Webinar | Finding a Unicorn! Small Wastewater System Funding Series: Building Compelling Award Applications (Part 1)
Successfully securing and managing federal funding for publicly owned and decentralized wastewater treatment systems is no small task, especially with shifting program priorities and uncertainty about future allocations. This no-cost webinar series from the Capacity Collaborative will guide participants through the entire funding process: where to find nationally available funding, how to craft competitive proposals, and how to stay in compliance through project completion. Designed for small wastewater systems, each session focuses on a step in the funding application and management journey, equipping participants with tools and knowledge to increase their chances of funding success.
Sessions will be held from 1–2 PM Eastern (10–11 AM Pacific) on Tues., December 2; Tues., December 16; and Thurs., December 18, 2025. The series will then resume every other Tuesday from January 13 through May 5, 2026
December 16, 2025 | Session 2 | Building Compelling Award Applications (Part 1)
Description: This webinar will focus on federal award requirements and how to prepare your organization to apply and manage a public grant. We will address typical grant compliance, organizational readiness, and components for a successful award application.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand federal award prerequisites including required capacity to manage and report on federal grants
- Be able to review federal award notices and prepare applications including typical application requirements
- Review and understand the award application requirements, budget allowances, activities that can be included vs excluded, timeline, reporting and compliance
- Understand steps for preparing and submitting a cost reimbursement federal grant budget including assessment of costs, application of indirect rate, and allowable costs
Presenters: Sarah Diefendorf, Director, and Tamira Jones, Federal Grants Officer, Capacity Collaborative
Certificate: This webinar has NOT been submitted for continuing education credit approval. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.
Who Should Attend:
- Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
- Decision-makers for wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
- Consultants and technical assistance providers serving wastewater systems
Partner:
Organizer
Program Associate at the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center