THE SMALL COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM

The Small Community Grant Program was originally enacted by the 1 10th Legislature to solve small but serious water pollution problems caused by improper sewage disposal in rural areas of the state. Traditional funding sources available to finance large municipally owned wastewater treatment facilities in the urban areas of the state were not suitable for small and sometimes scattered projects which were needed in rural areas. The Small Community Program can help towns solve pollution problems by providing technical assistance and grant funding for individual or cluster wastewater disposal systems.
Only problems which are directly or indirectly discharging sewage to a water body of the state, or are causing a public health problem, are eligible for grant assistance. Malfunctions contained wholly within the owner's propert] do not qualify for assistance, nor do systems which have not malfunctioned. The program can provide funding for either municipally or privately owned projects, but grants are offered to and administered by the municipality or th county commissioners in unorganized territory. The maximum project size which can be funded in any single yeai is $100,000. Publicly owned facilities serving multiple users whose operating costs are paid through user fees are eligible for 90% funding. For privately owned residential and commercial properties the grant percentage is determined based on income according to the following table. Systems serving schools, municipal buildings, non-profit organizations, and similar organizations may be funded at the same level as commercial establishments.
b
ANNUAL INCOME
SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
SEASONAL DWELLING

$0 TO $5.000
100%
50%

$5.001 TO $20,000
C 90% J}
50%

$20.001 TO $30,000
50'%"
50%

$30,001 TO $40.000
I 25%
25%

$40,001 OR MORE
0%
0%

ANNUAL INCOME
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS

$0 TO $50,000,000
50%

$50.001 TO $100,000
25%

$100.001 OR MORE
0%

Annual income means the sum of all the property owner's Federal Taxable Income for the previous year for single family or seasonal dwellings, and Gross Profit for commercial establishments.
Grant applications are accepted until January 31 of each year and a prionty list LS then developed which allocates th grant awards. The following priorities are used to rate grant applications:
1. Elimination of discharges to public drinking water supplies
2. Elimination of discharges to shellfishing areas
3. Elimination of discharges to other surface waters
4. Elimination of public nuisance conditions
Applications for emergency situations may be accepted after the application deadline.
This manual is intended to provide guidance to municipalities in administering the program. It includes a summary of procedures to be followed as well as various forms which may be used for bidding projects, claiming payment. etc. The use of the forms included in this book is not mandatory, and grantees may use alternative documents if they are approved by the DEP.
THE S MALL (•OMMl.'NITY < iRANT PROGRAM 2000.DOT a/00