The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service is accepting applications under the FY2027 Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY27), Assistance Listing 10.762. This is a competitive financial-assistance grant for organizations that deliver free technical assistance or training to help small rural communities reduce or eliminate water pollution caused by solid-waste management problems.
Current application window and funding
The current federal funding notice was posted October 1, 2026 and lists an application closing date of December 31, 2026. The official Grants.gov synopsis does not display a deadline clock time. USDA anticipates $4,000,000 across the entire FY2027 program, approximately 40 awards, and an individual award ceiling of $1,000,000. Actual awards depend on application review and appropriated funding. No required applicant match is listed.
Eligible applicants and service areas
Eligible applicants include qualifying IRS tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, public bodies, federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups, and academic institutions. Applicants must be legally established, have relevant completed-project experience, and demonstrate legal authority and capacity to provide regional solid-waste technical assistance or training. Private businesses, federal agencies and individuals cannot apply. Projects serve qualifying rural communities generally with populations of 10,000 or fewer.
Eligible and prohibited work
Allowable activities include technical assistance or training for waste reduction, reuse and recycling; training landfill operators; planning permitted landfill closures; and evaluating landfill threats to water resources. Funds cannot be used for construction or facility operation and maintenance, capital real estate or vehicle purchases, lobbying, duplicate services, or other expressly prohibited costs. The detailed FY2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity and application guide control all budgets, eligibility, certifications and selection requirements.
How to apply
Review the current official FY2027 Grants.gov listing (SWMFY27), its full NOFO and application guide. Assemble the required application documents and submit through the federal application system by December 31, 2026. Applicants should verify the exact submission cutoff time and any solicitation amendments within the controlling package. Official source reviewed October 14, 2026.