The Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council announces the second round of funding for the Central Oregon Septic Assistance Program, a project that provides financial assistance to homeowners at or below moderate income in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
COSAP will work with local contractors to complete payments for approved work and provide refunds to qualified homeowners who either require septic tank repairs or replacement or have recently completed septic tank repairs or replacement.
“After our first round of funding for COSAP, COIC provided $1.3 million in grants and distributed nearly $1 million in funding directly to homeowners throughout Central Oregon,” said Julia Baumgartner, Community Development Programs Manager at COIC .
“Throughout this process, our team recognized the urgent need to continue repairing and replacing aging wastewater systems to mitigate environmental and public health impacts in our communities. After a successful first round of funding, we received an additional $950,000 from DEQ allowing our program to expand to another round of applications. Grants of up to $30,000 are available for homeowners who meet the program criteria.”
Applications are open March 15 through April 15 and homeowners are encouraged to apply online at www.coic.org/cosap/. Paper copies are also available if required.
Applicants will be reviewed by COIC staff and members of the COSAP Steering Committee, including local paramedics. COSAP expects applicants to be informed of their status within one month of submission. Grants are awarded based on eligibility criteria and distributed according to program allocation.
COSAP will provide grants of up to $30,000 for both standard wastewater treatment plants and alternative treatment systems. Projects that seek to connect to sewer lines are also eligible if the original sewer system needs to be repaired or replaced.
The grants are reimbursement-based and can be used to pay off the loan amount. New developments are not eligible for funding. Applicants must own the home, meet income requirements and have a clear need for maintenance on their septic systems.
The program is made possible through the collaboration of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, county paramedics and local contractors. COSAP is funded by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the American Rescue Plan Act.
For more information and to find the application, visit the program website (https://www.coic.org/cosap/), call 541-508-9669 or contact your local plumbing service.
Comments are closed.