Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program

While the grant application will remain open until September 28, please note, the Bureau has received a significant number of qualified applications.  

We encourage you to watch for the next round of funding from this program. The application is still available at this LINK.

For best results, please close all other applications and windows and clear your browser cache before you begin. After you start the application, you must finish and submit in the same session, or your data will be lost. There is no "save progress" option. 

Please call 202-366-0765 or toll-free at 844-465-1800 if you need assistance. If you hear a voicemail greeting, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible. If you do not leave a message, we will have no record of your call. 

Click this link to read the Notice of Funding Opportunity document. Review the FAQ's document.

View the June 15th webinar with entire passcode: *1P9RsQJ and view the slides with this link.

View the July 20th webinar with this link. Enter the entire passcode: m!5Ov0B^

View the July 20th webinar slides at this link.

Disclaimer: All webinar cloud recordings require a passcode and cannot be removed per DOT guidelines.

Important note! View the PDF sample application here. 

View the sample form and save your answers in a Word file and cut and paste them into the form once the application is available. Preparing your application in advance will allow for review and will save time when filling out the form beginning August 14. Applicants will not be able to submit attachments to the form. Please do not submit a completed PDF because the Bureau can only accept the on-line application form. The day the application is available, our team will be standing by to assist you should you encounter any issues. Applications will remain open until September 28, 2023. 

Not sure if your project is rural? 

Your project is eligible if: 

The project is not in a Census Bureau 2020 designated urban area.
OR - The project is in a Census Bureau 2020 designated urban area with a population of 150,000 or less. 

Your project is not eligible if it is in a Census Bureau 2020 designated urban area that has a population of more than 150,000 people. 

Also, you may wish to visit: Rural Eligibility | US Department of Transportation.

For step-by-step instructions on using the eligibility tool, please view this tutorial.*  

Additional resource: Lookup an address to see if it is rural on Tigerweb* -- follow these instructions. 

*Accessibility statement: If you need assistance using this tool, please email RuralandTribalTA@dot.gov. 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or BIL) enhances the Build America Bureau’s capacity to help more communities advance transformative infrastructure projects that enhance the safety, efficiency, and equity of the country’s transportation system. A key enhancement was the creation of multiple new programs to be administered by the Build America Bureau, resulting in enhanced technical assistance to support communities without the resources to explore innovative financing and project delivery methods for their projects. 

The BIL created the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, which makes $10 million available over five years to provide states, local governments, and tribal governments with grants to support project development leading to future applications to DOT credit or grant programs. The grants can support legal, technical, and financial advisors to help advance infrastructure projects. The first notice of funding opportunity includes two fiscal years and makes $3.4 million available to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Eligible project sponsors may receive grant funds to select advisors to assist with pre- development-phase activities, including: 
•    feasibility studies
•    project planning
•    revenue forecasting and funding and financing options analyses 
•    preliminary engineering and design work
•    environmental review
•    economic assessments and cost-benefit analyses
•    public benefits studies
•    statutory and regulatory framework analyses
•    value-for-money (VFM) studies  
•    evaluations of costs to sustain the project
•    evaluation opportunities for private financing and project bundling  
 

For more information, please email RuralandTribalTA@dot.gov.