This Newsletter focuses on Discretionary Grants outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), one of the largest federal investments in infrastructure in nearly half a century. State and local governments will largely be responsible to prepare, design, and implement these projects.  

This newsletter will highlight news, awarded projects, open federal and state opportunities and resources available. 

We want to hear from you! 

• On January 26, 2023, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced funding awards for the Ferry Programs. The City of Annapolis was awarded $2,975,000 under the Electric/Low-Emitting grant program for ferry passage service. The City of Baltimore, Department of Transportation, was awarded $5,086,250 under the Passenger Ferry grant program to buy new ferry hybrid-electric vessels.
• On February 1, 2023, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the first round of funding awards for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. Maryland was awarded six (6) Action Plan Grants for $2,374,453.00 and three (3) Implementation Grants for $40,507,572.00.
• On February 28, 2023 U.S. DOT announced it is awarding close to $1 billion from the 2021 Infrastructure Law to 99 airports around the country to help improve airport terminals. The Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport was awarded $38,000,000 to fund concourse expansion. 
• Baltimore, Maryland will receive $2,000,000 under the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program to address the impacts caused by the construction of US 40/Franklin-Mulberry Expressway. Commonly referred to as “The Highway to Nowhere,” the never-completed project divided several historically Black communities on the city’s west side. This award will help plan for the redesign or removal of the highway to improve safety, access, opportunity, and innovation in West Baltimore. 

We want to congratulate the recipients and remind any intended applicants to continue to reach out to us in the future.  

ARC: Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) - Applications accepted on a rolling basis but reviewed quarterly until funding is expended.

FRA: Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program - Applications for FSP-National are due by 5 p.m. ET on March 7, 2023, and applications for FSP-NEC are due by 5 p.m. ET March 27, 2023.

FRA: Corridor Identification and Development Grant Program - Due March 20, 2023

FTA: Low or No Emission Vehicle Program – Due April 13, 2023

FTA: Buses and Bus Facilities Program - Due April 13, 2023

MARAD: Port Infrastructure Development Grants - Due April 28, 2023 

Biden-Harris administration announces availability of $100 million through Inflation Reduction Act for Environmental Justice Grants.

FTA: Areas of Persistent Poverty Program (AoPP) - Due March 10, 2023

EPA: Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (to develop and implement plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution) – Several due dates March 31-April 28, 2023

EPA: Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program - Due April 10, 2023

EPA: Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program (EJCPS) - April 10, 2023

EPA: Clean Air Act Grants under the Inflation Reduction Act – April 15, 2023  

Check out the U.S. “DOT Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Year Ahead Checklist” to see how your community can get ready to successfully apply for the many discretionary grant programs.

The Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), which is part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, expands the application of Buy America preferences in federal financial assistance programs for infrastructure to include construction materials. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a limited Waiver of Buy America Requirement for Construction Materials for Certain Contracts and Solicitations.

The Maryland Energy Administration has a website dedicated to recent federal legislation that will result in new energy-related programs being established to expanded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The White House released an updated calendar of notices of funding opportunity expected throughout the year.

The White House Infrastructure Implementation Team also released new state-by-state fact sheets, which outline the progress in all 50 states, D.C., and the territories as of January 13, 2023. Maryland’s can be found here.

If you are a local agency and interested in receiving a letter of support from MDOT, please fill out this request form. We will need at least two full weeks upon receiving the information to route for signature. 

The Office of Management & Budget hosts monthly sessions for the community to learn about new ideas and approaches to grants management from fellow practitioners.

The 2023 CDFA Federal Policy Conference will bring together federal agency and development finance industry experts to help attendees better understand the tools, resources, and regulatory changes impacting the entire federal development finance spectrum.

April 11-12, 2023 @ Washington, D.C.

Register Here 

Please visit the MDOT IIJA Federal Discretionary Grant Information website to learn more and sign up to receive future IIJA Federal Discretionary Grant newsletters by clicking the button below or email MDOTTSOOPCP@mdot.maryland.gov with any questions.