New USDOT Grant Opportunity to Support Rural and Tribal Communities
In recent months, the U.S. Department of Transportation has released several programs to be administered by the Build America Bureau to help more communities advance transformative infrastructure projects that improve the quality of the country’s transportation system. Among initiatives like the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator (RIA) program and Thriving Communities Program (TCP), the USDOT recently announced the release of a new program aimed at advancing infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities across the nation.
The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program was created through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA or also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, BIL), and will have $10 million available over five years to provide states, local governments, and tribal governments with grants to support infrastructure project development that would lead to future applications to DOT credit or grant programs. The program aims to enhance the safety, efficiency, and equity of transportation systems while promoting economic strength and sustainability.
With an initial funding allocation of $3.4 million for the first two fiscal years, the First Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Successful applicants may receive a maximum award of $320,000 from FY 22 funds and $360,000 from FY 23 funds. As part of the Administration’s commitment to advancing equity and opportunity for all American Indians and Alaska Natives, the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program will set aside up to $800,000 for each fiscal year for Tribal applicants. Grant funds can be used to hire project staff or retain technical, legal, or financial advisors and consultants to support the advancement of infrastructure projects. The program is expected to be oversubscribed, so it is encouraged that interested applicants prepare their application prior to the NOFO opening window.
The program is open to local governments, political subdivisions, and state governments located outside of urbanized areas with a population of 150,000 or less. Federally recognized Indian tribes and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands are also eligible to apply. To see if a project is considered eligible, visit the Rural Eligibility Tool. For step-by-step instructions on using the eligibility tool, please view the tutorial made available by USDOT.
Eligible projects include highway projects, bridges and tunnels, public transportation projects, freight rail projects, airport projects, wildlife crossing projects, highway railway grade crossings or separations, and surface transportation projects connected to international border crossings.
The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program application process is designed differently than previous program NOFOs. Instead of previous 30 page applications, the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program application consists of 13 questions and will be open on the program’s website as an online form for direct submission. To assist with the application process, IT experts will be available to provide guidance should an applicant encounter any issues.
Please view the sample form available for preview of the listed questions and criteria, or feel free to email the PNWER RIA team for a fillable document copy. Please note that funding may be fully committed before the application period concludes. It is encouraged for applicants to draft their answers ahead of the program opening to ensure a timely submission into the online form. The application submission window will open at 2:00 p.m. ET on August 14, 2023, and will remain open for 45 days until September 27, 2023.
Important Reminders:
Applicants are required to register at sam.gov to obtain a unique entity identifier (UEI) well in advance of the application period. The UEI is issued by sam.gov after registration and may take up to a month to process.
For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit transportation.gov/buildamerica/ruralandtribalgrants.
There was an informational webinar on July 20 that provided an overview of the program and answered questions from the audience. Slides and recordings from the webinars are available for viewing on the website.
