Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program | TATFY24

Opportunity Information: Apply for TATFY24

The Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number TATFY24, CFDA 10.761) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Its purpose is to strengthen water and waste disposal services by paying for the costs of providing hands-on technical assistance and training to eligible communities and water/wastewater organizations, with a strong emphasis on improving the planning, management, operation, and maintenance of systems rather than paying for physical construction or equipment.

Under this opportunity, grant funds can be used to support organizations that help identify and evaluate solutions to drinking water challenges tied to the full lifecycle of a system, including the water source, storage, treatment processes, and distribution networks. Funding can also support work focused on waste-related problems, including issues connected to collection systems, treatment methods, and disposal options. A major allowable activity is helping applicants who have already filed a pre-application with RUS by providing assistance in preparing water and/or waste loan and/or grant applications. In addition, the program supports training and technical assistance for water and wastewater system personnel aimed at improving day-to-day management, operational performance, and routine maintenance practices for water and waste disposal facilities. In practical terms, the grant is meant to build capacity, improve compliance and reliability, and help systems make better decisions and submit stronger applications for RUS financing.

The eligible applicant pool for this specific posting is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. The opportunity was created on October 2, 2023, with an original closing date of January 2, 2024. The listing indicates an expected total of about 40 awards. The notice shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically signals that a specific per-award cap is not stated in the public summary and applicants should rely on the full announcement or agency guidance for any limits, typical award sizes, or budgeting expectations.

The program also clearly draws lines around what it will not pay for. Grant funds cannot be used to duplicate services that are already being provided, such as work performed by an association consultant for project development. Funds may not be used for political or lobbying activities. The grant cannot be used to pay for capital assets, purchase real estate or vehicles, improve or renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property. Critically, the TAT grant is not a construction or infrastructure program: it cannot pay for the construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or the ongoing operation and maintenance costs of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities themselves. It also cannot reimburse costs that were incurred before the grant effective date. Overall, the funding is designed to cover the people, expertise, and training effort required to help communities and systems solve problems and become more sustainable, not to fund bricks-and-mortar infrastructure upgrades.

• The Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service in the community development, employment, labor and training, 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 02, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 02, 2024. (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 40 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for TATFY24

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