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Funding Resources/Updates

This page provides updates and resources related to the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) — signed into law on November 15, 2021.  

The NJTPA has a central role in ensuring that North Jersey can take full advantage of the funding and programs in the Act. In particular, the Act provides much needed funding to repair and improve road, rail and bridge infrastructure in the region. To be eligible for this funding, all projects will have to be approved by the NJTPA Board for inclusion in the region's Transportation Improvement Program or TIP.

The Act also offers a host of funding opportunities for local governments to improve mobility for residents which can bolster local economies and quality of life (see resources below). As the region's Metropolitan Planning Organization, the NJTPA can assist in coordinating and helping with grant applications and submissions, including:

  • Providing letters of support indicating that proposed activities are consistent with the region's long range transportation plan, Plan 2050
  • Providing data on regional travel or directing applicants to appropriate data sources
  • Providing information on related or complementary activities in the region
  • Providing assistance on strategies to address planning issues, conduct outreach and assess equity and environmental impacts.
The NJTPA urges local governments or other organizations to contact the NJTPA and keep us informed regarding proposed applications for IIJA funding. This will ensure all concerned parties throughout the region can support and coordinate activities and realize the greatest benefits for the region's residents. 

Register to apply for Federal grants — A SAM registration is required for any entity to bid on and get paid for federal contracts or to receive federal funds. These include for-profit businesses, nonprofits, government contractors, government subcontractors, state governments, and local municipalities. Guidance and information on grants is at Grants.gov


Latest Developments

Please check our calendar for information about upcoming webinars. If a grant no longer appears on the below list, the deadline to apply has passed. However, you can still find information about the various programs under the Resources and Links section.

November 15, 2023 (deadline): Thriving Communities Program Technical Assistance - This program provides grants of technical assistance to under-resourced and disadvantaged communities to help them identify, develop, and deliver transportation and community revitalization opportunities.  A Call for Letters of interest, with a deadline of November 15, 2023, has been issued for communities seeking the assistance. The technical assistance is provided by several federally-selected Capacity Builder organizations and teams each of which work with multiple communities.  Under the program, communities can receive in-kind support to prepare grant application materials and undertake pre-development and project delivery activities including deploying innovative community engagement, workforce development, and clean technology strategies. There is no cost for communities to receive support through the program.  A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was also issued for recruiting and funding additional Capacity Builders to provide the technical assistance.  Three webinars about the Thriving Communities Program are being held on September 15, 20 and 27.

October 10, 2023 (deadline): Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program — USDOT is accepting applications for the second year of the SMART Grants Program through October 10. The program funds demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems that improve transportation efficiency and safety. Additional information is available in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Webinar recordings are available here.

September 28, 2023 (deadline): Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program — USDOT announced a joint Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) programs, which will combine two major discretionary grants into one NOFO. The application deadline is September 28.  Together, this combined program will be known as the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program.  Many projects may be eligible and considered for both component grant programs using a single application. Among the shared goals of the two component programs are: reconnecting communities by addressing transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity; fostering equitable development and restoration; improving access to jobs, education and other destinations; and prioritizing disadvantaged communities.  Webinar recordings are available here

May 22, 2023: Webinar Recordings: Identifying Discretionary Grant Opportunities — This May 22 webinar showcased the USDOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard, a tool that makes it easier to search for and find grant opportunities depending on the type of project you have, your organization type, and other considerations like match requirements.  It was a follow-up to a February 8 webinar featured staff from across the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) highlighting several resources created to help potential grant applicants to navigate different funding opportunities.

March 14, 2023:  Matrix of competitive grant programs - USDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) continue to update this matrix which illustrates grant programs broadly, organized by applicant type, and lists grant programs (rows) which can be matched with the potential applicant (column) the program can fund.

January 11, 2023: Anticipated dates for upcoming funding opportunities - USDOT continues to update this list of anticipated dates for upcoming Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for key programs within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as well as related programs. This list is not comprehensive and will be updated periodically with additional programs and revised dates as appropriate.

 

Resources and links

Reconnecting Communities

This program has become part of a consolidated: Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program.

USDOT announced a joint Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) programs, which will combine two major discretionary grants into one NOFO. The application deadline is September 28, 2023.  Together, this combined program will be known as the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program.  Many projects may be eligible and considered for both component grant programs using a single application. Among the shared goals of the two component programs are: reconnecting communities by addressing transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity; fostering equitable development and restoration; improving access to jobs, education and other destinations; and prioritizing disadvantaged communities.  Webinars are on August 9, 15 and 24.
 
Safe Streets and Roads Grants
RAISE Grant
Multimodal Project Grant (MPDG)
Other Grant Programs
Federal Guidance
Federal Agency Websites
Other Info/Resources/Links