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
American Rescue Plan Additional Assistance FY 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Additional Assistance funding is available through a discretionary process to eligible recipients or subrecipients of Urbanized Area Formula funds (49 U.S.C. 5307) or Rural Area Formula funds (49 U.S.C. 5311) in response to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19). Eligible expenses are operating costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, and sanitization combating the spread of pathogens on transit systems, and debt service payments incurred to maintain operations and avoid layoffs and furloughs as a result of COVID-19.
Application deadline: November 8, 2021
Route Planning Restoration Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $25 million through the American Rescue Plan to help public transportation agencies return service from COVID-19 suspensions in ways that can best serve their communities. Eligible recipients include any urbanized area formula grant (Section 5307) recipient that has reduced transit service on or after January 20, 2020, due to COVID-19.
Application deadline: November 15, 2021
Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility FY2021 Notice of Funding
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the availability of $3.5 million in Fiscal Year 2021 competitive grant funding for projects that improve access to vital services for older adults and people with disabilities, and in low-income communities. This program provides competitive funding to support innovative projects for the transportation disadvantaged that will improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services (NEMT). Eligible applicants are designated or direct recipients of FTA’s Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disability Formula Program.
Application deadline: December 6, 2021
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
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a total of $14 billion in Federal funding allocations to continue to support the Nation’s public transportation systems during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency. Funding is provided through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) (H.R. 133).
Additional Funding Resources
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 Federal Transit Administration partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to host the first CCAM Webinar Series highlighting some of the 66 HHS programs in the CCAM program inventory.
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.
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
Recently Closed Opportunities
Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program
USDA is making up to $500 million available in grants, through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program, to help tribes and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services, and nutrition assistance. Applicants may apply for two types of assistance: Recovery Grants and Impact Grants. Applications must be sent to local USDA Rural Development State Offices.
Application deadline: October 12, 2021
Nebraska Department of Transportation
The Nebraska Department of Transportation has announced funds are now available to private non-profit organizations and governmental entities for transportation needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities for whom mass transportation services are unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate. Eligible applicants include private non-profit organizations incorporated within Nebraska and governmental entities.
Application deadline: September 22, 2021
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $10 million in Fiscal Year 2021 competitive grant funding to support transit services for American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages in rural areas. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, including how the project will improve the quality of life for the tribe and surrounding communities.
Application deadline: August 25, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET
FTA Areas of Persistent Poverty Program
FTA today announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $16.3 million in competitive grant funding for projects that help lift communities out of poverty by supporting transit service improvements in underserved communities. FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty Program supports planning, engineering and technical studies or financial planning to improve transit services in any areas experiencing long-term economic distress, in rural and urban communities alike. The Areas of Persistent Poverty Program is intended to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities.
Application deadline: August 30, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for $1 billion in the newly named Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants formerly known as BUILD Transportation Grants. Projects for RAISE funding will be evaluated based on merit criteria that include safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, innovation, and partnership. Eligible applicants for RAISE grants are State, local, Tribal, and U.S. territories’ governments, including transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and other political subdivisions of State or local governments.
Application deadline: July 12, 2021 at 5:00 PM ET
Closing the Gap with Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans
The CDC has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Closing the Gap with Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Accelerator Plans. This funding opportunity is meant to accelerate state, local, tribal and territorial efforts that may lead to improvements in chronic disease outcomes for persons experiencing health disparities and inequities. Up to $125,000 in grant funding will be made available to support efforts to address SDOH in sectors such as housing, transportation and social services. CDC will fund up to 20 projects.
Application deadline: July 6, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET