The Meramec Regional Planning Commission heard a presentation on the Midwest Assistance Program (MAP) and discussed building remodeling at its meeting Aug. 12.
Dennis Siders, regional director of MAP, presides over the states of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota. He explained the organization specializes in assisting communities with water and wastewater infrastructure development.
MAP is a not-for-profit, which has been in existence for more than 30 years and is governed by a nine-member board, Siders said.
Siders explained MAP is funded through national and state contracts.
Examples of contracts include: USDA - Rural Development, HHS Office of Community Services and EPA Safe Drinking Water, EPA – Clean Water Act.
“We work off of field-based technical assistance providers,” Siders said.
The organization's approach uses capacity building to find affordable and appropriate solutions.
MAP completes a planning and needs assessment with the community then examines management and financial assistance and gives advice.
MAP also provides training to individuals in areas such as operator certifications.
Siders noted in 2009 MAP assisted 880 communities, including 688,507 people. MAP received $91 million in grants and loans to help communities for water and wastewater projects.
In Missouri for 2009, 76 community projects were completed, 28 for drinking water and 48 for waste water. A total of 70,996 people were served.
