Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program | TATFY22

Opportunity Information: Apply for TATFY22

The Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number TATFY22, CFDA 10.761) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service (USDA RUS). It is designed to support organizations that can deliver hands-on technical assistance and training to help rural and small communities address drinking water and waste disposal challenges. Rather than paying for construction or equipment, the program is focused on strengthening the planning, management, and operational capacity of water and wastewater systems so communities can better identify problems, evaluate solutions, and prepare for longer-term infrastructure financing through RUS programs.

Grant funds can be used to cover costs tied directly to providing technical assistance and/or training in several core areas. On the drinking water side, assistance may include helping systems identify and evaluate solutions related to water source issues, storage needs, treatment approaches, or distribution system problems. On the wastewater and solid waste side, assistance may address collection, treatment, and disposal challenges, including evaluating practical approaches that fit a community's technical and financial reality. A major emphasis is also placed on helping applicants that have already filed a pre-application with RUS by supporting them in preparing complete water and/or waste loan and/or grant applications. In addition, the program supports training and technical guidance for water and wastewater system personnel aimed at improving day-to-day management, operations, and maintenance, which can strengthen compliance, reliability, and long-term sustainability of these public service systems.

The announcement also draws clear boundaries around what the grant will not pay for. Funds cannot be used to duplicate services that are already being provided, such as work performed by an association's existing consultant for project development. The grant cannot support political or lobbying activities. It also cannot be used to purchase capital assets or real property, including buying real estate or vehicles. Office improvements are not allowable, meaning grantees cannot use funds to improve or renovate office space, nor can they use the grant to repair or maintain privately owned property. Most importantly, the program does not fund the construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or the ongoing operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities themselves. Costs incurred before the grant's effective date are also not eligible for reimbursement, reinforcing that expenditures must occur within the approved grant period and scope.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on October 7, 2021, with an original closing date of December 31, 2021. The listing indicates an expectation of about 35 awards, and the award ceiling is shown as 0, which typically signals that award sizes may vary or are determined by program priorities and available appropriations rather than a single published maximum. The eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the full eligibility section of the notice. The program point of contact provided is Lorrie Davis at lorrie.davis@usda.gov, indicating where applicants could direct technical questions about eligibility or application requirements.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as capacity-building support for rural water and waste systems: it pays for expertise, training, and application-development help that enables communities to solve technical problems, operate systems more effectively, and successfully pursue RUS financing for infrastructure projects, while explicitly avoiding funding for physical construction, major purchases, or duplicative consulting work.

• The Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service in the community development, environment, opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.761.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 07, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 31, 2021 Lorrie Davis lorrie.davis@usda.gov. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 35 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for TATFY22

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: