SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant in Michigan

The SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design, and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects. The goal is to support predevelopment planning costs for communities that may not otherwise be able to afford such studies.

Eligible applicants include most state and local governmental entities, non-profits, and federally recognized tribes. Applicants must represent a rural area with a population of 2,500 or less and a median household income below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income.

Project funds may be used to pay for predevelopment planning costs, including feasibility studies to support applications for funding water or waste disposal projects, preliminary design and engineering analysis, and technical assistance for the development of an application for financial assistance.

Applications for this program are accepted year-round. Interested applicants should contact their local USDA Rural Development office to begin the application process. Applications are processed through the state and local offices.