Agencies
Services
Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program
**The application period for acceptance of the UCPGP is currently OPEN and accepting applications within Amplifund through the GATA Portal until the money is expended.**
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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.
Applicants must apply for the grant through the GATA Grantee Portal via the Amplifund Sign-In Button. Paper applications or any other application version shall not be accepted. To begin applying, click the botton below.
For grant application assistance, please reference this Powerpoint Presentation to help walk you through the Amplifund application process.
PLANNING GRANT RECIPIENT RELATED MATERIALS
- UCPGP Invoice Disbursement Request Documentation - Updated 2/2025
- Illinois EPA Grantee Environmental Checklist & Certification Form - Updated 2/2025
- *PLEASE NOTE! - If your project will be utilizing SRF Loan Program funds OR grant funds from a federal source, please use the Illinois EPA Loan Applicant Environmental Checklist.*
- Bills Paid and Release from Liabilities Certification
- UCPGP Example Quarterly Reports - PPR & PFR
- Periodic Performance Report - PPR - Updated 5/2023
- Periodic Financial Report - PFR - Updated 5/2023
- UCPGP Example First & Final Invoice Reimbursement Documentation
HOW GRANT FUNDS WILL BE DISBURSED
- FIRST DISBURSEMENT REQUEST – Fifty percent (50%) of the grant amount will be disbursed when the Grantee provides the Agency a fully executed service contract, detailing the scope of work and services to be performed by a third party in developing a project plan that will meet the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm Code Section 365.320, or an equivalent planning document or engineering study which satisfies the requirements outlined in 35 Ill Adm Code Section 365.320 (b)(1-5), as well as the following:
- FINAL DISBURSEMENT REQUEST – The remaining grant balance will be provided to the Grantee upon the submittal to the Agency a complete Project Plan meeting the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm Code 365.320, or an equivalent planning document or engineering study which satisfies the requirements outlined in 35 Ill Adm Code Section 365.320 (b)(1-5), as well as the following:
- Invoice from third party formulating the Project Plan for TOTAL COSTS INCURRED
- IEPA UCPGP Invoice for Disbursement Request
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 100% the State Average |
$30,000 |
| 100-109.99% of state average MHI |
$27,500 |
| 110-119.99% of state average MHI |
$25,000 |
| 120-129.99% of state average MHI |
$22,500 |
| 130-139.99% of state average MHI |
$20,000 |
| 140-149.99% of state average MHI |
$17,500 |
| 150% and above the 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.
ELIGIBLE FUNDING COSTS
Funding will be provided to assist with funding the completion of a complete Project Plan and an executed third-party service agreement to complete said project plan.
Costs of reporting efforts related to any reporting requirements of the UGA can be included in the third-party contract and are considered an eligible grant cost.
INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES, TASKS, AND/OR COMPONENTS
Examples of ineligible activities, tasks, and components that shall not be funded through the UCPGP are provided below. The list is not all-inclusive:
- Land Acquisition Costs
- Design Engineering Costs
- Construction Engineering Costs
- Construction Costs
- Planning activities related to the rehabilitation of existing wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities
- Planning activities related to future growth or development projects
NOTE: Costs incurred prior to the fully executed agreement date of the signed Uniform Grant Agreement (UGA) or after the grant agreement term ends ARE INELIGIBLE.
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: