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Is your special district located in a rural area serving a small-sized population? If so, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDARD) program may have funding available for your district.

Those who attended CSDA’s Special Districts Legislative Days conference last month had the opportunity to hear from USDARD State Director Maria Gallegos-Herrera about the financial assistance available to special districts that serve smaller communities. Director Gallegos-Herrera discussed three key programs related to community facilities, water, and wastewater.

(L-R): USDA Rural Development State Director Maria Gallegos-Herrera joins CSDA Advocacy & Public Affairs Director Kyle Packham and Coastal Network Public Affairs Field Coordinator Charlotte Holifield at CSDA’s Special Districts Legislative Days.

The Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program, for populations up to 20,000, provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings.

Examples of essential community facilities include:

•       Healthcare facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities

•       Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars, or street improvements

•       Community support services such as childcare centers, community centers, fairgrounds, or transitional housing

•       Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles, or equipment

•       Educational services such as museums, libraries, or private schools

•       Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment

More information about the program can be found here.

The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program is available to special districts serving less than 10,000 residents and 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.

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

In some cases, funding may also be available for related activities such as:

•       Legal and engineering fees

•       Land acquisition, water and land rights, permits, and equipment

•       Start-up operations and maintenance

More information is available here.

Finally, the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant program assists rural populations of less than 10,000 prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.

The following events qualify as an emergency:

•       Drought or flood

•       Earthquake

•       Tornado or hurricane

•       Disease outbreak

•       Chemical spill, leak, or seepage

•       Other disasters

NOTE: A federal disaster declaration is not required. More information about the program is here.