Rural America Relies on Rural Development

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT WATER PROGRAMS CREATE SUSTAINABILITY 

SUSTAINABILITY FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES 
Small and rural communities rely on access to affordable loan and grant opportunities through USDA Rural Development to make repairs, upgrades, and to build new critical infrastructure for their communities. 
​
While affordable financing is a vital component for these communities, it is not the complete solution. After these projects are completed, the need for training for water and wastewater operators does not go away. Technical assistance ensures the government’s and public’s investment is secured. For small and rural communities to remain sustainable, they need ongoing training and technical assistance. 

​LAST YEAR, CIRCUIT RIDERS HELPED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF 30,721,691 PEOPLE - 42% OF RURAL AMERICA.

Technical assistance for small and rural communities includes providing training, energy audits, certification, financial management, environmental compliance, governance, and on-site technical assistance necessary to ensure that water and wastewater facilities operate at the highest possible level. Through the grants provided through USDA WEP, these services are provided at no cost through technical assistance providers like NRWA and its State Affiliates. The loss of funding for this essential technical assistance will jeopardize the sustainability of rural water systems and their communities. System managers will be forced to choose between not addressing ongoing operational and management issues or contracting for these services at steep costs. 

Today’s Congressional policies and funding decisions are jeopardizing the sustainability of every community in rural America. Budget cuts will leave USDA WEP unable to accomplish its mission. WEP is instrumental in helping rural America ensure their communities are sustainable now and into the future. 

click here to learn more about how you can help keep rural america strong!

SIGN THE RURAL WATER STRONG PLEDGE FORM

USDA Rural Development Water & Environmental Programs (WEP)

State Rural Water Associations (including SDARWS) in partnership with USDA RD WEP provide the following technical assistance to rural communities: 

• Circuit Rider Program 
• Disaster Recovery Circuit Rider Program 
• Wastewater Technical Assistance and Training Program 
• NRWA Apprenticeship Program 
• Manufactured Housing Program 
• Energy Efficiency Program 
• Decentralized Wastewater Technical Assistance and Training Program