The U.S. Department of Transportation recently published a notice that the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program will be offering $1.5 billion in grant funding for 2023.
The program helps communities pursue transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. It is open to counties, municipalities, tribal governments, and others to complete critical freight and passenger projects.
Projects are reviewed and evaluated for multiple criteria such as economic competitiveness and opportunities, environmental sustainability, innovation, mobility and community connectivity, partnership and collaboration, safety, state of good repair, tourism, and quality of life.
Projects designated Reconnecting Extra during the fiscal year 2022 Reconnecting Communities Program competition will have a greater opportunity to be advanced during the evaluation process.
The agency will divide funding between urban and rural areas. Projects located in areas labeled Historically Disadvantaged Communities or Areas of Persistent Poverty will be eligible for up to a 100 percent federal cost share, as directed in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The agency has allocated at least $15 million for these projects.
Applicants are asked to consider how projects can address climate change, ensure racial equity, and remove barriers to opportunity.
The application deadline is Feb. 28. Awardees will be announced no later than June 28.