The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking applications for its Solid Waste Management (SWM) Grant Program that has been established to assist communities through free technical assistance and/or training provided by the grant recipients.

Qualified organizations will receive SWM grant funds to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources in rural areas and improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas. The grants are awarded through a competitive process. The regulation for the SWMG Program can be found at 7 CFR part 1775.

Solid Waste Management systems are basic and vital to both health and economic development of rural communities. With dependable solid waste disposal facilities, rural communities can attract families and businesses that will invest in the community and improve the quality of life for all residents. Without dependable facilities, the communities cannot sustain economic development. 

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $4,000,000
• Award Ceiling: $1,000,000

provide technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills which are closed or will be closed in the near future with the development and implementation of closure plans, future land use plans, safety and maintenance planning, and closure scheduling within permit requirements.

provide technical assistance and/or training to help communities reduce the solid waste stream;

provide technical assistance and/or training to enhance operator skills in the operation and maintenance of active landfills;

Evaluating current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources;

Funds may be used to:

pay the costs for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities and pay costs incurred prior to effective date of grants made under 7 CFR 1775.

purchase real estate or vehicles, improve or renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property;

pay for capital assets;

fund political or lobbying activities;

duplicate current services, or replace or substitute support normally provided by other means, such as those performed by an association’s consultant in developing a project, including feasibility, design, and cost estimates;

recruit applications for the Agency’s water and waste loan and/or any loan and/or grant program;

Grant funds may not be used to:

Eligibility Criteria

• Entities eligible for grants must:
  • Be a private, non-profit organization with tax exempt status designated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); a public body; a Federally acknowledged or State recognized Native American tribe or group; or an academic institution.
  • Be legally established and located within any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Have capitalization acceptable to the Agency and be composed of at least 51 percent of the outstanding interest or membership being citizens of the United States or individuals who reside in the United States after being legally admitted for permanent residence.
  • Have no delinquent debt to the Federal Government or no outstanding judgments to repay a federal debt.
• Organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year the application period occurs to be eligible for funds.
• Private businesses, Federal agencies, and individuals are ineligible for these grants.
• Applicants must also have the proven ability; background; experience, as evidenced by the organization's satisfactory completion of project(s) similar to those proposed; legal authority; and actual capacity to provide technical assistance and/or training on a regional basis to associations as provided in §1775.63.

For more information, visit SWM Grant Program.