New tool for unlocking infrastructure spending

Local governments with 150,000 or fewer residents who need help applying for grants available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act are getting a new tool in June.

The Local Infrastructure Hub, a partnership of several organizations, will offer a series of workshops focused on highway-rail crossing improvements, drinking water systems, broadband planning, local infrastructure projects, and bridge infrastructure.

Registration is open now with each bootcamp lasting three to four months. Partners in developing the workshop include the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Results for America, Delivery Associates and the National League of Cities. The workshop is also supported by the federal agencies running the programs.

"Representatives of the federal government have been terrific partners in the project – helping us to understand the administration's priorities and timelines for specific grant opportunities, as well as actually presenting at bootcamp sessions," said Dr. Robert Blaine, senior executive and director of leadership, education, advancement and development, NLC. "Participants have the opportunity to hear directly from the Biden-Harris Administration on not only the intricacies of a specific grant program, but also what they hope to see in quality, competitive applications."

The workshops are piggybacking on seven bootcamps already delivered to cities via the NLC and are keyed to five specific grant programs. The Combined Railroad Crossing Elimination Program & CRISI has $8 billion in funding. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund has $2.75 billion available. Broadband opportunities are sitting on a massive $42.25 billion pile that's accessed through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. The Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program is set up with $5 billion and the Bridge Investment Program has $2.36 billion.   

The hub is receiving financial support from Ballmer Group, Emerson Collective, the Ford Foundation, the Kresge Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

"For smaller cities and towns, submitting strong applications for federal infrastructure money is easier said than done, so foundations and city networks are stepping up to help," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and a former Mayor of New York City. "The Local Infrastructure Hub is a first-of-its-kind resource for local leaders, and its experts will help small towns and cities compete for and win the funds they need to build stronger, more sustainable, and more equitable communities."

The flood of infrastructure funding has created generational opportunities for municipalities along with a series of hurdles including providing matching funds that could be financed through municipal bonds. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation addressed the complex nature of tapping the gusher of federal funding at the NLC Conference in March. A panel of DOT officials encouraged the audience to approach the agency with fully formed proposals and matching funds in place.  

State transportation officials have also been wrestling with some of the same issues and opportunities.  During the American Public Transportation Association Legislative Conference and High-Speed Rail Seminar, also held in March, officials explored political complications, competition between different modes of transport and jams in the project pipeline.    

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke at that gathering and addressed additional speed bumps created by the Build America, Buy America Act. "We get it," he said. "This is new, this is hard, and drawing the line in the right way can be a real challenge."