Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) offers grants to nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and tribal governments for projects to improve infrastructure. Funding may be used for technical assistance, feasibility studies, and preliminary design and engineering analysis.
The program is intended to enhance water and waste treatment facilities in rural areas with a population of 2,500 or less. It helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design, and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.
The predevelopment planning costs must be related to a proposed project that meets the following requirements:
Construct, enlarge, extend, or improve rural water, sanitary sewage, solid waste disposal, and storm wastewater disposal facilities
Construct or relocate public buildings, roads, bridges, fences, or utilities, and to make other public improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities
Relocate private buildings, roads, bridges, fences, or utilities, and to make other private improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities