Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program
🏛 Rural Utilities Service
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 7, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for private nonprofit organizations that provide technical assistance and training to improve rural water and wastewater systems. Applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3)s operating primarily for scientific, education, or charitable purposes. Organizations must be incorporated, legally established within a US state, and demonstrate proven experience providing similar services on a regional basis.
Eligible activities include: helping water/wastewater associations identify and evaluate solutions to water problems, identify and evaluate solutions to waste problems, assist applicants in preparing loan/grant applications, and provide training to water system personnel. Activities must improve management, operation, or maintenance of water and waste disposal facilities.
Ineligible uses include: duplicating existing services, political or lobbying activities, capital assets, real estate, vehicles, office renovations, construction or facility operation/maintenance costs, and pre-grant expenses.
Private businesses, federal agencies, public bodies, and individuals cannot apply.
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Program description
Funds may be used to pay expenses associated with providing technical assistance and/or training (TAT) to: Identify and evaluate solutions to water problems relating to source, storage, treatment, or distribution; identify and evaluate solutions to waste problems relating to collection, treatment, or disposal: assist applicants, that have filed a pre-application with RUS, in the preparation of water and/or waste loan and/or grant applications; and/or provide technical assistance and/or training to water/wastewater system personnel that will improve the management, operation and maintenance of water and waste disposal facilities. Grant funds may not be used to duplicate current services, such as those performed by an association’s consultant in developing a project; fund political or lobbying activities; pay for capital assets; purchase real estate or vehicles; improve or renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property; pay the costs for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities; and pay costs incurred prior to effective date of grant.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative describing technical assistance/training activities
- Budget and budget narrative
- Proof of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
- Evidence of past experience and regional service capacity
- Documentation of affiliate/member support (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 LAVONDA PERNELL Community Programs Specialist
- 📧 water-rd@usda.gov
- 📞 202-720-9635
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.761 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$10,284,000
-
$10,000,000
-
$9,000,000
-
$8,500,000
-
$8,500,000
-
$5,848,000
-
$5,600,000
-
$5,405,000
-
$5,150,072
-
$5,000,000
Top States by Funding
- OK 18 awards $67.1M
- DC 9 awards $30.0M
- AL 2 awards $5.8M
- MA 1 awards $2.3M
- AK 9 awards $2.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.761). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $41,798,979 | |
| 2025 | $35,269,717 | |
| 2026 est. | $35,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with tax-exempt status can apply. You must be incorporated, legally established in a US state, and have proven experience providing technical assistance and training similar to your proposed project.
What can grant funds pay for?
Funds support expenses for technical assistance and training activities. This includes evaluating water/wastewater solutions, helping applicants prepare loan/grant applications, and training system personnel on management and maintenance.
What expenses are NOT eligible?
Grant funds cannot pay for construction, capital assets, real estate, vehicles, office renovations, facility operation/maintenance, duplicative services, lobbying, or pre-grant costs.
Do I need to provide matching funds?
No. Cost sharing is not required for this grant program.
How much funding is available per award?
Award amounts are not specified in the program guidelines. The total funding pool is $35 million, but individual award sizes vary.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus your proposal on regional capacity. Demonstrate how your organization will serve multiple water/wastewater associations across a geographic area.
- Document your experience clearly. Include past successful projects similar to what you propose, with specific outcomes and client feedback.
- Align activities with RUS priorities. Emphasize how your TA will help associations secure and manage water/wastewater infrastructure funding.
- Partner strategically if needed. If your staff lacks capacity, identify affiliate or member organizations in writing that will provide required expertise and experience.
- Avoid ineligible expenses in your budget. Double-check that no funding goes to construction, capital equipment, facility operations, or duplicative services.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing activities that duplicate existing consultant services already available to target associations. Inadequately documenting past experience or regional service capacity. Including construction, facility operations, or capital asset costs in the budget.
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