Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages

What does this program do?

This program helps remote Alaskan villages provide safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses.

Who may apply?

• Rural Alaskan villages 7 CFR 1784.8
• State of Alaska for the benefit of a rural Alaskan village or hub

What is an eligible Area?

The project must serve a rural Alaskan village or hub with:

• A population of 10,000 or less - check eligible addresses 
• Median household incomes less than 110 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan household income according to the latest Census data.

Are there other requirements?

The grant must be used to remedy a dire sanitation condition such as:

• Recurring instances of waterborne communicable disease
• Individual residents hauling water to or human waste from, their homes or are using outhouses because no community-wide water and sewer system exists.

How may the funds be used?

• To pay up to 75 percent of the project costs to provide drinking water or waste disposal services

Are matching funds required?

• The state of Alaska or local contributions must provide at least 25 percent of the project costs

How do we get started?

• Applications for this program are accepted year round through your local RD office.

• Program resources are available online (includes forms needed, guidance, certifications, etc.).

Who can answer questions?

• Robert Chambers, Community Programs Director 
  Robert.chambers@usda.gov 
  (907) 761-7770

What governs this program?

• Code of Federal Regulation, 7 CFR 1784
• Section 306D of the Agricultural Act of 1961 and Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

This program helps extend access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses in remote and extremely isolated parts of the United States. Many Alaskan villages can only be accessed by boat or plane, making them virtually inaccessible during the long winters. Weather and distance also make construction costs abnormally high and in some cases permafrost requires the construction of utility tunnels or insulated heated pipe above ground in order to provide basic services.