SCEIG

The Ohio Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group (SCEIG) is an association of federal and state agencies, local governments and groups, service organizations, and educational institutions designed to help small communities in meeting their environmental infrastructure needs.

Contact:
800-775-9767

The Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group (SCEIG) seeks to provide information for small community leadership for developing, improving and maintaining their environmental infrastructure, as well as assist small communities in identifying the most appropriate resources to resolve problems associated with environmental infrastructure.

The SCEIG General Body meets virtually four times a year to provide overall guidance to the activities of SCEIG.

In addition to the SCEIG General Body, the SCEIG has two committees to address the most pressing needs of small communities:

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee meets to coordinate the financial resources administered by state and federal agencies for environmental infrastructure needs of small communities. Participating agencies include: the Ohio Water Development Authority, USDA Rural Development, Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance, Ohio Public Works Commission, Ohio Development Services Agency (CDBG Block Grant), and the Governor's Office of Appalachia.

Objectives

Conduct six bi-monthly virtual finance meetings on the second Thursday of the following months; February, April, June, August, October, and December. Each meeting begins at 1 p.m. and up to four communities are invited to present projects.
Follow up with each community that attends a finance committee meeting.
Discuss ways to increase coordination of funding projects among the state and federal funding agencies.

Participants are invited to present their water or wastewater project to the committee at any of the scheduled meetings listed on this page. The participant should be prepared to present a summary of their project along with the total project cost, total number of customers, projected user rates and the status of efforts related to obtaining funding. The local government agency officials are required to attend the virtual meeting to hear the feedback and be available to answer questions. During the meeting the funding agencies will provide recommendations on how to maximize utilization of their funds.

To be invited to present at a meeting the local government agency is required to submit a project proposal form 15 days prior to the scheduled meeting. The completed form and questions related to the finance committee should contact Kurtis Strickland at Ohio Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) at 800-775-9767 or by submitting this form.

Project Proposal Form

Appalachia Environmental Infrastructure Strategy Group

The Appalachian Environmental Infrastructure Strategy Group (AEISG) meets to address the lack of a system for effective delivery of technical and financial assistance from multiple sources, to areas in Appalachia most in need of water and infrastructure improvements.

Objectives

Conduct two virtual meetings on the third Thursday of January and July. Each meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.
Identify priority projects in Appalachia counties in Ohio and actively follow their progress.

2025 Meeting Schedules

SCEIG General Body
March 4, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
June 3, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
September 2, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
December 2, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.

Finance Committee
February 13, 2025 at 1 p.m.
April 10, 2025 at 1 p.m.
June 12, 2025 at 1 p.m.
August 14, 2025 at 1 p.m.
October 9, 2025 at 1 p.m.
December 11, 2025 at 1 p.m.

Appalachia Environmental
Infrastructure Group
January 16, 2025 at 9 a.m.
July 31, 2025 at 9 a.m.

History & Resources

The SCEIG was formed in 1990, by state, federal, local, educational, and service agencies that provide regulatory, technical, financial, and educational assistance for environmental infrastructure projects. These agencies saw a need to coordinate efforts to assist small governments with the difficult task of developing, improving, and maintaining their water and wastewater systems. This group of experts has quarterly meetings to discuss the needs of small communities and what responses or remedies are appropriate and feasible.

Links

Statewide Organizations

Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program
www.ohrcap.org

Ohio Rural Water Association
www.ohioruralwater.org/

Operator Training Committee of Ohio, Inc.
www.otco.org

The Ohio State University Extension Services
www.extension.osu.edu/home

Regional Planning Organizations

Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District
www.buckeyehills.org

Licking County Planning Commission
www.lcounty.com/planning

Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
www.mvrpc.org

MORPC – Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
www.morpc.org

Northeast Ohio Area-wide Coordinating Agency
www.noaca.org

Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association
www.omegadistrict.org

Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission
www.ovrdc.org

OKI – Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments
www.oki.org

Richland County Regional Planning Commission
www.rcrpc.org

Stark County Regional Planning Commission
www.starkcountyohio.gov

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
www.tmacog.org

Ohio Rural University Programs

Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs - Miami University
www.cpmra.muohio.edu

Center for Regional Development - Bowling Green State University
www.centerforregionaldevelopment.com

Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs - Ohio University
www.ohio.edu/voinovichschool

Membership

American Council of Engineering Companies of Ohio
www.acecohio.org

Buckeye Hills/Hocking Valley Regional Development District
www.buckeyehills.org

Coalition of Ohio Regional Districts
www.cordohio.org

County Commissioners Association
www.ccao.org

County Sanitary Engineers Association of Ohio
www.cseao.org/

Eastgate Regional Council of Governments
www.eastgatecog.org

Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
www.mvrpc.org/

Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization
http://nefcoplanning.org/home.html

Ohio Department of Health
www.odh.ohio.gov/

Ohio Department of Natural Resources
www.dnr.state.oh.us/

Ohio Development Services Agency:
www.development.ohio.gov/

Governor's Office of Appalachia
www.development.ohio.gov/cs/cs_goa.htm

Office of Community Development
http://development.ohio.gov/cs/cs_cdbg.htm

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.state.oh.us/

Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association
www.omegadistrict.org/

Ohio Municipal League
www.omlohio.org/

Ohio Public Works Commission
www.pwc.state.oh.us/

Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program
www.ohiorcap.org

Ohio Rural Water Association
www.ohioruralwater.org/

Ohio Rural University Program:
Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs - Miami University
www.cpmra.muohio.edu/

Center for Regional Development - Bowling Green State University
www.centerforregionaldevelopment.com/

Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs - Ohio University
www.ohio.edu/voinovichschool/

The Ohio State University Extension Services
www.setll.osu.edu/

Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission
http://www.ovrdc.org/

Ohio Water Development Authority
www.owda.org

Ohio Water Environment Association
www.ohiowea.org/

Ohio Water Resources Council
www.epa.ohio.gov/dsw/owrc_wq_monitoring.aspx

Operator Training Committee of Ohio, Inc.
www.otco.org/

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
www.puco.ohio.gov/PUCO/Utilities/OneStop.cfm?OneStopKeyword=WW

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
www.tmacog.org/

U.S. Department of Agriculture/Rural Development
www.rurdev.usda.gov/

U.S. Department of Commerce/Economic Development Administration
www.eda.gov/

Other Links

Amazing Environmental Organization Web Directory

This website is the earth’s biggest environmental search engine.

American Water Works Association
AWWA is an international non-profit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply. Founded in 1881, AWWA is the largest organization of water supply professionals in the world.

Association of State Drinking Water Administrators
ASDWA is a professional association serving state drinking water programs. This association represents state administrators of the nation’s state drinking water programs.

National Environmental Training Center
NETC supports environmental trainers in their efforts to improve the quality of wastewater, drinking water, and solid water services in small communities.

National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, Inc.
NOWRA was founded in 1991 by public health and industry specialists to promote the onsite wastewater industry through leadership, education, training, and communication.

National Rural Water Association
NRWA is America’s largest utility membership association serving over 18,000 water and wastewater utilities. In cooperation with state associations, NRWA is constantly working to improve the quality of utility services for rural Americans, while protecting our natural resources.

National Small Flows Clearinghouse
This website’s goal is to help America’s small communities to meet their wastewater needs.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources
ODNR’s mission is to ensure a balance between wise use and protection of natural resources for the benefit of all. The Division of Water has broad responsibilities for managing Ohio’s surface and ground water resources. The Division collects hydrologic data; develops ground water resource and pollution potential maps; issues permits for the construction of dams; operates the state canal systems; administers the state floodplain management program; and conducts water supply studies.

Ohio District of USGS
Water resources of Ohio.

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
OEPA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment through responsible regulation supported by sound science, quality service, and comprehensive environmental education. The Division of Drinking and Ground Waters (DDAGW) protects human health and the environment by characterizing and protecting water quality and ensuring that Ohio’s public water systems provide adequate supplies of safe drinking water. The goal of the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance (DEFA) is to offer access to technical and financial assistance for practical solutions to environmental needs.

Ohio Water Professionals
The business of clean water in Ohio is a joint effort between several agencies and organizations, working toward a common goal. The following four organizations have realized this and have agreed to sponsor this page: Ohio Water Environment Association (OWEA); Ohio Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA); Ohio Rural Water Association; and the Operator Training Committee of Ohio (OTCO).

US Environmental Protection Agency
US EPA’s mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment.

US Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Division
Has the principal responsibility, within the federal government, to provide hydrologic information and understanding needed by others to achieve the best use and management of the nation’s water resources.

US Water News Online
This website has the latest news concerning water and water issues around the country. Coverage includes water supply, water quality, policy and legislation, litigation and water rights, conservation, climate, international water news and more.

Water Online
This website is considered to be the marketplace for professionals in the water and wastewater treatment industry.

Water Environment Web
This is the official site of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), which is a non-profit technical and education international organization for over 40,000 water experts. WEF members include environmental, civil and chemical engineers, biologists, chemists, government officials, treatment plant managers and operators, laboratory technicians, college professors, researchers, students, and equipment manufacturers and distributors.

Universities Water Information Network
This network disseminates information of interest to the water resource community and all of those concerned with our water resources. The Universities Water Information Network is housed at the headquarters of the Universities Council on Water Resources, located at the Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. It is funded with a grant from USGS.