Together, America Prospers

Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages

What does this 

program do?

This program helps remote 

Alaskan villages provide safe, 

reliable drinking water and waste 

disposal systems for households 

and businesses.

Who can apply?

• Native villages in Alaska. 

Additional eligibility 

information is available in 

7 CFR, Part 1784.8, at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xtmvb

• The Alaska Department of 

Environmental Conservation, on 

behalf of one or more recipient 

communities in the state. 

Link: https://dec.alaska.gov/

• The Alaska Native Tribal Health 

Consortium, on behalf of one or 

more recipient communities in 

the state. Information is available 

at this link: https://anthc.org/

What is an eligible area?

The project must serve rural Alaskan 

villages or hubs with:

• Populations of 10,000 or fewer. 

Check eligible addresses at this link: 

https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/

eligibility/welcomeAction.do

• Median household incomes of less 

than 110 percent of the statewide 

nonmetropolitan household 

income (SNMHI) based on the 

U.S. Census American Community 

Survey (available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xt7vc). Alaska 

census communities considered 

high-cost, isolated areas or 

“off-the-road systems” that 

cannot be accessed by normal 

transportation routes can claim 

up to 150 percent of the SNMHI

Are there other requirements?

The grant must be used to remedy a 

dire sanitation condition such as:

• Recurring instances of waterborne 

communicable disease

• Individual residents hauling water to 

- or human waste from - their homes, 

or using outhouses because no 

community-wide water or wastewater 

treatment system exists

• A federal agency such as the 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention or a regulatory agency 

of the state of Alaska determines 

that the drinking water or wastewater 

treatment system does not meet 

current regulations

How can the funds be used?

Funds can be used to pay up to 

75 percent of project costs to 

provide safe drinking water or 

waste disposal services. 

Are matching funds required?

The state of Alaska must provide 

25 percent in matching funds from 

nonfederal sources.

How do we get started?

• Call the USDA-RD RAVG program 

manager at (907) 761-7770 for 

initial information. 

• Applications are submitted 

directly to the state of 

Alaska’s Capital Improvements 

Program (available at this link: 

https://dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/cip/).

• Program resources – including 

forms, guidance, and certifications 

– are available online at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xt7wv

Who can answer questions?

RAVG Program Manager

(907) 761-7770

What governs this program?

• Code of Federal Regulation 7 CFR, 

Part 1784.8, available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xtmvb

• Section 306D of the Agricultural 

Act of 1961, and the Consolidated 

Farm and Rural Development 

Act, available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xtE3u
Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages

Why does USDA Rural Development 

do this?

This program helps expand access 

to clean, reliable water and waste 

disposal systems for households and 

businesses enduring dire sanitation 

conditions in rural or native Alaskan 

villages. Many Alaskan villages can 

only be accessed by boat or plane, 

making them virtually inaccessible 

during the long winters. Weather and 

distance also make construction costs 

abnormally high, and in some cases, 

permafrost requires the construction 

of utility tunnels or insulated, heated 

above-ground pipe in order to provide 

basic services.

NOTE: Because citations and other information are subject to change, always 

consult the program instructions listed in the section above titled “What Governs 

This Program?” You can also contact your local office for assistance (a list is 

available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xzjP7). You will find additional forms, 

resources, and program information at rd.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender.

Last Updated April 2022