SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households

State office contact list

SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households provides grants to eligible communities to fund predevelopment costs for proposed water and waste disposal projects, including:

• Feasibility studies to support applications for funding water or waste disposal projects
• Preliminary design and engineering analysis
• Technical assistance for the development of an application for financial assistance

Eligible projects include planning costs to:

• Construct, enlarge, extend, or improve rural water, sanitary sewage, solid waste disposal, and storm wastewater disposal facilities
• Construct or relocate public buildings, roads, bridges, fences or utilities, and to make other public improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities
• Relocate private buildings, roads, bridges, fences, or utilities, and other private improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities

Fact sheet

Eligible applicants are:

• State and local governments
• Nonprofit organizations
• Federally recognized tribes

Eligible areas must be rural and financially distressed, and meet the criteria below.

1. Be a rural area with a population of 2,500 or less
2. Have a median household income below the poverty line or less than 80% of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income based on the most recent Census data

Up to 100% of the eligible costs, not to exceed $30,000, based on the Code of Federal Regulations. (Title 7, Part 1774)

Contact the appropriate state office to begin the application process. Applications are accepted by the state offices year round.