The Town of Lenox is located in Madison County in central New York, on the county’s northern border near the city of Oneida. With a population of approximately 8,700, Lenox is a mix of suburban and rural residential areas and is home to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the Village of Canastota. The town has a median household income of about $76,000 and a poverty rate of roughly 10%.
Residents in an unserved area of the town had been working toward the establishment of a new public water district to provide reliable drinking water service. As part of the Accelerating Access to Funding in EPA Region 2 project, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) was asked to help the town navigate the complex federal application process for construction funding through the USDA Water and Environmental Programs (WEP).
USDA Application and E-Authentication Support
In January 2026, the Town of Lenox submitted a USDA WEP application for $540,000 to fund the construction of Water District 14. A key piece of RCAP’s technical assistance involved working with the new Town Supervisor to become e-authenticated in the USDA RDApply online loan application system and certify the application. The e-authentication process can be a significant barrier for small municipalities with leadership transitions, as new officials may be unfamiliar with the federal system and its requirements. RCAP provided hands-on guidance to ensure the application was properly submitted and certified.
Ongoing Application Support
Since the initial submission, RCAP has continued to assist town staff and the project engineer with responses to multiple follow-up requests from USDA staff as the application undergoes review. Federal application processes often involve detailed rounds of supplemental information requests, clarifications, and documentation requirements that can overwhelm small-town staff. RCAP’s ongoing involvement helps ensure that the application stays on track and that the town can respond promptly and accurately to each request.
Looking Ahead
The Town of Lenox’s USDA WEP application is currently under review. If approved, the $540,000 in funding will support the construction of Water District 14, extending public water service to an area of the town that currently lacks it. RCAP’s technical assistance has been essential in helping the town overcome the administrative barriers associated with federal funding applications, particularly during a period of leadership transition. This project illustrates the critical role that hands-on application support plays in helping small communities access federal infrastructure funding.
Facing a similar challenge in your community? SU-EFC and our bench of partners provide no-cost technical assistance to help communities across EPA Region 2 plan projects, access funding, and move water infrastructure priorities forward.
Learn more and request assistance today: efc.syr.edu/assistance
