The Rural Utilities Service of the USDA is offering the Solid Waste Management Grant Program to assist rural communities in improving solid waste management through technical assistance and training. This program aims to reduce pollution, enhance the sustainability of waste sites, and address emerging contaminants, with a total funding pool of $4 million available for grants. Eligible applicants include private non-profit organizations, public bodies, Native American tribes, and academic institutions that demonstrate proven experience in solid waste management. Applications will be accepted from October 1, 2025, until December 31, 2025, with a maximum award ceiling of $1 million per project. Interested parties can find more information and submit applications via Grants.gov, and may contact the SWM Grant Manager at water-rd@usda.gov for further inquiries.

FY26.pdf

The USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service is offering Solid Waste Management Grants (SWMG) for Fiscal Year 2026, aiming to assist rural communities in improving solid waste planning and management. This initiative provides funding to eligible organizations for technical assistance and training, with an anticipated $4,000,000 in grants. The program focuses on reducing pollution, enhancing the financial and operational sustainability of waste sites, and addressing emerging contaminants like PFAS. Applications open October 1, 2025, and are due by December 31, 2025. Eligible applicants include non-profits, public bodies, Native American Tribes, and academic institutions with proven experience. Projects are scored based on factors like applicant experience, proposed service area population, median household income, project duration, and addressing key priorities such as financial sustainability and remediation of contaminants.

SWMG.pdf

The Solid Waste Management Grant Program's Fiscal Year 2026 Application Guide outlines the requirements for federal funding, assisting communities with technical assistance and training for solid waste management. Key aspects include application preparation, required forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-LLL), and a detailed project proposal covering project summary, needs assessment, goals, objectives, and a comprehensive narrative. Applicants must submit legal existence evidence, director lists, IRS tax-exempt status, recent audits, and financial statements. Applications are due by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET, via Grants.gov, requiring a Unique Entity ID and active SAM registration. Scoring criteria include project area, applicant experience, resource utilization, population served, median household income, project duration, needs assessment, goals, work plan, assistance provided, evaluation methods, matching funds, and sustainability. The guide also details the review, selection, and appeals processes.

 Funds may be used to: (a) Provide technical assistance and/or training to reduce the solid waste stream through reduction, recycling, and reuse. (b) Provide training to enhance operator skills in maintaining and operating active landfills. (c) Provide technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills which are closed or will be closed in the near future with the development/implementation of closure plans, future land use plans, safety and maintenance planning, and closure scheduling within permit requirements. (d) Evaluate current landfill conditions to determine the threats to water resources. (e) Pay the expenses associated with providing the technical assistance and/or training authorized in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section. Grant funds may not be used to: (a) Duplicate current services or replace or substitute support normally provided by other means, such as those performed by an association&apos;s consultant in developing a project, including feasibility, design, and cost estimates. (b) Fund political or lobbying activities. (c) Purchase real estate or vehicles, improve or renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property. (d) Pay the costs for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities. (e) Construct or furnish a building. (f) Intervene in the Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. (g) Sue the Federal Government or any other government entities. (h) Pay for any other costs that are not allowable under 2 CFR part 200, as adopted by USDA through 2 CFR part 400. (i) Make contributions or donations to others. (j) Fund projects that duplicate technical assistance given to implement action plans under the National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6613). Applicants cannot receive both grants made under this part and grants that the Forest Service makes to implement the action plans for five continuous years from the date of grant approval by the Forest Service. (1) The Forest Service helps rural communities that are dependent upon national forest resources diversify existing industries and economies. It establishes rural forestry and economic diversification action teams that prepare technical assistance plans for these rural communities to expand their local economies and reduce their dependence on national forest resources. The Forest Service provides assistance to implement the action plans through grants, loans, cooperative agreements, or contracts. (2) To avoid duplicate assistance, applicants must contact the Forest Service to find out if any geographical areas or local areas in a State have received grants for technical assistance to an economically disadvantaged community. These areas are defined as national forest-dependent communities under 7 U.S.C. 6612. Applicants will provide documentation to the Forest Service and Rural Utilities Service that they have contacted each agency. (k) To pay an outstanding judgment obtained by the United States in a Federal Court (other than in the United States Tax Court), which has been recorded. An applicant will be ineligible to receive a loan or grant until the judgment is paid in full or otherwise satisfied. (l) Recruit applications for the RUS&apos;s water and waste loan or any other loan or grant program. Grant funds cannot be used to create new business; however, they can be used to assist with application preparation. 

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