On December 20, 2021, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced continued funding support for communities with inadequate or nonexistent wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities.
The Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program (UCPGP) is designed to assist small and disadvantaged municipalities with developing plans to address community wastewater collection and treatment deficiencies.
MSA-designed wastewater treatment facility in the City of Mount Carroll, Illinois.
Part of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, this program is dedicated to investing millions of dollars in communities across the state to improve health and safety of its residents. It is the second round of funding offered through the UCPGP for the purpose of planning, with the intention that communities then forward their plan and application for consideration in the Illinois Unsewered Communities Construction Grant Program, which recently awarded over $16 million in grant funding.
Illinois communities wishing to seek assistance must act now to meet pre-qualification and application requirements before the program’s deadline of 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
Fast Facts
- $1,000,000 in planning grants available.
- Grant ceiling of $30,000 per project.
- Anticipated 33-50 awards in this funding cycle.
- Minimum grant of $17,500.
- No cost-sharing or matching requirement.
- All applicants are required to register and pre-qualify through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal.
UCPGP Plan Criteria
MSA-designed wastewater treatment facility in the City of Savanna, Illinois.
UCPGP grants can be used to fund the completion of a Project Plan, equivalent planning document or engineering study. This plan or study must meet five specific criteria.
- Identify a project which will solve a need for wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities where such facilities currently do not exist.
- Provide an analysis of pre-determined alternatives to ascertain the most cost-effective, long-term solution.
- Compare life-cycle costs for each alternative.
- Detail existing and proposed user charge systems for the selected alternative.
- Comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
The program grants do not cover land acquisition costs, project design costs, construction costs or any planning efforts related to the rehabilitation of existing wastewater collection or treatment facilities.
Need Help?
MSA is ready to discuss program requirements, project identification, planning document preparation, preliminary engineering, cost-estimating and application submittal to help your community succeed.
Contact us today to get started.
