Small Rural Communities Can Seek USDA Help Planning Water Projects

The Minnesota Association of Townships highlighted an existing USDA funding opportunity on October 27 for small, financially distressed rural communities planning water and waste infrastructure improvements.

The federal Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) grant program supports early planning costs such as feasibility studies, preliminary engineering and technical assistance for proposed water, wastewater, solid-waste or stormwater projects. The program is for qualifying areas with populations of 2,500 or fewer that also meet income criteria. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the association notes that no local matching funds are required.

Why it matters: Small Redwood County towns such as Belview face major infrastructure decisions. Planning assistance could be worth exploring before work begins, but population size by itself does not establish eligibility. There is no announcement that Belview or another Redwood County town has been awarded a SEARCH grant. Officials and eligible organizations should contact USDA Rural Development to check requirements.

Minnesota Association of Townships notice: https://mat.squarespace.com/news
USDA program information: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs