Tribal Grants and Loans Within Existing Federal Programs
Many existing federal funding programs designate a certain amount of said funding to be "set aside" for use by federally-recognized tribes, including most of the funding opportunities listed on Fed Funds. These include:
EPA Grants
EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants-Tribal Set-Aside Program (DWIG-TSA)
Provides a base amount of 2% of the total annual DWIG-TSA to each Regional Office. EPA Regions are responsible for working with the Indian Health Service and the tribes, to identify, prioritize, and select projects to receive funding from its share of the program funds.
EPA Regions receive remaining fund allocations based on their percentage share of the tribal drinking water system "needs." The drinking water system needs come from:
- EPA's "Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey" (DWINS)- conducted every four years, and
- Indian Health Service's "Sanitation Deficiency System" (SDS)- updated annually.
EPA Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program (CWISA)
Since 2016, the CWISA appropriation from Congress has been either 2% of the CWSRF or $30 million, whichever is greater. EPA administers the program in cooperation with the Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction Program. EPA regions use the IHS “Sanitation Deficiency System” (SDS) database to identify projects for CWISA program funds.
FEMA Grants
FEMA BRIC Tribal Program (pdf)
Under the $25 million BRIC Tribal Set-Aside, tribal governments can apply for capability and capacity building (C&CB) activities, mitigation projects, and management costs. Each proposed C&CB activity and mitigation project must be submitted as an individual sub-application, with no project exceeding a $1 million federal cost share.
HUD Grants
HUD Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program
Program regulations allow the Secretary of HUD to set aside up to $4 million of each year’s CDBG allocation for the noncompetitive, first come-first served, funding of grants to eliminate or lessen problems which pose an imminent threat to public health or safety of tribal residents. This includes funding for infrastructure construction such as building water and sewer facilities and/or making existing facilities more resilient.
USDA Grants
USDA Rural Alaska Village Grant Program (RAVG)
Provides funding for the planning, development, and construction of water and wastewater systems to improve health and sanitation conditions in rural Alaska villages. In addition to project funding, grants can be used to provide technical assistance. RAVG also provides funding for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Remote Maintenance Worker Program, which provides technical assistance to rural water and sewer operators through a circuit rider program.
USDA Tribal Land Water and Waste Disposal Grants
Provides funding for low-income communities, specifically tribes, which face significant health risks due to a lack of access to safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal facilities and services. Funds can pay for the construction of basic drinking water and waste disposal systems, including storm drainage, up to 100% of the project cost.
HHS Grants
Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction Program
The program supports the mission of the IHS to raise the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native people through the provision of sanitation facilities that help ensure tribal communities have access to safe drinking water and waste disposal. Projects may include preparing for and assisting with sanitation facility emergencies.