Self-Help Virginia Program
The Self-Help Virginia program is a resource for small communities to meet the challenge of creating viable and affordable water and wastewater systems. The program operates within Virginia's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and uses a problem-solving, dollar-saving approach that is outcome oriented.
The goal of the program is to utilize neighborhood talent, manpower and creativity to provide water and sewer services in areas where those services are difficult to provide through conventional means. In the process, the program stretches limited financial resources to assist more communities than would be otherwise possible.
The most common examples of Self-Help Virginia activities include neighborhood residents acting as their own project managers, laying water and sewer lines, and operating leased or donated excavation equipment.
To be eligible for participation in Self-Help Virginia, projects must meet the following criteria:
- Self-Help Virginia projects are limited to no more than $350,000 in CDBG assistance;
- The program is limited to water and sewer projects with no more than $10,000 in CDBG assistance per household served;
- Projects must use more volunteers from the community than paid workers;
- Proposals must be supported by cost estimates which reveal a minimum of 40 percent savings over conventional contracted projects;
- Early on in the process, at least one well-attended community meeting must occur supporting the project; and
- Survey information verifying that at least 51 percent of the proposed beneficiaries are low- or moderate- income, and signed user agreements will need to be produced.
The bulk of Self-Help Virginia funds are expected to go toward materials, with necessary labor, engineering, and administrative costs also being eligible. Administrative costs are limited to 10percent of the grant.
Is Your Community a Self-Help Community?
Your community may be a good fit for the Self-Help Virginia program. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will assist you in assessing your community's capacity and readiness to participate in the program. Projects selected for program funding will be assessed through a combination of written information and on-site community evaluations.
Capacity is determined by a community's:
- Possession of at least one "Sparkplug"- a community leader who exhibits enthusiasm, energy, personal responsibility and focus;
- Mobilization of local resources to achieve more than 40 percent project costs and savings through the use of skilled and unskilled labor and material/equipment donations; and
- Exploration of feasible engineering and funding solutions.
Readiness is determined by a community's:
- Development of a consensus that the community has a serious wastewater or water problem;
- Existence as a cohesive group focused on addressing the problem; and
- Possession of local government support and local resident confidence in implementing the solution.
Self-Help Virginia program proposals will be received until all available Self-Help funds have been awarded. For more information on the Self-Help Virginia program, call (276) 676-5471 or e-mail: pmo@dhcd.virginia.gov
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