Border Needs Assessment TAT

The U.S.-Mexico Border Region is a dynamic area where public health and environmental challenges are interconnected, populations intermingle, and water resources are shared by both countries.

USDA and EPA work collaboratively with partnersto address critical public health and environmental problems

at the source by providing often first-time drinking and wastewater services to underserved communities.

The agencies haveembarked on a joint project to improve estimates of gaps in community infrastructure and to pilot approaches to technical assistance and capacitybuilding that can be applied more broadly and be provided in a manner that can be sustained long term by building capacity in the communities toimprove and maintain adequate infrastructure.

Ultimately, the project will identify and vet approaches to support small communities that can be supported cooperatively by all stakeholders.The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) supports the sound development of rural communities and the growth of our economy without endangering theenvironment.

RUS provides financial and technical assistance to help communities bring safe drinking water and sanitary, environmentally soundwaste disposal facilities to rural Americans in greatest need.

The additional funding for the Colonias Studies, under the TAT Grant Program, will allow coloniascommunities to better plan and secure dependable water supplies for rebuilding their community’s health and economic development.

Qualifiedprivate non-profit organizations may apply to receive a grant to conduct water infrastructure studies to evaluate infrastructure gaps, determine local stakeholders and institutions, access community funding opportunities andprovide technical support to colonias communities.Deliverables required under this colonias TAT grant are:
1. Creation of a searchable database of information required to be collected as part of the needs assessment.

A full list of the information collection requirements is detailed in the application guide, and includes such data as population, general demographics, existing water and waste disposal infrastructure, incidence rate of water borne infectious disease,assessment of access to indoor plumbing, etc.

The database must include geospatial information thatallows for mapping.

2. A report (in electronic and paper form) summarizing and analyzing the data collected that:• Identifies areas of greatest need andwhere investment will have highest economic and public health impact (including maps).• Identifies areas that lack access to water and/or waste disposal infrastructure.• Estimates the capital investment needed in water and waste disposal infrastructure in the study area (modest in scope and design).

The estimate should include a listing of each coloniaassessed, identification of the type of infrastructure required and the recommended approach (i.e., connection to existing system, newcluster system, centralized system and estimated capital costs).• Provides information on communities’ capacity to apply for funding, and operate and maintainutilities.• Identifies the areas where other technical assistance is needed and for what purposes; 3. Lists of local institutions/ community leaders that can serve as points of contacts for the targeted communities.

4. Recommends approaches for technical assistance and outreach to communities in high needs areas.

5. This report is due by December 31, 201 4.
Related Programs

Technical Assistance and Training Grants

Department of Agriculture


Agency: Department of Agriculture

Office: Utilities Programs

Estimated Funding: $500,000


Who's Eligible


Relevant Nonprofit Program Categories





Obtain Full Opportunity Text:
Technical Assistance and Training Program Website Page

Additional Information of Eligibility:
Eligibility criteria for TAT grants is as follows: (a) Entities eligible for grants must be private nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status, designated by the Internal Revenue Service.

A nonprofit organization is defined as any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that: (1) Is operated primarily for scientific, education, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest.

(2) Is not organized primarily for profit.

(3) Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations.

(b) Entities must be legally established and located within a state as defined in � 1775.2.

(c) Organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year the application period occurs to be eligible for funds.

(d) Private businesses, Federal agencies, public bodies, and individuals are ineligible for these grants.

(e) 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 � 1775.33.

To meet the requirement of actual capacity, an applicant must either: (1) Have the necessary resources to provide technical assistance and/or training to associations in rural areas through its staff, or (2) Be assisted by an affiliate or member organization which has such background and experience and which agrees, in writing, that it will provide the assistance, or (3) Contract with a nonaffiliated organization for not more than 49 percent of the grant to provide the proposed assistance.



Full Opportunity Web Address:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-wwtat.htm.

Contact:
Anita OBrienLoan SpecialistPhone 202-690-3789

Agency Email Description:
Government Address

Agency Email:
anita.obrien@wdc.usda.gov

Date Posted:
2014-04-04

Application Due Date:
2014-06-03

Archive Date:
2014-07-01


Ganesh Natarajan is the Founder and Chairman of 5FWorld, a new platform for funding and developing start-ups, social enterprises and the skills eco-system in India. In the past two decades, he has built two of India’s high-growth software services companies – Aptech and Zensar – almost from scratch to global success.






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