This page highlights recent federal grant opportunities. We provide these links to help users find information on federal grants and funding. Other federal grant programs are listed at www.grants.gov. We suggest subscribing to grant e-mail alerts that notify you electronically when new funding is available.
Current Opportunities
FTA Low or No Emission (Low-No) Program
FTA announced the availability of nearly $1.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2023 funding to support state and local efforts to buy or modernize buses, improve bus facilities, and support workforce development. The Low or No Emission competitive program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses as well as acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities.
Application deadline: April 13, 2023
USDA: Rural Business Development Grants
This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.
Application deadline: Varies by state
Recently Closed Opportunities
Areas of Persistent Poverty Program
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $20,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 for the Areas of Persistent Poverty Program. The Areas of Persistent Poverty Program awards grants to eligible applicants for planning, engineering, or development of technical or financing plans for projects to improve transit access in underserved and disadvantaged communities.
Application deadline: March 10, 2023
The U.S. Department of Transportation published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $1.5 billion in grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. RAISE discretionary grants help project sponsors at the State and local levels, including municipalities, Tribal governments, counties, and others complete critical freight and passenger transportation infrastructure projects.
Application deadline: February 28, 2023
FTA Transit Standards Development Program
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA)0 Transit Standards Development Program provides up to $3 million under FTA’s Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program to one organization or partnership to develop transit standards, including performing an industry assessment and developing standards and tools in safety and other areas to address transit industry needs.
Application deadline: January 23, 2023
Resources
2020 Census: Resources and Information
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) bases annual apportionments for transit formula funding using U.S. Census data, which the U.S. Census Bureau publishes every ten years. The 2020 Census urban area delineations can have substantial impacts to FTA grant recipients.
Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Funding Programs at USDOT
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has developed an Applicant Toolkit to provide guidance as part of the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S.) This toolkit supports potential applicants in identifying and navigating USDOT discretionary grant funding opportunities for rural transportation projects. In support of the initiative’s goals, this toolkit provides user-friendly information and resources to support rural applicants’ understanding of USDOT discretionary grant programs and the funding process.
Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) Federal Fund Braiding Guide
Federal fund braiding for local match allows grant recipients to use funds from one federal program to meet the match requirements of another. CCAM members examined 61 programs of the 130 federal programs that may provide funding for human service transportation for people with disabilities, older adults, and/or individuals of low income. Based on the input from each participating agency, this guide defines federal fund braiding for local match and program eligibility.
Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) Program Inventory identifies 130 federal programs that may fund transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults, and/or individuals of low income. The CCAM Program Inventory includes detailed program information, such as CFDA numbers, statutory references, types of recipients and beneficiaries, and eligible transportation activities.
Fact Sheet: Competitive Infrastructure Funding Opportunities for Local Governments
The White House recently released this factsheet with upcoming competitive infrastructure funding opportunities for cities, towns, and municipalities across dozens of new and existing
programs.
Shared Mobility FAQ’s: Eligibility Under FTA Grant Programs
In response to increasing interest from the transit industry in partnering with on-demand, shared mobility services such as ride-hailing companies, the FTA has identified FAQs about funding eligibility under federal public transportation law for FTA grant programs.
NADTC Blog Posts:
- Navigating Funding Opportunities for Technology Planning and Deployment
- An Embarrassment of Riches: Multiple Funding Sources and Technology Projects
- Section 5307, 5310, and 5311: Using Non-DOT Funds for Local Match