Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) Grant - FY 2025
| Agency: | U.S. Department of Agriculture |
|---|---|
| Office: | Rural Development (RD) |
| Multipart Grant: | No |
| Next Due: | Rolling |
|---|---|
| Solicitation Date: | Rolling |
| Match Required: | No |
| Actual Funds: | Unspecified |
Summary:
The purpose of this program is to help small, financially distressed rural communities pay for predevelopment feasibility studies, design, and technical assistance for proposed water and waste disposal projects. Funds may be used to pay for eligible predevelopment planning costs and activities, including feasibility studies to support applications for funding water or waste disposal projects; preliminary design and engineering analysis; and technical assistance to develop applications for financial assistance. Predevelopment planning costs must be related to a proposed project that builds, enlarges, extends, or improves rural water, wastewater, solid waste, or storm water disposal facilities; or that builds or relocates public or private buildings, roads, bridges, fences, or utilities, or makes other improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities.
Eligible service areas must be rural, be considered financially distressed, and:
- Be located in cities, towns, or unincorporated areas with populations of 2,500 or fewer, according to the most recent U.S. Census data
- Have median household incomes either below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide, non-metropolitan median household income using 2006-2010 American Community Survey data
Program Office Notes:
The program officer stated that the general program information and application guidelines, attached as the NOFA file, are up to date.
Eligibility Notes:
Eligible applicants are:
- Most state and local governments
- Nonprofit organizations
- Federally recognized tribes
Eligible service areas must be rural, be considered financially distressed, and:
- Be located in cities, towns, or unincorporated areas with populations of 2,500 or fewer, according to the most recent U.S. Census data
- Have median household incomes either below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide, non-metropolitan median household income using 2006-2010 American Community Survey data
Eligible Applicants:
Local GovernmentNative American Tribe
Non Profits
State Government
Application Notes:
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
To initiate the application process, applicants must contact the appropriate Rural Development (RD) state office listed online at www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.
| Match Required: | No |
|---|---|
| Actual Funds: | Unspecified |
Match Notes:
There are no stated matching requirements for this program.
Funding Notes:
An unspecified amount of funding is available to support awards through this program.
Contacts:
(See Contact Notes)
Agency Address
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20250
Contact Notes:
Questions should be directed to the appropriate Rural Development (RD) state office listed online at www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
To initiate the application process, applicants must contact the appropriate RD state office.
The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.
File Notes:
The NOFA file contains general program information and application guidelines.
The program officer stated that the general program information and application guidelines, attached as the NOFA file, are up to date.
Grant Keywords
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Community DevelopmentRural Issues
Human Services
Solid Waste
Wastewater
Water Supply/Quality