Infrastructure Planning Grant

General Information

In order to provide assistance to distressed communities and those with financially distressed utility systems, TNECD has developed a grant program to help communities understand their utility needs and plan for future work.

The Infrastructure Planning grant is open to utility systems that serve distressed counties and rural communities on the financially distressed utility system referral list provided by the Comptroller. These systems have been referred to the Utility Management Review Board or the Water and Wastewater Financing Board because of their net position, non-revenue water, or high levels of debt. The Boards have determined that these systems are not financially self-supporting; TNECD believes that studying the system can help the utility better serve their customers, develop capital improvement plans and develop better applications for funding to assist with improvements.

Funds can be used for water loss studies, sewer investigation studies, system mapping for water or wastewater systems and/or the development of an asset management plan. Grants are up to $50,000 with a 5% match; up to 5% of the grant amount can be used for project administration. Guidelines for the asset management plans will be issued. The development of asset management plans is intended for communities with recent information on their water loss and/or I/I.  

Projects should be completed in less than 18 months. Procurement of professional services guidelines will be followed to determine who will conduct the studies and provide the reports. The information gathered as a result of this grant funding is intended to be used to help the utility plan for future improvements to their system and to develop CDBG, SRF and USDA applications for funding.

Currently, the IPG funding cycle is closed.

Questions about the grant program can be directed to Lynn Tutor, p.lynn.tutor@tn.gov.