Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program – Round 3
🏛 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Can you apply?
This grant is for small and disadvantaged communities in Illinois needing wastewater infrastructure planning. Applicants must be municipalities or public entities serving areas where wastewater collection and/or treatment are nonexistent or inadequate. The grant funds the development of a Project Plan identifying wastewater solutions, not construction or design engineering.
Communities must demonstrate capacity to implement solutions and show need in their service areas. Eligible applicants are typically city or county government entities, public utilities, and organized special districts managing wastewater systems. Nonprofit organizations serving as fiscal agents for municipalities may also apply. Maximum award is $30,000 per applicant.
This grant is for small and disadvantaged communities in Illinois needing wastewater infrastructure planning. Applicants must be municipalities or public entities serving areas where wastewater collection and/or treatment are nonexistent or inadequate. The grant funds the development of a Project Plan identifying wastewater solutions, not construction or design engineering.
Communities must demonstrate capacity to implement solutions and show need in their service areas. Eligible applicants are typically city or county government entities, public utilities, and organized special districts managing wastewater systems. Nonprofit organizations serving as fiscal agents for municipalities may also apply. Maximum award is $30,000 per applicant.
Program description
IEPA is making $1 million available for the next round of Planning Grants to assist small and disadvantaged communities in developing a Project Plan that identifies a solution to their wastewater collection and treatment needs. A well-developed Project Plan would allow communities to apply for the Construction Grant to construct wastewater collection and/or treatment solutions for areas where wastewater collection and/or treatment are presently non-existent or inadequate. The UCPGP will utilize a portion of Illinois EPA Water Pollution Control Loan Program (WPCLP) Loan Support funds generated from loan repayments. Illinois EPA expects to award a total of $1,000,000 and anticipates distributing this amount across thirty-three (33) to fifty (50) awards. Funding will be limited to a maximum of $30,000 per applicant.
The Illinois EPA may elect to partially fund an application by funding discrete portions or phases of the project scope of work. This could be due to ineligible project components identified in the application or not enough UCPGP funds being available to fully fund the entire project.
Costs of reporting efforts related to any reporting requirements of the UGA can be included in the third-party contract and are considered an eligible grant cost.
Examples of ineligible activities, tasks, and components that shall not be funded through the UCPGP are provided below. The list is not all-inclusive:
a. Land Acquisition Costs
b. Design Engineering Costs
c. Construction Engineering Costs
d. Construction Costs
e. Planning activities related to the rehabilitation of existing wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities
f. Planning activities related to future growth or development projects
NOTE: Costs incurred prior to the fully executed agreement date of the signed Uniform Grant Agreement (UGA) or after the grant agreement term ends ARE INELIGIBLE. Administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 532-00-2476).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for small and disadvantaged communities in Illinois needing wastewater infrastructure planning. Applicants must be municipalities or public entities serving areas where wastewater collection and/or treatment are nonexistent or inadequate. The grant funds the development of a Project Plan identifying wastewater solutions, not construction or design engineering.
Communities must demonstrate capacity to implement solutions and show need in their service areas. Eligible applicants are typically city or county government entities, public utilities, and organized special districts managing wastewater systems. Nonprofit organizations serving as fiscal agents for municipalities may also apply. Maximum award is $30,000 per applicant.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Completed application form per IEPA instructions
- Project Plan outline and scope of work
- Budget narrative with detailed cost breakdown
- Evidence of community need (wastewater assessment data)
- Proof of disadvantaged/small community status
- Uniform Grant Agreement (UGA) upon award
Program contact
- 👤 Kaitlyn Holtsclaw
- 📞 217-782-2027
FAQ
What can this grant fund?
Planning and engineering studies to develop a Project Plan for wastewater collection and treatment solutions. Eligible costs include consultant services, project management, and UGA-related reporting.
What activities are NOT eligible?
Land acquisition, design engineering, construction engineering, construction costs, and planning for rehabilitation of existing facilities or future growth projects.
Who can apply for this grant?
Small and disadvantaged communities in Illinois with inadequate or nonexistent wastewater infrastructure. Typically municipalities, counties, and public utilities.
What is the maximum award amount?
Each applicant can receive up to $30,000. Illinois EPA expects 33 to 50 awards from the $1 million funding pool.
Is there a deadline and can I reapply?
Rolling deadline (no specific cutoff date). Rejected applicants may reapply if they address identified deficiencies or wait for future rounds.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus your Project Plan on identifying specific, realistic wastewater solutions for your service area. Show why current infrastructure is inadequate.
- Budget carefully within the $30,000 cap; partial funding may occur if components are ineligible or funds are limited.
- Include a timeline showing planning activities occur after the grant agreement is signed. Costs before or after the agreement term are ineligible.
- Demonstrate your community's disadvantaged status and capacity to implement recommendations. Use local data on service gaps.
- Partner with experienced consultants if needed. Costs for third-party planning services and UGA-related reporting are eligible expenses.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Including ineligible costs like land acquisition, design engineering, or construction in the project scope. Incurring costs before the grant agreement is signed or after the term ends. Proposing planning activities for rehabilitation or future growth instead of addressing current infrastructure gaps.
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