Opportunity Information: Apply for SWMFY27
The Solid Waste Management Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number: SWMFY27, CFDA 10.762) is a discretionary grant offered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service to strengthen solid waste management practices in rural areas primarily through hands-on technical assistance and operator training. The program is geared toward helping communities reduce the overall solid waste stream and improve how landfills are run, closed, and monitored, with a clear emphasis on practical support that communities and local waste organizations can put to use right away. The opportunity is open through 2026-12-31, with an anticipated 40 awards and a maximum award amount (ceiling) of up to $1,000,000.
At its core, the grant supports projects that provide technical assistance and training rather than building or operating physical facilities. Allowable uses include efforts to reduce waste through source reduction, recycling, and reuse initiatives, such as training programs, guidance for local organizations, and implementation support aimed at keeping materials out of the landfill in the first place. The program also funds training designed to improve the skills of landfill operators who manage active sites, helping them maintain and operate facilities in a safer and more compliant manner. In addition, the grant can be used to help communities and operators prepare for landfill closure, including developing and implementing closure plans, planning future land uses, setting up safety and maintenance procedures, and building closure schedules that align with permit requirements. Another eligible activity is evaluating existing landfill conditions to identify potential threats to water resources, which can include assessments meant to flag risks that could impact groundwater or nearby surface waters. Grant dollars may also cover the direct expenses tied to delivering these technical assistance and training services, as long as those costs fit within the federal cost principles.
The program draws firm boundaries around what it will not fund, and those restrictions matter when shaping a competitive and compliant project. Funds cannot be used to duplicate services that are already being provided or that would normally be paid for through other means, such as hiring a consultant to produce feasibility studies, engineering designs, or cost estimates that would typically be part of developing a construction project. Political activity and lobbying are explicitly prohibited. The grant also cannot pay for real estate or vehicles, office renovations or improvements, or repairs and maintenance of privately owned property. It may not be used for construction or capital improvements, including the construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or ongoing operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities, and it cannot be used to construct or furnish a building. The program further prohibits using funds to intervene in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings, sue the federal government or other government entities, make donations or contributions, or cover any unallowable costs under 2 CFR Part 200 as adopted by USDA through 2 CFR Part 400. There are also guardrails to prevent overlap with certain Forest Service assistance: projects that duplicate technical assistance tied to action plans under the National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990 are not allowed, and applicants must coordinate with the Forest Service to confirm whether targeted areas have already received that type of assistance. Applicants also cannot use SWM funds to recruit applications for RUS water and waste loans or other loan or grant programs, and they cannot use the grant to create a new business, although they may use funds to help with application preparation in an allowable context. Finally, applicants are barred from receiving assistance if they have an outstanding recorded federal court judgment in favor of the United States, unless it has been paid or otherwise satisfied.
Eligibility is broad but not universal, and it is focused on organizations that can credibly deliver regional technical assistance and training. Eligible applicants include private nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized tax-exempt status, public bodies, federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups, and academic institutions. Entities must be legally established and located within a state as defined by the program rules, and organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year in which the application period occurs. Private businesses, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible. Beyond basic eligibility, applicants must demonstrate proven ability and relevant experience by showing successful completion of similar projects and must have the legal authority and real capacity to deliver technical assistance and training on a regional basis. Capacity can be demonstrated in several ways: by having qualified staff and resources in-house, by partnering with an affiliate or member organization that commits in writing to provide the assistance, or by contracting with a nonaffiliated organization to deliver part of the work, with the limitation that no more than 49 percent of the grant can be contracted out in that manner.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a support-and-capacity program for rural solid waste systems, centered on training, planning, evaluation, and technical know-how. Strong applications will typically show a clear regional service model, a track record of similar assistance work, a plan that avoids any construction or facility operations costs, and careful compliance with federal cost rules and the program-specific restrictions on duplication, lobbying, and overlap with certain Forest Service-supported efforts.Apply for SWMFY27
- The Rural Utilities Service in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solid Waste Management Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.762.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-10-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-12-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY27) FAQs
1) What is the Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY27)?
The Solid Waste Management Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number: SWMFY27, CFDA 10.762) is a discretionary grant offered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service. It is designed to strengthen solid waste management practices in rural areas primarily through hands-on technical assistance and operator training.
2) What is the main purpose of this grant?
The program focuses on practical support that rural communities and local waste organizations can use right away. Its goals include reducing the overall solid waste stream and improving how landfills are operated, closed, and monitored, with an emphasis on technical assistance and training rather than building or operating facilities.
3) Is this grant meant to fund construction or physical infrastructure?
No. The grant supports technical assistance and training activities, not construction or capital improvements. Program funds may not be used for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities, and they cannot be used to construct or furnish a building.
4) How long is the opportunity open?
The opportunity is open through 2026-12-31.
5) How many awards are expected, and what is the maximum award size?
The opportunity anticipates approximately 40 awards. The maximum award amount (ceiling) is up to $1,000,000.
6) What types of projects and activities are allowed?
Allowable activities are centered on technical assistance and training for rural solid waste management, including:
- Waste reduction efforts through source reduction, recycling, and reuse initiatives.
- Training programs, guidance, and implementation support intended to keep materials out of landfills.
- Training designed to improve the skills of landfill operators managing active sites, supporting safer and more compliant operations.
- Assistance with landfill closure preparation, including developing and implementing closure plans, planning future land uses, establishing safety and maintenance procedures, and building closure schedules aligned with permit requirements.
- Evaluation of existing landfill conditions to identify potential threats to water resources (including potential risks to groundwater or nearby surface waters).
7) Can grant funds cover costs associated with delivering technical assistance and training?
Yes. Grant dollars may cover direct expenses tied to delivering technical assistance and training services, as long as those costs are allowable under federal cost principles (including 2 CFR Part 200 as adopted by USDA through 2 CFR Part 400) and align with the program rules.
8) What are examples of activities the program will NOT fund?
The program includes several clear restrictions. In general, it will not fund activities outside technical assistance and training or that conflict with program rules. Prohibited uses include:
- Duplicating services that are already being provided or that would normally be paid for through other means.
- Hiring a consultant to produce feasibility studies, engineering designs, or cost estimates that would typically be part of developing a construction project.
- Political activity and lobbying.
- Purchasing real estate or vehicles.
- Office renovations or improvements.
- Repairs and maintenance of privately owned property.
- Construction or capital improvements, including the construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or ongoing operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities.
- Constructing or furnishing a building.
- Intervening in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings.
- Suing the federal government or other government entities.
- Making donations or contributions.
- Paying for unallowable costs under 2 CFR Part 200 (as adopted by USDA through 2 CFR Part 400).
9) Does the program allow projects that duplicate other federal technical assistance efforts?
No. Projects that duplicate technical assistance tied to action plans under the National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990 are not allowed. Applicants must coordinate with the Forest Service to confirm whether targeted areas have already received that type of assistance.
10) Can SWM grant funds be used to recruit applications for other USDA RUS loan or grant programs?
No. Applicants cannot use SWM funds to recruit applications for RUS water and waste loans or other loan or grant programs.
11) Can the grant be used to start a new business?
No. The program states that applicants cannot use the grant to create a new business. The program notes that funds may be used to help with application preparation in an allowable context, but not to establish a new business.
12) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Private nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized tax-exempt status.
- Public bodies.
- Federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups.
- Academic institutions.
Private businesses, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible.
13) Are there location and legal formation requirements for applicants?
Yes. Entities must be legally established and located within a state as defined by the program rules. In addition, organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year in which the application period occurs.
14) What capacity or experience must an applicant demonstrate?
Applicants must demonstrate proven ability and relevant experience by showing successful completion of similar projects. They must also have the legal authority and real capacity to deliver technical assistance and training on a regional basis.
15) How can an applicant demonstrate it has the capacity to deliver regional technical assistance and training?
The opportunity describes multiple ways to demonstrate capacity, including:
- Having qualified staff and resources in-house.
- Partnering with an affiliate or member organization that commits in writing to provide the assistance.
- Contracting with a nonaffiliated organization to deliver part of the work, subject to limits.
16) Is there a limit on contracting out project work?
Yes. If the applicant contracts with a nonaffiliated organization to deliver part of the work, no more than 49 percent of the grant can be contracted out in that manner.
17) Are there restrictions related to federal court judgments?
Yes. Applicants are barred from receiving assistance if they have an outstanding recorded federal court judgment in favor of the United States, unless it has been paid or otherwise satisfied.
18) What kinds of landfill-related activities are explicitly supported?
The grant supports practical, non-construction assistance related to landfills, including operator training for active sites, closure planning and implementation support, closure scheduling aligned with permit requirements, and evaluating existing landfill conditions to identify potential threats to water resources.
19) What does the program mean by focusing on "technical assistance and training"?
Based on the opportunity description, the emphasis is on hands-on support, guidance, training programs, and implementation support that help rural communities and waste organizations improve solid waste practices, rather than paying for physical projects, facility upgrades, or ongoing facility operations.
20) What should applicants keep in mind to stay compliant when designing a project?
Applications should be built around a regional technical assistance and training service model, avoid any construction or facility operations costs, and follow federal cost rules. Applicants should also ensure their projects do not duplicate existing services, do not include lobbying or political activity, and do not overlap with certain Forest Service-supported technical assistance tied to action plans under the National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990.
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