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!, Oii;iip�iili�i;`;iiilil ��� • Lox, <br /> N11 ROME <br /> i <br /> the mission of improving the quality of life in rural America <br /> is more effectively achieved. <br /> li In 41 states,groups of state and federal funding agen- <br /> cies meet regularly to discuss policy issues and even <br /> individual projects.Examples of these groups include the <br /> j Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group in <br /> it Ohio(SCEIG;wwwsceig.org)and the Water,Wastewater, <br /> and Solid Waste Action Coordinating Team in Montana. <br /> Groups such as these ensure that the interests of small <br /> i r communities are being met through the coordinated efforts <br /> of the various agencies. <br /> Ij t In addition to federal and state agencies,SCGEIG also <br /> oil <br /> includes members from technical service providers and <br /> r ° educational institutions.The group's subcommittees help <br /> �- small communities in meeting their environmental infra- <br /> structure needs. <br /> SCEIG's Finance Subcommittee invites communities to <br /> sit at the table with members from state and federal fund- <br /> ing agencies to discuss all funding options available for <br /> their projects.Since the committee was formed in 1992, <br /> more than 250 projects have been presented to the com- <br /> mittee,More than 100 of these projects have been located <br /> - in anAppalachian county. --- ----- ------- ----- <br /> +!_- _- <br /> TheTrainingSubcommitteehaspreparedtrainingdocu- <br /> ments in the areas of asset,utility,and financial manage- <br /> ment.Courses for communities are being developed in the <br /> areas of planning,design,and construction.Communities <br /> attend both water system and wastewater treatment work- <br /> shops to explore all the funding and technical assistance <br /> options available to them. <br /> The Decentralized Subcommittee promotes decentral- <br /> ized wastewater alternatives and management options, '.... <br /> and provides small communities with information and <br /> resources that will assist them in selecting the best treat- <br /> ment option. <br /> The Appalachia Subcommittee focuses on enhanced <br /> communication between all funding and regulatory agen- <br /> cies for projects located in any of The 29 Appalachian <br /> counties in Ohio. <br /> Thanks to both state and federal organizations,small <br /> communities have a multitude of resources to help fund <br /> s and manage their wastewater infrastructure needs.As with <br /> any community-based project,strong leadership is the key. <br /> Community leaders planning for water system develop- <br /> ment,expansion,or upgrade should seek assistance from <br /> these agencies as early in the process as possible to maxi- <br /> mize the opportunity for a successful project.Communities <br /> can check with local representatives of USDA and RCAP for <br /> regional opportunities,such as SCEIG. <br /> =••WZ11111# Benjamin Shaman is senior environmental engineer at the <br /> '� US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Kea Heigel <br /> is chieferigineerat the Ohio WaterDevelopmemtAathoritc <br /> 4D WE&T W'WW.WEF.ORG(MAGAZINE <br />