Data & Resources

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for cities

A central place to find news, events, and other important resources for funding opportunities through the federal infrastructure law.

Contacts: Brianna Morin, Brandy DeLange

Passed in November 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a five-year spending plan (FY 22-26) that will distribute $400 billion each year for transportation and infrastructure projects across the country. Originally referred to as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the bill invests historic amounts by expanding existing funding programs and establishing new ones. Washington will receive and be eligible for critical funding for roads, bridges, and infrastructure needs.

Given the scope and magnitude of the legislation, BIL’s numerous programs are launching over the course of 2022 and 2023. AWC is tracking the implementation of the BIL and will continue to share city-relevant information here—make sure to check back regularly for updates and information.

Read the BIL fact sheet.

Table of contents

• News
• Events
• What cities should know
• What cities can do to prepare
• Resources

News

• Using the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest in energy infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More

• Ten tips to get a federal transportation grant. More

• Check out this new infrastructure funding tracker dashboard to see the impact of BIL on cities across the US. More

• New Technical Assistance Guide to help you navigate, access, and deploy infrastructure, climate resilience and clean energy funding. More

• Dept. of Energy releases Build America, Buy America (BABA) Waiver. More

Open funding opportunities for cities

Upcoming funding opportunities

Watch this space for upcoming funding opportunities.

Events

Do you know about a BIL opportunity or event not listed here? Contact us to share an upcoming event, call for projects, or notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) relevant to cities and we’ll post it!

What cities should know

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law infuses billions of dollars into existing federal and state grant and loan programs, expanding the scope and modifying the requirements for many to increase accessibility. BIL also establishes dozens of new funding programs, several of which will directly benefit cities.

• Dollars will be made available through two funding mechanisms. Over 60% of BIL funding will be distributed via formulas to states, some of which cities are eligible to receive. A subset of the remaining funds is available directly to communities via discretionary grants. Check out this list of 25 competitive funding opportunities for local governments.

• The BIL guidebook and the BIL rural playbook are good starting places for cities to get an overview of the many funding opportunities available and to identify funding sources for which they are eligible.

• Cities will apply directly at the federal level, via grants.gov, or through the relevant state agency, depending on the grant or loan program.

• Where it makes sense, cities are encouraged to partner with an MPO, PUD, the state, private actors, and others to help meet project minimums and position themselves as competitively as possible.

• Some formula grants are paired with a corresponding competitive grant program. Cities are eligible to apply directly for several of these. Check out the BIL guidebook, the BIL rural playbook, and agency webpages for more detailed information.

• In certain cases, an applicant can submit one, common application to multiple grants to maximize the chance of being awarded funds.

• Incentives for granting funds to disadvantaged communities are built into many programs. In some cases, states are left to define ‘disadvantaged’ themselves. Look for more information on this as state guidance comes out.

What cities can do to prepare

The grant and loan application process begins well ahead of the application deadline. Position your city to take advantage of the funding opportunities that will become available over the course of the next few years. Start preparing now to:

• Actively seek out funding sources directly through the BIL guidebook, the BIL rural playbook, and state and federal program webpages.

• Contact program staff at both the state and federal levels to build relationships, ask questions ahead of time, and prepare for future funding opportunities.

• Look for opportunities to partner with others in your community and region to increase your city’s ability to compete for funds.

• Consider bundling your project with others. Some programs accept applications for bundled projects to address infrastructure challenges shared across regions or a state.

• Use ARPA funding now to “set the table” for future projects with planning and design.

• Complete the grants.gov registration process in advance. It usually takes two to four weeks and is required before submitting a grant application.

Check out these other resources to help you prepare:

• NLC: Your infrastructure questions answered
• NLC: Cities seeking bipartisan infrastructure funding should act now
• MRSC: Historic Infrastructure Funding Opportunities Open to Local Governments
• White House: Competitive infrastructure funding opportunities for local governments

Resources