Tribal Nations Grants & Programs

Midwest Assistance Program has received a number of grants and programs to help communities and tribal nations solve infrastructure, training and environmental issues. Communities and tribal nations selected under these programs may receive ― at no cost ― a variety of services such as income surveys, financing development, technical, managerial and financial assistance, board training, vulnerability and emergency response planning, and asset-management training.

Any community or tribal group, regardless of size or income, may contact MAP for technical assistance and training. Even if you don’t meet the specific requirements for funding programs, services may still be available for a fee.


Support for Tribal Response Programs Focused on Brownfields Redevelopment (Funder – Environmental Protection Agency)

This program facilitates training and outreach to provide Tribes and Alaskan Native Villages with information and guidance to help redevelop and return contaminated lands to productive use, establish and/or enhance a program that will address releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants on Tribal lands or Reservations and assess, cleanup and redevelop Brownfields.

Technical Assistance and Capacity Development for Minnesota and Wisconsin Tribal Public Water Systems
(Funder- Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5)

This contract, funded by EPA Region 5, enables MAP staff to provide results-oriented training and technical assistance to tribes in Minnesota and Wisconsin including rapid response to emergency issues, assistance with Source Water Protection Assessments/Plans, sanitary surveys, flushing plans, line locate manuals, finance and management assistance and SDWA compliance. Training includes operator certification classes, board management and utility operation, SDWA regulation training, and emergency response/vulnerability training, among other topics. MAP subcontracts with a Wisconsin-based community action program to serve tribes in that state. The program will end September 30, 2010.

Tribal Utility Management Training Services
(Funder- Montana Department of Health and Human Services, Billings Area Indian Health Services)

Under this program, MAP provides assistance to tribes throughout Montana to transform their utilities into sustainable entities by helping utility staff to develop a comprehensive business plan and standard operating procedures, including operation, testing and reporting requirements, to be used as a guide for the daily management and operation of their utilities. The plan includes a description of the infrastructure to be managed (water, waste water and/or solid waste system), an organizational structure describing respective responsibilities and a financial plan outlining projected expenses and revenues  and a rate structure and billing and collections procedures based on these projections. A Utilities Commission is established complete with by-laws and structure and outlining duties to be performed by the commission in cooperation with the tribal council.

On-Site Technical Assistance and Sanitary Surveys for Public Water Systems in Wyoming and Tribal Lands in Region 8
(Funder- Environmental Protection Agency Region 8)

MAP staff assists public water systems in Wyoming and on tribal lands located in Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming) in complying with the requirements of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. This technical assistance may include drinking water sampling, preparing public notices, disinfection and troubleshooting, preparing annual consumer confidence reports, record keeping and reporting, security and safety vulnerability surveys and recommending improvements, system emergencies and emergency preparedness, as well as other types of technical assistance and training

Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program
(Funder – U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Through this grant, MAP staff provides training and on-site technical assistance services to rural communities in accordance with the stated goals of the Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program:  1) identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems in rural areas; 2) assist applicants in preparing applications for water and waste grants and loans made at the state offices; and 3) improve management, operation, and maintenance of existing water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas.

Eligibility:
Communities that meet the following requirements may qualify for no-cost technical assistance and training:

  • Population under 10,000
  • Eligible for USDA Rural Development funding
  • Have received authorization for assistance from USDA Rural Development office.

Rural Community Development Facilities Program
(Funder – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services)

Under this program, MAP staff strives to 1) provide training and technical assistance to establish and/or improve the capacity of small, low income rural communities to develop and manage affordable, adequate and safe community facilities such as water and wastewater systems; 2)improve the coordination of federal, state and local agency funding resources to assist with water and wastewater management systems, community capacity building and developing community leadership skills; 3) provide data and information to aid in the demonstration and evaluation of the program’s effectiveness, its implementation designs and to fully cooperate with contractors assigned to the evaluation task; and 4) distribute information to low-income rural communities on federal assistance programs that support community facilities, capacity development, and work to make rural communities healthy and sustainable.

By achieving these goals, we will increase community capacity building skills, assist communities in developing their leadership skills and help to lay the groundwork for a continuum of economic development opportunities.

Eligibility:
Allows staff to work with communities that meet the following requirements:

  • Low-income community according to the latest decennial census or income survey. Low income is defined as those communities with a median household income of less than 80% of the state non-metro median household income.
  • Population less than 10,000 population


Technical Assistance and Training for Small and/or Rural Public Water Systems (Funder –Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water)

This funding enables MAP to provide training and technical assistance to small and/or rural public water systems to develop and expand the capabilities of those systems to meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) so that they can operate and maintain their systems to comply with SDWA requirements and provide an adequate level of protection for their drinking water sources.

Eligibility:
Allows staff to work with communities that meet the following guidelines:

  • Rural community with population less than 10,000
  • Project that’s compliance related (source water protection)
  • Targeted to low income, minority or tribal systems