects include:
•	Installing or improving corrosion control treatment,
•	Full LSLR and/or replacement of partial LSLs leftover from previous
partial replacement efforts,
•	Replacing galvanized pipes downstream of an LSL.
Under the second priority area, example projects include:
•	Removing or replacing drinking water fixtures, fountains, or outlets with
elevated lead levels,
•	Replacing plumbing materials that are sources of lead,
•	Conducting follow-up monitoring, public education, and outreach to
ensure the long-term performance of the remediation.
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must be in or serving disadvantaged communities. A disadvantaged
community is one determined to be disadvantaged under the affordability
criteria established by the state. Eligible applicants include:
•	Community water systems (e.g., a town's drinking water system),
•	Water systems located in an area governed by an Indian Tribe,
•	Non-transient non-community water systems (e.g., schools that have
their own water systems),
•	Qualified nonprofit organizations servicing a public water system,
•	Municipalities,
•	State, interstate, or intermunicipal agencies.
Application Process
Interested applicants may apply on grants.gov after the announcement of a
request for applications (RFA).
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Contact Info
For questions, please contact
WIINDrinkingWaterGrants@epa.
gov-
For more information, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/
wiin-grant-reduction-lead-
exposure-drinking-water-under-
sdwa-section-1459b.
Funding Cycle
The most recent Request for
Applications (RFA) was issued on
February 19, 2020 with a deadline
to submit applications by June 1,
2020.
Future RFAs will be announced if
additional funding becomes
available.
Funding Amount ($ ")
For the current cycle, 1-3 awards
are anticipated under the first
priority area (estimated total of
$17,100,000), and 3-12 awards are
anticipated under the second
priority area (estimated total of up
to $22,800,000).
All applicants must demonstrate
how they will contribute a
minimum non-federal cost-
share/match of 20 percent of the
total project cost.
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Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
Loan Program
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program is a federal-state
partnership to help ensure safe drinking water. Created by the 1996
Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) the program provides
financial support to water systems and to state drinking water programs.
Eligible Activities
Projects must be under six categories of projects to be eligible to receive
DWSRF assistance: treatment, transmission and distribution, source, storage,
consolidation, and creation of new systems.
Some states offer financial incentives for lead service line replacement
projects. Additionally, states can provide extended loan terms, up to 40
years, for disadvantaged communities.
Complete lead service line replacement is an eligible DWSRF expense.
Complete service line replacement is defined by replacing pipes from the
public water main up to the point of premise plumbing, which are the pipes
found on the other side of the isolation valve. The connection to premise
plumbing may be inside or outside of homes and other buildings. For more
information, see https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-
03/documents/lead fact sheet and case studies final.pdf.
Applicant Eligibility
States can provide DWSRF financial assistance only to the following types of
public water systems:
O Existing privately-owned and publicly-owned community water
systems and non-profit non-community water systems.
New community water systems that present cost-effective
solutions to existing public health problems with serious risks
caused by:
•	Unsafe drinking water provided by individual wells or
surface water sources, with the scope of the service area
limited to the specific geographic area affected by
contamination.
•	Technical, managerial, and financial difficulties that
consolidation into a new regional community water system
can address, with the scope of the service area limited to
that of the systems involved.
Application Process
Water systems receive DWSRF assistance directly from state agencies. Each
state has its own application procedure and eligibility restrictions. Applicants
should contact their state DWSRF program.
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Contact Info ^C~")
For more information, contact
information for each state is
posted at
https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf/state-
dwsrf-website-and-contacts and
visit https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf.
Funding Cycle
Funding is available annually (can
be more often in some states).
Funding Amount J
DWSRF funding amounts for each
state are determined annually. In
FY 2020, the total DWSRF
appropriation was $1,126 billion.
As authorized under the Water
Infrastructure Funding Transfer
Act, states were allowed to do a
one-time transfer of funds from
their Clean Water State Revolving
Fund (CWSRF) to their DWSRF to
address lead-related threats to
public health in drinking water. A
list of states that have transferred
funding is available at
https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf/wifta.
highlighting just some of the
states that are proactively
addressing lead service line
removal in their communities.
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Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant - Tribal Set-
Aside (DWIG-TSA) Program
EPA can set-aside up to 2% of the national DWSRF appropriation for grants to
improve the infrastructure of drinking water systems that serve tribes
through the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant - Tribal Set-Aside (DWIG-
TSA) program.
Eligible Activities
Funds can be used for planning and construction expenditures at community
or non-profit, non-community drinking water systems that serve tribes.
Funds must be used to address the most significant threats to public health.
Funds may be used for projects that facilitate compliance with the National
Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) or will further the health
protection objectives of the SDWA. These funds cannot be used for
compliance monitoring, operation, and maintenance of a system.
Examples of projects funded by the DWIG-TSA program are:
•	Rehabilitation or development of sources of drinking water,
•	Installation or upgrade of treatment facilities,
•	Installation or upgrade of storage facilities,
•	Installation or replacement of transmission or distribution pipes,
•	Replacement of aging water system infrastructure.
Projects can also be funded to develop project engineering reports,
engineering design work, and project administration.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include community water systems and non-profit, non-
community water systems that serve a tribal population. Any federally-
recognized tribe is eligible to receive a grant. If the Indian Health Service (IHS)
agrees, tribes may request that IHS receive the project funds to administer
the project.
Application Process
Contact Regional Tribal Drinking Water Coordinators to apply.
Contact Info
For more information, contact
Regional Tribal Drinking Water
Coordinators or visit
https://www.epa.gov/tribaldrinkin
gwater/drinking-water-
infrastructure-grants-tribal-set-
aside-program.
Funding Cycle
Funding is available annually.
Funding Amount C
Amount is based on DWSRF
funding using a formula. The
formula provides a base amount
of 2% of the total annual DWIG
TSA set-aside to each Regional
Office. In FY 2020, there was $22.5
million.
EPA Regions are responsible for
working with the Indian Health
Service (IHS) and the tribes to
identify, prioritize, and select
projects to receive funding from
its share of the program funds.
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WIFIA Program
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
(WIFIA) Program
The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) program
accelerates investment in our nation's water infrastructure by providing long-
term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant
projects. These loans have low, fixed interest rates and flexible financial terms.
Borrowers and their customers benefit from significant cost savings.
Eligible Activities
The WIFIA program can fund development and implementation activities for a
wide variety of water and wastewater projects. In particular, projects that are
eligible for the DWSRF are also eligible for the WIFIA program, including
complete LSLR.
Eligible development and implementation activities include:
•	Development phase activities, including planning, preliminary
engineering, design, environmental review, revenue forecasting, and
other pre-construction activities,
•	Construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and replacement activities,
•	Acquisition of real property or an interest in real property,
environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, and acquisition
of equipment,
•	Capitalized interest necessary to meet market requirements, reasonably
required reserve funds, capital issuance expenses and other carrying
costs during construction.
Projects must be creditworthy and have a dedicated source of revenue to repay
the loan.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible borrowers are:
•	Local, state, tribal, and federal government entities,
•	Partnerships and joint ventures,
•	Corporations and trusts,
•	Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs.
Application Process
Each year, EPA announces the amount of funding it will have available, its
priorities for that selection round, and a deadline for submitting letters of
interest from prospective borrowers. EPA reviews the letters of interest and
selects projects to continue through the application process. In FY 2019 and FY
2020, EPA announced reducing exposure to lead in drinking water as one of the
priorities for the WIFIA program. Learn more about available funding and the
application process by referring to the Contact Info section on this page.
Contact Info
For more information, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/wifia or
contact wifia@epa.gov.
Funding Cycle
Funding is available annually.
Funding Amount I $ ;
The funding amount is announced
annually in the program's Notice
of Funding Availability. In FY2020,
the WIFIA program announced the
availability of $5.5 billion to lend
to projects across the country.
The WIFIA program is designed to
help finance to larger projects. The
minimum project costs must be
$20 million for most communities
and $5 million for small
communities (population of
25,000 or less). The WIFIA loan
can finance up to 49 percent of
the total project costs.

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Healthy Communities Grant Program
Healthy Communities Grant Program
The Healthy Communities Grant Program allows EPA New England to work
directly with communities to support EPA's "Back-to-Basics" agenda to
reduce environmental risks, protect and improve human health, and improve
the quality of life.
Eligible Activities
The Healthy Communities Grant Program supports projects that:
•	Target resources to benefit communities at risk, which may include
areas needing to create community resilience, environmental justice
areas of potential concern, and sensitive populations (e.g., children,
elderly, tribes, urban and rural residents),
•	Assess, understand, and reduce environmental and human health
risks,
•	Increase collaboration through partnerships and community-based
projects,
•	Build institutional and community capacity to understand and solve
environmental and human health problems,
•	Advance emergency preparedness and ecosystem resilience,
•	Achieve measurable environmental and human health benefits.
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants may include state and local governments, public nonprofit
institutions/organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, quasi-
public nonprofit institutions/organizations, federally recognized tribal
governments, K-12 schools or school districts, and non-profit organizations.
To qualify as eligible projects under the Healthy Communities Grant Program,
proposed projects must:
1.	Be located in and/or directly benefit one or more of the Target
Investment Areas; and
2.	Identify how the project will achieve measurable environmental
and/or public health results in one or more of the Target Program
Areas.
Target Investment Areas: Areas Needing to Create Community Resilience,
Environmental Justice Areas of Potential Concern, and/or Sensitive
Populations.
Target Program Areas: Clean, Green and Healthy Schools; Energy Efficiency;
Community and Water Infrastructure Resilience; Healthy Indoor
Environments; Healthy Outdoor Environments; and/or Pollution Prevention.
Application Process
Apply on grants.gov.
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Contact Info
For more information, email: Katie
Marrese, Regional DWSRF
Coordinator, at
Marrese. Katieffiepa.gov.
Also refer to:
https://www3.epa.gov/regionl/ec
o/uep/pdfs/2020-hcgp-rfa.pdf.
Funding Cycle
Funding is available annually.
Funding Amount ;
Proposals may be submitted for
amounts up to $35,000. There is a
five percent match requirement
for the funds.
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USDA Rural Development Program
Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Water &
Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and
reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid
waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in
eligible rural areas.
Eligible Activities
Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement
of:
•	Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage, and distribution,
•	Sewer collection, transmission, treatment, and disposal,
•	Solid waste collection, disposal, and closure,
•	Storm water collection, transmission, and disposal.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
•	Most state and local governmental entities,
•	Private nonprofit organizations,
•	Federally-recognized tribes.
Areas that may be served include:
•	Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less,
•	Tribal lands in rural areas,
•	Colonias.*
Eligibility for this program can be checked here.
Borrowers must have the legal authority to construct, operate, and maintain
the proposed services or facilities. All facilities constructed must be used for a
public purpose.
Application Process
Applications may be filed electronically using RD Apply.
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Contact Info
For more information, visit
https://www.rd.usda.gov/program
s-services/water-waste-disposal-
loan-grant-program.
Funding Cycle ©
Applications are accepted year-
round.
Funding Amount (§ ^
Varies by state. Long-term, low-
interest loans are given. If funds
are available, a grant may be
combined with a loan if necessary,
to keep user costs reasonable.
* For the purposes of this program,
Colonias are subdivisions located
outside incorporated areas along the
U.S.-Mexico border where residents
face significant health risks due to a
significant portion of the community
lacking access to clean, reliable,
affordable drinking water and/or
waste disposal systems.

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USDA Rural Development Program
Water & Waste Disposal Grants to Alleviate
Health Risks on Tribal Lands and Colonias
This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program
provides low-income communities, which face significant health risks, access
to safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal facilities and services.
Eligible Activities
Funds can be used for construction of basic drinking water and waste disposal
systems, including storm drainage. Utility districts may also be able to provide
grants to individual households to install indoor plumbing and connect to the
system.
Applicant Eligibility
To be eligible, residents of the service area must face significant health risks
due to a lack of access to, or use of adequate, affordable water or waste
disposal. The following entities may apply:
•	State and local governmental entities serving eligible areas,
•	Nonprofit organizations,
•	Utility districts serving Colonias,*
•	Federally-recognized tribes.
Eligible areas:
•	Federally-recognized tribal lands,
•	Areas recognized as Colonias before October 1, 1989,
•	Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less.
Areas not located in a Colonia must meet per capita income and
unemployment rate requirements.
Application Process
Applicants should apply through their local Rural Development Office.
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Contact Info
For more information, visit
https://www.rd.usda.gov/program
s-services/water-waste-disposal-
grants-alleviate-health-risks-tribal-
lands-and-colonias.
Local Rural Development Offices
are listed here:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-
us/state-offices.
Funding Cycle
Applications are accepted year-
round.
Funding Amount I $ ;
Varies by state. Partnerships with
other federal, state, and local
entities are encouraged. A grant
covering 100 percent of the costs
may be offered in some
circumstances if funds are
available.
* For the purposes of this program,
Colonias are subdivisions located
outside incorporated areas along the
U.S.-Mexico border where residents
face significant health risks due to a
significant portion of the community
lacking access to clean, reliable,
affordable drinking water and/or
waste disposal systems.

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USDA Rural Development Program
Individual Water & Wastewater Grants Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Individual
Water & Wastewater Grants Program provides funds to households in
Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas in an area recognized as a
Colonia* before October 1, 1989.
Eligible Activities
Grant funds may be used to:
•	Extend service lines from a system to a residence,
•	Connect service lines to a residence's plumbing,
•	Cover charges or fees for connecting to a system,
•	Install necessary plumbing and related fixtures within dwellings
lacking such facilities (limited to one bath tub, sink, commode,
kitchen sink, water heater, and outside spigot),
•	Construct and/or partition off a portion of the dwelling for a
bathroom,
•	Close abandoned septic tanks and water wells when necessary to
protect the health and safety of recipients of a grant,
•	Make improvements to individual's residence when needed to allow
the use of the water and/or waste disposal system.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants must reside in a Colonia that is located in a rural area (i.e.,
unincorporated areas and cities or towns with a population of 10,000 or less)
and is identified as such in writing by the state or county in which it is
located. A community must:
•	Lack potable water supply,
•	Lack adequate sewage system., decent, safe and sanitary housing, or
•	Have inadequate roads and drainage.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
•	Own and occupy a dwelling located in a Colonia and have evidence of
ownership,
•	Have a total taxable income (based on the latest federal income tax
form from all individuals residing in the household) that is below the
most recent poverty income guidelines established by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services,
•	Have no delinquencies on any federal debt.
Application Process
Applicants should apply through their local Rural Development Office.
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Contact Info
For more information, visit
https://www.rd.usda.gov/program
s-services/individual-water-
wastewater-grants.
Local Rural Development Offices
are listed here:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-
us/state-offices.
Funding Cycle ©
Applications are accepted year-
round.
Funding Amount ($ ;
The maximum grant amount to
any individual for water service
lines, connections, and/or
construction of a bathroom is
$3,500. Lifetime assistance to any
individual for initial or subsequent
grants may not exceed $5,000.
* For the purposes of this program,
Colonias are subdivisions located
outside incorporated areas along the
U.S.-Mexico border where residents
face significant health risks due to a
significant portion of the community
lacking access to clean, reliable,
affordable drinking water and/or
waste disposal systems.

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USDA Rural Development Program
Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants
(Section 504 Home Repair Plan) Program
Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program provides loans to very-
low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize their homes. It
also provides grants to elderly, very-low-income homeowners to remove
health and safety hazards.
Eligible Activities
Loans may be used to repair, improve, or modernize homes or remove health
and safety hazards. Grants must be used to remove health and safety
hazards.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants must:
•	Be the homeowner and occupy the house,
•	Be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere,
•	Have a family income below 50 percent of the area median income.
To receive a grant, applicants must be age 62 or older and not able to repay a
repair loan.
Eligibility for this program can be checked here.
Application Process
Applicants should apply through the local Rural Development Office.
Contact Info
For more information, visit
https://www.rd.usda.gov/program
s-services/single-familv-housing-
repair-loans-grants.
Local Rural Development Offices
are listed here:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-
us/state-offices.
Funding Cycle
Q
Applications are accepted year-
round.
T\
Funding Amount [ $
The maximum loan amount is
$20,000. The maximum grant is
$7,500. Loans and grants can be
combined for up to $27,500 in
assistance.
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USDA Rural Development Program
Housing Preservation Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Fund Housing
Preservation Grant Program provides grants to sponsoring organizations for
the repair or rehabilitation of housing owned or occupied by low- and very-
low-income rural citizens.
Eligible Activities
Eligible expenses include:
•	Repairing or replacing electrical wiring, foundations, roofs, insulation,
heating systems, and water/waste disposal systems,
•	Handicap accessibility features,
•	Labor and materials,
•	Administrative expenses.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible areas served by applicants must be rural areas and towns with 20,000
or fewer people and federally-recognized tribal lands. Applicants may be:
•	Most state and local governmental entities,
•	Nonprofit organizations,
•	Federally-recognized tribes.
Individual homeowners are not eligible, but rental property owners may also
receive assistance if they agree to make units available to low- and very-low-
income families.
Eligibility for this program can be checked online at
https://eligibilitv.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibilitv/welcomeAction.do.
Contact Info
For more information, visit
https://www.rd.usda.gov/program
s-services/housing-preservation-
grants.
Local Rural Development Offices
are listed here:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-
us/state-offices.
Funding Cycle
Annually
Q
T\
Funding Amount I $
USDA will award a total of
$15,340,826.78 in Housing
Preservation Grant Program
funding to eligible entities.
Application Process
Applicants should apply through the Notice of Solicitation of Application
(NOSA) on grants.gov.
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USDA Rural Development Program
Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural
Communities and Households (SEARCH)
Program
This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program
helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with
predevelopment feasibility studies, design, and technical assistance on
proposed water and waste disposal projects.
Eligible Activities
Funds may be used to pay predevelopment planning costs, including:
•	Feasibility studies to support applications for funding water or waste
disposal projects,
•	Preliminary design and engineering analysis,
•	Technical assistance for the development of an application for
financial assistance.
This program is focused on planning costs so although project planning for
lead service line replacement could be eligible, capital costs are not
supported by this program.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible entities include:
•	Most state and local governmental entities,
•	Nonprofit organizations,
• Federally-recognized tribes.
Eligible areas must be rural areas with a population of 2,500 or less and
financially distressed, which is defined as having a median household income
below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide non-
metropolitan median household income based on latest Census data.
Application Process
Applicants should apply through the local Rural Development Office.
Contact Info
For more information, visit
https://www.rd.usda.gov/program
s-services/search-special-
evaluation-assistance-rural-
communities-and-households.
Local Rural Development Offices
are listed here:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-
us/state-offices.
Funding Cycle
o
Applications are accepted year-
round.
Funding Amount
No grant amount listed.
Cs)
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Community Development Block Grant Program
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Entitlement Program
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program
provides annual grants to entitled cities and counties to develop viable urban
communities. These are developed by providing decent housing and a
suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities,
principally for low- and moderate-income persons. The U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards grants to entitlement
community grantees to carry out a wide range of community development
activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic
development, and providing improved community facilities and services.
Eligible Activities
CDBG funds may be used for activities which include, but are not limited to:
•	Acquisition of real property,
•	Relocation and demolition,
•	Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures,
•	Construction of public facilities and improvements, such as water and
sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers, and the conversion of
school buildings for eligible purposes,
•	Public services, within certain limits,
•	Activities relating to energy conservation and renewable energy
resources,
•	Provision of assistance to profit-motivated businesses to carry out
economic development and job creation/retention activities.
Each activity must also meet one of the following national objectives for the
program:
•	Benefit low- and moderate-income persons,
•	Prevention or elimination of slums or blight,
•	Address urgent community development needs because existing
conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or
welfare of the community for which other funding is not available.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
•	Principle cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs);
•	Other metropolitan cities with populations of at least 50,000;
•	Qualified urban counties with populations of at least 200,000
(excluding the population of entitled cities).
Application Process
Local governments administer the CDBG program and determine which local
projects receive funding. Please contact your local HUD office for specific
information on your local application process.
16
Contact Info
For more information directly
relating to a specific state, visit:
https://www.hudexchange.info/gr
antees/and
https://www.hud.gov/program of
fices/comm planning/staff#fieldof
fices.
Funding Cycle
Funding is available annually.
Funding Amount [ $ ")
HUD distributes funds to each
state based on a statutory
formula, which considers
population, poverty, incidence of
overcrowded housing, and age of
housing.
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Community Development Block Grant Program
State CDBG Program
Under the State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program,
states award grants to local governments that develop and preserve decent
affordable housing, provide services to the most vulnerable in our
communities, and create and retain jobs. Each state runs its own program
and annually develops funding priorities and criteria for funding projects.
Eligible Activities
See Eligible Activities under Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Entitlement Program.
Applicant Eligibility
Forty-nine states and Puerto Rico participate in the program and have their
own programs. HUD continues to administer the program for the non-
entitled counties in Hawaii because the state has permanently elected not to
participate in the State CDBG Program.
States participating in the CDBG Program award grants only to non-
entitlement Units of General Local Government (UGLG). Non-entitlement
areas include those units of general local government which do not receive
CDBG funds directly from HUD. Non-entitlement areas are cities with
populations of less than 50,000 (except cities that are designated principal
cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas), and counties with populations of less
than 200,000.
Since Hawaii decided to not participate in the program, HUD's Honolulu Field
Office administers the non-entitled grants in Hawaii under a separate
program. Three counties qualify for this program - Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui.
Application Process
States award grants to local governments. Each state may run its program
differently. Those interested in participating in the program should contact
their state or local HUD field office for more information. Those interested in
participating in the program for Hawaii should reach out to HUD's Honolulu
Field Office.
Contact Info
For more information directly
relating to a specific state, visit:
https://www.hudexchange.info/gr
antees/and
https://www.hud.gov/program of
fices/comm planning/staff#fieldof
fices.
Funding Cycle
Funding is available annually.
Funding Amount ($ ^
HUD distributes funds to each
state based on a statutory
formula, which considers
population, poverty, incidence of
overcrowded housing, and age of
housing.
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Community Development Block Grant Program
State CDBG Colonias Set-Aside
Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas are required to set aside a
percentage of their annual State CDBG allocations for use in the Colonias.
These set aside funds are intended to be used help meet the needs of the
Colonias residents for potable water, adequate sewer systems, or decent,
safe and sanitary housing.
Eligible Activities
Funds may be used for CDBG activities descibed above in Eligible Activities
under Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program
that are related to potable water, sewer, or housing.
Applicant Eligibility
Criteria for Colonias include:
a)	Located in the state of Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas;
b)	Located in the United States-Mexico border region;
c)	Determined to be a Colonia based on objective criteria, including lack
of potable water supply, lack of adequate sewage systems, and lack
of decent, safe and sanitary housing; and
d)	In existence as a Colonia before the date of the enactment of the
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act [November 28th
of 1990],
Application Process
For more information about the application process, please contact the
agency in your state that administers the CDBG Colonias set-aside funds.
Contact Info
For more information about
obtaining funding for specific
Colonias projects, please contact
the agency in your state that
administers the CDBG Colonias
set-aside funds:
https://www.hudexchange.info/pr
ograms/cdbg-colonias/
Funding Cycle
Funding is available annually.
A N
Funding Amount v s> J
Varies by state and fiscal year (In
recent years, set-aside percentage
has been 10% for AZ, NM, and TX,
and 5% for CA).
v
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Community Development Block Grant Program
Community Development Block Grant Insular
Areas Program
HUD annually provides CDBG grant funding to American Samoa, Guam,
Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The funds are allocated
based on population. The program is administered by HUD's Field Offices in
Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
Eligible Activities
See Eligible Activities under Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Entitlement Program.
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must be located in American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana
Islands, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Application Process
In order to receive CDBG funds, insular areas must submit a Consolidated
Plan or an abbreviated Consolidated Plan to the designated HUD Field Office:
•	U.S. Virgin Islands: San Juan (Caribbean) Field Office;
•	All others: Honolulu Field Office.
Contact Info
For more information, contact
HUD's Field Offices in Puerto Rico
and Hawaii:
https://www.hud.gov/program of
fices/comm planning/staff#fieldof
fices.
Funding Cycle Q
Funding is available annually.
Funding Amount ;
Funds are allocated based on the
population of eligible territories.
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The Healthy Homes Program
The Healthy Homes Program
The Healthy Homes Program grants focus on researching, developing,
demonstrating and promoting cost-effective, preventive measures for
identifying and correcting housing-related health and safety hazards. Two
grant programs are included:
Health Homes Demonstration Program
Healthy Homes Technical Studies
The Healthy Homes Program also provides supplemental funding for HUD
lead hazard reduction grants to the city or county, where funds from these
grants are being used to treat pre-1978 homes of low-income families for
lead-based paint hazards. The Healthy Homes supplemental funding can be
used to address lead service lines and other safety hazards.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities include:
•	Developing low-cost methods for hazard assessment and
intervention,
•	Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions,
•	Building local capacity to educate residents and mitigate hazards,
•	Developing and delivering public-education programs.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants for Health Homes Demonstration grants include:
Not-for profit organizations,
For-profit firms located in the United States,
State and local governments,
Federally-recognized tribes,
Colleges and universities.
Application Process
Each year HUD publishes a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) that
provides information to applicants about requirements for this program and
the process for applying. Information about the process for applying for these
grants is available at grants.gov.
Contact Info
For more information, contact
staff via
https://www.hud.gov/program of
fices/healthy homes/leadstaff or
visit
https://www.hud.gov/program of
fices/healthy homes/hhi.
Funding Cycle
Funding is expected to be
available annually.
O
Funding Amount ($ ;
The 2020 NOFA made $5 million
available in funding for Health
Homes Technical Studies
cooperative agreements.
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Economic Development Administration Programs
Public Works Program
The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration
(EDA) provides strategic investments to support economic development,
foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed
areas of the United States. The Public Works Program supports physical
infrastructure improvements in economically distressed communities.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities under the Public Works Program include:
•	Physical infrastructure upgrades and/or demolition,
•	Reuse of publicly owned buildings.
Infrastructure improvements under this program may include water and
sewer system improvements.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
•	State or local governments or other political subdivision, including a
special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in
economic or infrastructure development activities,
•	Federally recognized tribes,
•	Non-profit organizations acting in cooperation with a political
subdivision of a State,
•	Colleges and universities,
•	Economic Development District (EDD) organizations. *
Contact Info
For more information, contact:
https://www.eda.gov/contact/
Also visit:
https://www.grants.gov/web/gran
ts/view-
opportunity.html?oppld=321695
https://www.eda.gOv/pdf/about/P
ublic-Works-Program-l-Pager.pdf
Funding Cycle
©
Applications are accepted on a
rolling basis.
T\
Funding Amount I $
Funding ranges from $600,000 to
$3,000,000, with an average of
$1,400,000.
Application Process
After a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is published, apply on
grants.gov. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact
EDA'sRegional Office representatives to discuss their needs and availability
of funds.
*EDDs are EDA-designated/funded regional planning entities. For more
information on EDDs, visit https://eda.gov/edd/.
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Economic Development Administration Programs
Economic Adjustment Assistance Program
The EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance program provides technical and
planning assistance for public works and infrastructure projects in regions
experiencing adverse economic changes, such as a business closure that
employs many people or a natural disaster. The EAA program offers two
types of grants:
Strategy grants: Support development, updating, or refinement of a
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
Implementation grants: Support implementation of
activities identified in a CEDS, including infrastructure
improvements
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities under the EAA program include:
•	Planning,
•	Construction,
•	Supporting revolving loan funds.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
•	State or local governments or other political subdivision, including a
special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in
economic or infrastructure development activities,
•	Federally recognized tribes,
•	Non-profit organizations acting in cooperation with a political
subdivision of a State, and
•	Colleges and universities.
Economic Development District (EDD) organizations.
*Application Process
After a NOFO is published, apply on grants.gov. Prospective applicants are
strongly encouraged to contact EDA's Regional Office representatives to
discuss their needs and availability of funds.
Contact Info
For more information, contact
https://www.eda.gov/contact/
Also visit:
https://www.grants.gov/web/gran
ts/view-
opportunity.html?oppld=321695
https://www.eda.gOv/pdf/about/E
conomic-Adiustment-Assistance-
Program-l-Pager.pdf
Funding Cycle
©
Applications are accepted on a
rolling basis.
Funding Amount ($ ")
Funding ranges from $150,000 to
$1,000,000, with an average of
$650,000.
*EDDs are EDA-designated/funded regional planning entities. For more
information on EDDs, visit https://eda.gov/edd/.
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U.S. EPA Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center
EPA Water Finance Center
The Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center (Center) is an
information and assistance center, helping communities make informed
decisions for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure to
protect human health and the environment. The Center seeks to accelerate
and improve the quality of water infrastructure through four strategic goals
O Research: Identify financial solutions to help
communities meet infrastructure needs.
Advise: Provide financial advice, support, and
technical assistance to stakeholders.
O Innovate: Provide expertise and add value to
the national water conversation.
Network: Build relationships with government
partners and stakeholders.
The Center provides resources and tools related to effective financing and
technical assistance but does not provide direct funding.
Effective Financing Tools and Resources
•	Effective funding frameworks
•	Leading edge financing
•	Financing resilient and sustainable infrastructure
•	Finance webinars and forums
Technical Assistance Tools and Resources
•	Environmental Finance Centers
•	Water Affordability
•	WaterCARE project
•	Technical assistance partners
•	Financial tools
Contact Info
For more information, contact:
https://www.epa.gov/waterfinanc
ecenter
Search Resources
& Funding Information
Explore the Water Finance
Clearinghouse, a one-stop-shop
for all community water finance
needs: www.epa.gov/wfc
Q.
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Additional Technical Resources
—^ X «
Technical Assistance Resources
In addition to the infrastructure funding resources
above, there are a number of training and technical
assistance resources available to small and
disadvantaged communities. Examples of technical
assistance include:
>	Technical assistance providers that can help water
systems plan and/or implement LSLR in
disadvantaged communities
>	Reports, case studies, and guidance that can be
helpful in learning about LSLR
EPA Training and Technical Assistance for
Small Systems Funding
Each year, EPA awards approximately $12-$17
million to non-profit organizations to provide
training and technical assistance to small public
water systems, small wastewater systems and
private well owners, located in urban and rural
communities throughout the U.S. and its territories.
In March 2020, selected grantees were announced for the FY2019 competitive
award. Recipients of these grants to provide training and technical assistance
for small public water systems to achieve and maintain compliance with the
Safe Drinking Water Act are the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and
National Rural Water Association. Additional information on this program is
available at: https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/training-and-technical-
assistance-small-systems-funding.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service Circuit
Rider Program
This program provides technical assistance to rural water systems that
are experiencing day-to-day operational, financial or managerial issues.
Rural water system officials may request assistance from the Rural
Utilities Service, or Rural Utilities Service staff may request assistance
on behalf of the system.
The Rural Utilities Service has contracted with the National Rural Water
Association who are experienced in managing issues that may arise in
the day-to-day operations of rural water systems. Circuit Riders provide
service in each State and U.S. Territory to assist with operational,
financial and managerial issues, as well as to provide energy audits.
To request circuit rider assistance, small, rural communities should
contact the local Rural Development office or National Rural Water
Association State Association. More information is available at https://
www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/circuit-rider-program-technical-
assistance-rural-water-systems.
EPA's Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water (OGWDW)
EPA's OGWDW has several resources related to LSLR, including
funding sources, LSLR case studies, and additional LSLR research.
Visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-
water/lead-service-line-re placement FOR MORE
INFORMATION.
One resource to highlight is: Strategies to Achieve Full Lead
Service Line Replacement. This document includes LSLR
challenges and best practices related to LSLR to assist states and
utilities implement their own replacement programs. The
document covers funding, communication, LSLR considerations,
and case studies.
Visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-
water/strategies-achieve-full-lead-service-line-
replacementTO read the document.
LSLR Collaborative
The LSLR Collaborative includes 27
national public health, water utility,
environmental, labor, consumer, housing,
and state and local government
organizations to support the full removal
of LSLs across the country.
LSLR Collaborative resources are intended
for a wide audience - community leaders,
public health professionals, drinking water
professionals, elected officials, and
concerned consumers. The LSLR
Collaborative has a toolkit to assist
communities in developing and
implementing LSLR programs. This toolkit
includes a roadmap for getting started,
suggested best practices for identifying
and removing LSLs (including how to fund
projects), policies to consider, and
additional resources.
The LSLR Collaborative emphasizes equity
in LSLR and encourages replacement
programs to address barriers to
participation so that consumers served by
LSLs can benefit equitably, regardless of
income, race, or ethnicity.
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