The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Thriving Communities Program (TCP) was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L.-117-103, Division L, Title I). The goal of the TCP is to ensure disadvantaged communities adversely and/or disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health policy outcomes have the technical tools and organizational capacity to comprehensively plan for and deliver quality infrastructure projects and community development projects that enable their communities and neighborhoods to thrive. The TCP will provide technical assistance, planning and capacity building support to advance transportation and community revitalization activities that benefit disadvantaged populations and communities. The TCP will also support and build local capacity to improve project acceleration, access to and management of federal funding, and deployment of local hiring, workforce development and inclusive community engagement practices (including persons with disabilities and limited English proficient individuals.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) seeks to establish a national technical assistance program that will drive innovation, advance equity outcomes, and build a national pipeline of community-driven infrastructure projects. In its first year, TCP will provide deep-dive technical assistance to at least 30 communities. This will be done through cooperative agreements with eligible parties to help those communities with the highest degree of burden and capacity constraints prepare, develop, and deliver transformative infrastructure projects.
Deadline: Nov. 22, 2022
Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations, state or local governments and their agencies (such as transit agencies or metropolitan planning organizations), Tribes, philanthropic entities, and other technical assistance providers with a demonstrated capacity to develop and provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building. Priority is given to applicants that demonstrate experience working with state, local, or Tribal governments, United States territories, or other political subdivisions of state or local governments. See section D.2 of this NOFO for details on the information applicants must submit to support eligibility determinations.
DOT will determine the amount of funds to be awarded but anticipates a range between $3,500,000 to $6,000,000 for each cooperative agreement. Multiple cooperative agreements are expected, with an aggregate total of approximately $21,000,000. Awards made be 100% federal share.
