Rural Community Development (RCD) Fact Sheet
What We Do
The Rural Community Development (RCD) program is a discretionary grant program that works with regional and tribal organizations to manage safe water systems in rural communities. RCD funds provide training and technical assistance to help community members identify and address water and wastewater issues, including infrastructure and accessibility needs. They also improve access for families to affordable water and waste disposal services, train water operators to ensure water systems comply with federal regulations, and help communities establish financial stability to maintain water delivery and wastewater disposal systems.
Who We Serve
RCD serves very small communities in sparsely populated areas, many of which have populations under 2,500 people and are made up predominantly of residents with low incomes who lack safe water and wastewater treatment services and often even indoor plumbing.
2023 Highlights*
Appropriated by Congress
Additional funds leveraged from other funding sources to support building and maintaining water management systems
Multi-state regional nonprofits received awards, including two grant recipients focused on services for tribal communities
RCD improved water and wastewater services for:
Individuals
Households
Communities across the United States
Advancing Access*
- 24,074 Residents gained access to safe drinking water
- 4,529 Residents connected to sanitary sewer systems
- 31 Systems rehabilitated or expanded, preserving and adding community water and wastewater facilities
Rural Water System Advancements*
- 155 Water systems built monetary reserves or became financially sustainable, creating long-term access to clean water
- 77 Violations or non-compliance elements resolved to improve compliance with applicable laws and regulations
- 670 Certifications obtained to improve technical capacity and strengthen compliance
* The presented data for FY23 should be considered preliminary pending final data validation. RCD grant recipients report activities across the five-year grant period as completed. The full outcomes across the grant period will be realized at the end of each grant period.
Rural Community Development Program
Division of Community Discretionary and Demonstration Programs
Office of Community Services