Solving critical infrastructure problems
Clean Water Partners Infrastructure Program
Planning Grants
Planning grants help rural communities take the first steps toward addressing water or sewer infrastructure problems. The proposed project must address a critical problem affecting public health or environmental health.
Go to application and reporting forms
Frequently asked questions
What do you mean by "must address a critical problem"?
Who can apply?
What can a planning grant be used for?
How much money can we get?
Is that to cover all of the cost?
Where else could we find a planning grant?
What if we can't come up with a dollar-for-dollar match?
Are there any special considerations?
Are there other restrictions?
Do we have to spend the new money within a certain time?
Who decides whether we receive a grant?
What's the deadline for applying, and how long before we get an answer?
How do we apply?
Will you help if we have questions?
What do you mean by "must address a critical problem"?
The planning project must address a critically needed solution to an infrastructure problem. We aim primarily to assist rural communities in violation of public health and environmental rules and regulations, to get them back into compliance. Documentation of the critical need is required and may be the deciding factor in a grant decision.
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This program targets low-to-moderate income rural communities. The application must come from a unit of local government or regional planning group representing:
- rural county listed as Tier 1 or Tier 2, according to economic rankings of the N.C. Department of Commerce
- municipality within a Tier 1 or Tier 2 rural county, or
- municipality within a Tier 3 rural county if the municipality:
- has a poverty rate that is 150 percent of the state rate or higher
- has an ability-to-pay rating that is one-half or less the county ability-to-pay rating
In addition:
You must attend a Rural Center class on how to apply. We schedule the classes at least twice a year.
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What can a planning grant be used for?
Basically, the grant may be used for those planning activities necessary to prepare for construction projects. This may include a feasibility study, a preliminary engineering report, or an investigation into the structural integrity of a water or wastewater system, among others.
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We'll award grants of up to $40,000 for one-half the cost of a planning project.
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Is that to cover all of the cost?
The grant is to be matched dollar-for-dollar with money from other sources. The match could come from local enterprise funds, another grant or a loan.
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Where else could we find a planning grant?
Our funding partners include several state and federal agencies. We have lists of those who provide grants or loans for public projects, divided by water planning projects and wastewater planning projects. Money from other Rural Center grants may not be used as a match.
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What if we can't come up with a dollar-for-dollar match?
We reduce, but don't eliminate, the match requirement under certain circumstances. You'd have to meet one or more of the following exceptions:
- You represent a Tier 1 county or a municipality in a Tier 1 county, according to economic rankings of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
- Your poverty rate is 150 percent of the state’s poverty rate, according to poverty rates from the latest decennial Census.
- Your ability-to-pay score, as calculated by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance, is less than 50 percent of your county’s ability-to-pay score.
To make it easy to determine your exceptions, we've pulled all that information into one table.
If you meet one exception, we'll reduce your match to 50 cents on the dollar of grant funding. A $40,000 grant, for example, would require a $20,000 match.
If you meet two exceptions, you must match 35 cents on the dollar. A $40,000 grant would then require a $14,000 match.
If you meet all three exceptions, your match drops to 25 cents on the dollar. You'd need only $10,000 to match a $40,000 grant.
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Are there any special considerations?
We will give priority for grant awards to projects addressing:
- water or sewer moratorium
- special order of consent
- judicial order of consent
- regionalization of utilities, either through physical interconnections or common management and staff
Yes, if you previously received a Rural Center capacity building grant for a water or sewer project. All grants awarded before July 1, 2005, must be closed out before you apply for a new planning grant.
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Do we have to spend the new money within a certain time?
You must contract the planning project within six months and have it largely completed within a year.
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Who decides whether we receive a grant?
Grant decisions rest with the Rural Center Board of Directors.
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What's the deadline for applying?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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- Read the full detailed guidelines in the application package.
- Complete the application, in full. Incomplete information will delay processing and may result in losing your grant opportunity.
- Make sure your chief elected official (or authorized representative) signs the application.
- Return it to us at:
Rural Economic Development Center
Physical Infrastucture Office
4021 Carya Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610
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Will you help if we have questions?
Absolutely. For any questions or to schedule a meeting to discuss a project, please contact us at watersewer@ncruralcenter.org or 919-250-4314.
Contact
Julie Haigler Cubeta, senior director, Physical Infrastructure Office
N.C. Rural Economic Development Center
4021 Carya Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610
Telephone: 919-250-4314
Fax: 919-250-4325