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Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program


**The most recent application period for acceptance of the UCPGP is CLOSED, but a new round of Grant Funding is anticipated to open within FY24 (Fiscal Year).  A Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted at that time.  Please keep watching the Unsewered website for future updates.**

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The Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program (UCPGP) will utilize a portion of the Illinois EPA Water Pollution Control Loan Program Loan Support funds generated from loan repayments. Illinois EPA expects to award a total of $1,000,000 and anticipates distributing this amount across thirty-three (33) to fifty (50) awards. Funding will be limited to a maximum of $30,000 per applicant.

PLANNING GRANT APPLICATION RELATED MATERIALS

PLANNING GRANT RECIPIENT RELATED MATERIALS

Funding Information

  • An individual grant will be for a maximum amount based upon the Median Household Income (MHI) of the applicant's service population as a percentage of the state average MHI as shown below:

    ​​Applicant MHI vs. State Average MHI ​​Maximum Grant Amount
    ​Below the state average
    		 $​​30,000
    ​​100-110% of state average MHI
    		 $​​27,500
    ​​110-120% of state average MHI
    		 $25,000
    ​120-130% of state average MHI
    		 $22,500
    ​130-140% of state average MHI
    		 ​​$20,000
    ​​140-150% of state average MHI
    		 ​​$17,500
    ​Above 150% of state average MHI
    		 ​​NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT FUNDING

 

Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

  • Applicants must be in good standing with the Secretary of the State.  Eligible proposals will come from a local government unit within the State of Illinois, as defined in Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code Part 365 as follows:
    • Local Government Unit − A county, municipality, township, municipal or county sewerage or utility authority, sanitary district, public water district, improvement authority or any other political subdivision whose primary purpose is to construct, operate and maintain wastewater treatment facilities, including storm water treatment systems, or public water supply facilities or both. [415 ILCS 5/19.2(g)]

NOTE:  An entity MAY NOT apply for a grant until the entity has registered and pre-qualified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/   

Registration and pre-qualification are required annually.  During GATA pre-qualification, verifications are performed including a check of the federal Debarred and Suspended list and status on the Illinois Stop Payment List.  An automated email notification from the GATA Portal to the entity alerts them of 'qualified' status or informs how to remediate a negative verification (e.g., inactive UEI, not in good standing with the Secretary of State).  A federal Debarred and Suspended status cannot be remediated.


Project Match

  • The UCPGP does not require a match, but additional funds may be necessary to complete the project as UCPGP amounts may not be sufficient to complete the project.  See Section B of the NOFO.
     

Indirect Cost Rate

  • The grant will not compensate for indirect costs, overhead, or administrative expenses directly incurred by the applicant associated with applying for this funding opportunity or the completion of the project.

Application

  • Applicant shall not apply for UCPGP until the applicant has pre-qualified through the GATA Grantee Portal, https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/. 
  • Applications can be submitted when the next application period opens.  Submissions can be made via the following methods:
    • By email to EPA.LoanMgmt@illinois.gov. Include the phrase "Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Application", project title and applicant name in the email subject line.  Contact the Infrastructure Financial Assistance Section at 217-782-2027 regarding potential firewall issues.
    • By mailing or delivering the application directly to:
      • U.S. Postal Service Mailing Address:
        Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
        Bureau of Water, #15
        P.O. Box 9276
        Springfield, Illinois  62794-9276
        Attn:  Lanina Clark
      • Delivery Address:
        Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
        Bureau of Water, #15
        1021 North Grand Avenue East
        Springfield, Illinois 62702
        Attn:  Lanina Clark
         
  • Please see the Application and Submission Information Section when the next application period opens for specific instruction and submission requirements.
     

AGENCY CONTACTS

Any questions regarding the UCPGP, the UCPGP NOFO, or the UCPGP Application can be directed to the following Illinois EPA's Infrastructure Financial Assistance Section Staff: