Description: The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) will provide up to $3.4 million in funding for early-stage development assistance for rural and tribal infrastructure projects. Funds can be used to hire staff, procure advisory assistance for financial, technical and/or legal assistance related to evaluate and develop projects that qualify for certain federal funding and financing programs such as: TIFIA, RRIF, INFRA, Mega, RAISE, and the National Culvert program.
Cap per state of $320,000 for FY2022 funds and $360,000 for FY2023 funds.
Individual awards expected to be $150,000.
No Local Match Required.
Application Window: Opens 2 pm on August 14, 2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling (first-come, first-served) basis until available funding is expended. The Application Window is scheduled to be open for 45 days, until September 27, 2023.
View the 4-page Sample Application, Web-based application will be available on the program webpage during the application window: https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/RuralandTribalGrants
It is recommended that applicants complete their application in advance of 2 pm on August 14, and copy/paste content into the online portal as soon as possible once the application window opens.
Eligible Applicants in CRCOG: Eligibility is project-specific. If a project is located outside of the Hartford Urban Area (which is the only Urban Area in CRCOG with a population more than 150,000 people), then a unit of local government may apply. Below is a list of municipalities that are wholly outside of the Hartford Urban Area, based on TIGERweb; however, it is not a complete least of potential eligible applicants:
- Andover
- Columbia
- Hebron
- Mansfield
- Marlborough
- Stafford
- Willington
Link to Program Website: Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program
Other Resources:
TIGERweb Map Tool (for use in determining eligibility. In CRCOG, projects located outside of the Hartford Urban Area meet eligibility requirements)
Instructions about using TIGERweb Map Tool
List of Urban Areas, per 2020 Census
Webinars:
- View recording from June 15th webinar* (Passcode: *1P9RsQJ) and the slides
- Register for July 20, 3 pm webinar here
This summary is based on a review of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (Federal Register/Vol. 88, No. 115/Thursday, June 15, 2023/Notices).
Please contact Elizabeth Sanderson, BIL Coordinator at CRCOG, with questions or if you would like additional information about this program.
