The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) recently hosted the state’s first transportation summit.
More than 225 state, federal, and local government officials gathered in Kearney to discuss discretionary grant opportunities made available through the Infrastructure and Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021.
The IIJA created opportunities for state Departments of Transportation and Local Public Agencies to gain access to additional federal funding, changed the distribution of federal funding, and provides guidance for the distribution of federal formula and discretionary funding through 2026.
NDOT partnered with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The agencies provided information on the available technical assistance regarding responsible charges and the process for direct recipient grants.
The FHWA provided information on how to match transportation needs to grant programs, write and submit grant applications, navigate federal funding requirements and execute grant agreements.
NDOT discussed the challenges of competing for and executing projects with federal discretionary funds.
Community leaders from the city of York and the counties of Lancaster and Jefferson participated in a panel discussion that provided insights into the lessons learned when previously competing for federal discretionary funds.
York was awarded a $15.6 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Grant last year.