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How to Apply for the Thriving Communities Program

How to Apply for the FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program

Prepare to Submit Your Application

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application materials early, allowing time to troubleshoot technical issues and submit by the deadline. Late applications will not be accepted unless a valid technical issue is documented in advance of the deadline. 
For Capacity Builders applying in response to the NOFO:

  • Register with SAM.gov: You must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to apply. To request a UEI, please visit SAM.gov. Note that this may take up to 30 days. Not sure if your organization has a UEI? Search SAM.gov to find out if your organization is already registered.
  • Register with Grants.gov: You must create an account in grants.gov to apply. The account should be set up with the same email address used to register with SAM.gov. Once you have an account, set up a profile using your UEI.

Communities submitting an LOI to receive support through TCP do not need to register with SAM.gov or Grants.gov. LOIs must be submitted through the DOT webform. Communities can use the LOI worksheet to prepare their LOIs before submitting the webform.
 

Two Opportunities for Potential Applicants

For fiscal year (FY) 2023 funding, the Thriving Communities Program (TCP) offers two separate response opportunities for potential applicants: a Letter of Interest, due on November 15, 2023, and a Notice of Funding Opportunity, due on November 28, 2023.

  1. A Call for Letters of Interest (LOI): For eligible applicants to receive technical assistance, planning, or capacity building services. There is no cost requirement to participate, and DOT will prioritize helping the most under-resourced disadvantaged communities.  
  2. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): For eligible applicants to provide technical assistance, planning, or capacity building services to help disadvantaged communities.

View the table below to understand more about the FY23 opportunities:

Opportunity #1: Call for Letters of Interest (LOI) #2: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Purpose

Apply to receive technical assistance, planning, and capacity building services from DOT-selected Capacity Builders.

 Apply to receive funding to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building services to communities.
Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are:

  • Local, state, or Tribal governments including pueblos or villages
  • United States territories
  • Metropolitan planning organizations
  • Transit agencies
  • Other political subdivisions of state or local governments

Eligible lead applicants for TCP-N are:

  • Non-profit organizations 
  • philanthropic entities
  • other technical assistance providers including academic institutions or private sector organizations with a demonstrated capacity to develop and provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building to a range of communities located across multiple states and regions

Eligible lead applicants for TCP-R are:

  • State governments and their agencies
  • Indian Tribes
  • Local governments and their agencies
  • Governmental planning, economic development, or transportation organizations working at the regional or metropolitan level 
  • Regional, Tribal or Statewide planning non-profit organizations
     
How to Apply

Submit a Letter of Interest through USDOT’s fillable web-based form.

Interested applicants can prepare for online submission by utilizing the Letter of Interest Worksheet.

 Apply to the Notice of Funding Opportunity through Grants.gov.
Application Deadline 4:59 p.m. (ET) November 15, 2023 4:59 p.m. (ET) November 28, 2023
Link to Full Program Requirements Call for Letters of Interest for the Thriving Communities Program (FY 2023) Notice of Funding Opportunity for the FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program
Last updated: Wednesday, September 13, 2023