USDA Rural Development – Tennessee State Office

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants (Tennessee)

Open

Deadline: Rolling: apply any time
Award size: Up to $1M
Match ?: Not stated: check the official notice. The federal program behind it has match rules for some uses: read them. · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply: City or town government, County government, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), Tribal government, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Nonprofit without 501(c)(3)
Where: Anywhere in Tennessee

Read the official notice Should we apply? Sign in to save

Before you apply: Tennessee state agencies usually require you to be registered as a supplier in the state's Edison system before they can pay a grant. Ask the program contact, and register early. Get-ready checklist

How this fits you

Available in Sullivan County
Past Tennessee awards of the federal program behind it (all its uses): 4

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

About this grant

Grants to help rural communities of 10,000 or fewer prepare for or recover from an emergency that threatens safe drinking water, such as a sharp drop in water quantity or quality within the last two years.

Official notice: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/emergency-community-water-assistance-grants/tn · Printed from grantme.click/grants/9ebe8a9c-1e3c-4b4c-88aa-3348109d3cee

Ask a partner for a letter

Writing the need statement? Sullivan County facts with citations.

Who in Tennessee has won the federal program behind it

This grant is paid from federal program 10.763, which also pays for other work. These groups won that program, not necessarily this grant.

3 awards to Tennessee groups in 2 counties since 2023 · 0 in Sullivan County. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee winners
Past winner	Where	Amount	Fiscal year
Cherokee Hills Utility District	Copperhill, Polk County	$920K	2024
East Sevier County Utility	Sevierville, Sevier County	$500K	2023
East Sevier County Utility	Sevierville, Sevier County	$322K	2023

Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.

Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization

This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 1 pass-through grant on file · 0 in Sullivan County. Largest shown:

Tennessee pass-through grant winners
Past winner	Where	Through	Amount	Fiscal year
Water Works and Sewer Board of the Town of Ardmore, Alabama	Ardmore	State of Tennessee	$335K spent that year	2025

Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).

Similar grants open or opening soon

From other funders, about the same kind of work in Sullivan County.

Easement Restoration and Stewardship · Natural Resources Conservation Service · Due Nov 19, 2026 · 39 days left

About the federal program

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
Program number 10.763 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service · Project grant

How applications are judged

The proposed projects designed to serve a rural area with a population of 10,000 or less that has a median household income of not more than 100 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan household income and had a significant decline in quantity of water available from private individually owned wells will be given priority. Preference also will be given to proposed projects that will assist an established water system or remedy an acute shortage of quality water. The Rural Development State Director will rate applications on a point system and points received will be considered in selecting projects for funding.

Match

None required (federal program listing).

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal year 2025: Replace water line and appurtenances that were exposed due to excessive rainfall and flooding. The project involved boring a new 4-inch waterline beneath the river to re-establish a full-capacity, permanent crossing. Construct an emergency intake structure to prevent future intake obstructions during times of excessive precipitation. Project also involved the replacement of high service pumps and raw water pump station wet well.

This program on SAM.gov

Something wrong on this page? Tell us

Key facts