The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Build America Bureau (The Bureau) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a new pilot program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program offers technical assistance grants to rural and tribal communities. The program makes $10 million available over five years to advance infrastructure projects in the communities.
“In order to make the most of our historic infrastructure investments, we must ensure they reach every community, including the rural and tribal communities that are too often left behind by federal investments,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This program will help provide rural and tribal communities the resources they need to seek—and win—federal grants, so they can realize their visions for better infrastructure.”
The grants may be used to hire staff or advisors to assist with early development-phase activities including, but not limited to, feasibility studies, preliminary engineering and design, environmental review, revenue forecasting, financial feasibility analysis, statutory and regulatory analysis and drafting and negotiation of agreements.
“Three words we like to share: No local match,” said USDOT Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs Arlando Teller. “The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program will provide tribal nations with critical technical assistance to help deliver transportation priorities for their communities. Yéego apply for this opportunity.”
The NOFO combines two years of funding (Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023), $3.4 million in total, to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Individual awards will range in value up to the statutory limit of $360,000. There is no local funding match required to participate in the program.
“Many communities are already benefitting from funding and financing programs that the Bureau administers. However, tribal and rural communities represent a smaller share in our pipeline,” said The Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian. “The Bureau is committed to providing technical assistance, through this pilot program and other tools and to creating capacity at local levels that can lead to better utilization of innovative funding and financing solutions in delivery of critical projects.”
The Bureau will begin accepting submissions at 2 p.m. on August 14. Eligible applicants include local governments or political subdivisions with projects located outside of an urbanized area with a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Census, state governments applying on behalf of a project in an area outside an urbanized area of more than 150,000 residents, federally recognized Indian Tribes and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
As part of the Biden Administration’s commitment to advancing equity and opportunity for all American Indians and Alaska Natives, the Transportation Secretary set a goal to increase engagement with Tribes on a government-to-government basis and to support Tribal Self-Governance. To help Tribal Nations overcome the challenges created by insufficient infrastructure, the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program will set aside up to $800,000 for each fiscal year for tribal applicants.
The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program joins the Thriving Communities Program, the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators and other new technical assistance opportunities at USDOT to ensure communities have the needed tools to access federal funding and financing for transformative infrastructure projects.
