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Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program

General Grant Program Information

The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program is intended advance transportation infrastructure projects in rural and Tribal communities by supporting development-phase activities for projects reasonably expected to be eligible for certain DOT credit and grant programs. Grants will fund financial, technical, and legal assistance to states and rural and Tribal communities. 

The grants are intended to increase organizational capacity in communities that may not have resources available to evaluate and develop projects that qualify for federal funding and financing programs. Grants reimburse expenses incurred to hire staff or procure third-party advisory firms to assist with project development. 

Opportunity Status:
Closed
Posted Date:
Close Date:
Eligible Applicants:
State Governments; Local Governments; Federally Recognized Tribes and Affiliated Groups
Eligible Activities:
Planning
Transportation Type:
Air Bike/Ped Bridge Maritime Railway Roadway Transit
Most Recent Annual Program Funding Amount:
$3,400,000
Annual Award Amount:
$10,000 to $360,000
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:
No
Rural Set-Aside:
Yes
Tribal Set-Aside:
Yes
Grant Opportunity ID:
DOT-OST-2023-0097
Grant Opportunity Link:
FY23 Grant Opportunity: Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program
Links to Additional Information:
Agency:
USDOT / Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST)

Eligibility Information

Eligible applicants for the program must be one of the following: 

  • A unit of local government or political subdivision that is located outside of an urbanized area with a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Bureau of the Census
  • A State seeking to advance a project in an area located outside of an urbanized area with a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Bureau of the Census
  • A federally recognized Indian Tribe
  • The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Funding Information

A total of $3.4 million was made available under the FY23 Notice, comprised of $1.6 million from fiscal year 2022 and $1.8 million from fiscal year 2023. Awards are available up to the statutory limit of $360,000. Actual amounts awarded will be based on the needs of each grantee.

Applications for FY23 were reviewed in the order received, beginning August 14, 2023 (60 days after the Federal Register notice was published). Application reviews closed on September 28, 2023 (45 days after the application period opened).

$1.6 million in program funds were reserved for Tribal governments. Any funds uncommitted to Tribes 30 days after the application deadline will be made available to all eligible applicants in the order their applications were received. 

There is no local match required to participate in this program. 

Contact Information

For additional information, visit the Build America Bureau's Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program page.

Disclaimer:
The Dashboard provides users with a high-level overview of relevant Federal discretionary grant programs. The information in the Dashboard is maintained as a secondary resource and may not be updated with the most recent changes to each program's primary guidance materials. Accordingly, please refer to the Federal grant-making agency for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on a grant opportunity in the Dashboard.

Last updated Date: