Thriving Communities Program

FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program is Now Open!

DOT is now accepting applications for its fiscal year (FY) 2023 Thriving Communities Program (TCP). TCP offers two separate response opportunities for potential applicants: a Letter of Interest and a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which are described below.

Under the NOFO, DOT is accepting applications for both the Thriving Communities National Capacity Builder Program and a new Regional Pilot Program.

Are You Interested in Receiving Support? Submit a Letter of Interest

TCP provides technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to teams of community partners that may lack the staffing or technical expertise to scope, fund, and develop infrastructure projects that advance broader community goals.

TCP will provide 2 years of deep-dive assistance and 3 years of facilitated peer learning support to selected communities to help them plan and develop a pipeline of comprehensive transportation, housing, and community revitalization activities. 

There is no cost to receive this support. Interested applicants must identify community partners and together submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) via DOT webform by 4:59 p.m. (ET) November 15, 2023, to be considered for selection. 

Learn More About the Call for Letters of Interest

• View the Information for Communities webpage
• View full requirements in the Call for Letters of Interest
• Attend an informational webinar or view past webinar materials
• Visit the How to Apply page

Are You Interested in Providing Support to Communities? Apply to the Notice of Funding Opportunity

TCP funds organizations ("Capacity Builders") to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to disadvantaged and under-resourced communities, enabling them to advance transportation projects that support community-driven economic development, health, environment, mobility, and access goals.

For FY 2023, DOT is offering two Capacity Builder opportunities under a single NOFO. Applications for both opportunities are due via Grants.gov by 4:59 p.m. (ET) November 28, 2023.

Thriving Communities National Program Capacity Builder Program

For the Thriving Communities National Capacity Builder Program (TCP-N), DOT is seeking applications from teams that want to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to communities across the country.

• This is a teaming opportunity for non-profit organizations, philanthropic entities, and other partners, including academic institutions or private sector organizations, with demonstrated experience developing and providing technical assistance, planning, and capacity building to a range of communities located across multiple states and regions (including Tribal nations and U.S. territories). The TCP-N will support selected communities over a 3-year period, including 2 years of deep-dive technical assistance and a final year focused on program evaluation, reporting, and transition activities. 
• Selected applicants will receive $4-5 million over 3 years to provide targeted technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support and peer learning opportunities to a set of communities located across the country and selected by DOT. Support will be provided based on scopes of work designed with each individual community.

Thriving Communities Regional Pilot Program

For the Thriving Communities Regional Pilot Program (TCP-R), DOT is seeking applications from State, Tribal, or Regional organizations that want to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to communities within their state, Tribe, or region.

• This opportunity is for state governments and their agencies; Indian Tribes; governmental planning, economic development, or transportation organizations working at the regional or metropolitan level; and regional, Tribal, or statewide planning non-profit organizations. 
• Selected applicants will receive $1-2 million over 3 years to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support and peer learning opportunities to communities located within their own jurisdiction or service area and selected by the applicant.

Learn More About the Notice of Funding Opportunity

• View the Information for Capacity Builders webpage
• View full requirements in the Notice of Funding Opportunity
• Attend an informational webinar or view past webinar materials
• Visit the How to Apply page

Learn About the Capacity Builders and Communities Selected Through the FY 2022 TCP

On April 7, 2023, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $21.15 million in cooperative agreements with four Capacity Builders through the first round of funding for the Thriving Communities Program. The awarded Capacity Builders will support a total of 64 communities in 42 states, including 6 Tribal Nations, and Puerto Rico.

This planning, technical assistance, and capacity building support will enable disadvantaged and under-resourced communities to advance a pipeline of transformative infrastructure projects that will increase mobility, reduce pollution, and expand affordable transportation options, connecting communities to the essential opportunities and resources that will help them thrive.

Learn more about the selected Capacity Builders and communities and the FY 2022 runners up. 

Building Community Capacity to Take Transformative Projects from Concept to Completion

Program Overview

Funded with an initial $25 million through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) new Thriving Communities Program (TCP) aims to ensure that disadvantaged communities adversely or disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health policy outcomes have the technical tools and organizational capacity to compete for federal aid and deliver quality infrastructure projects that enable their communities and neighborhoods to thrive. Recognizing the importance of this transformative new program, Congress appropriated an additional $25 million to USDOT through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.

TCP facilitates the planning and development of transportation and community revitalization activities and provides tools to ensure that under-resourced communities can access the historic funding provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

The Thriving Communities Program is administered by the Build America Bureau as part of its broader efforts to provide technical assistance to communities. 

The Thriving Communities Program is part of the larger Federal Thriving Communities Initiative. USDOT is coordinating with other federal agencies through the Thriving Communities Network, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development along with the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and others. USDOT also invites partnerships with local and national philanthropic organizations to ensure that all communities can access funding resources and implement programs that help them to thrive.