Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program

Link

https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/RuralandTribalGrants

Additional Links

Notice of Funding Opportunity (Grants.gov)

Deadline

Application Deadline: Apr 3, 2025

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Transportation

Purpose

Offers grants on a first-come, first served basis o support the development of transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities that will qualify for federal funding and financing programs for additional development phase activities or construction. Funds are intended to be used to hire staff or obtain the services of independent financial, technical, and legal advisors to provide development-phase assistance for their project.

The Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program consists of 2 grant categories:

• Grant Type #1: Single Project - Fund the planning and design phase activities of a single project.
• Grant Type #2: Multi-Community Project - Fund the planning and design phase activities of projects within 3 separate communities, at a minimum, submitted under a single application.

See the funding announcement for a list of example activities that would be eligible to be funded through the RTA Program.

Amount of Funding

Grant Type #1: Single Project

• Award ceiling: $750,000
• Award floor: $200,000
• Project period: Up to 3 years
• Estimated number of awards: 13 to 50
• Estimated total program funding: $10,000,000

Grant Type #2: Multi-Community Project

• Award ceiling: $2,250,000
• Award floor: $500,000
• Project period: Up to 3 years
• Estimated number of awards: 7 to 34
• Estimated total program funding: $17,000,000

For this opportunity, $10,000,000 of the total program funding is set aside for eligible tribal applicants.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

• Units of local government or political subdivisions that are located outside of an urbanized area that have a population of more than 150,000 residents, as determined by the Census Bureau such as
  • County
  • Borough
  • Municipality
  • City
  • Town
  • Township
  • Parish
  • Local public authority, including any public housing agency under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937
  • Special district
  • School district
  • Council of governments
  • Any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-, regional, or intra-state or local government
• States, territories, or possession of the U.S. seeking to advance a project in a location outside of an urbanized area that has a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Census Bureau
• Federally recognized Tribes
• Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Geographic Coverage

Nationwide

What This Program Funds

Buildings and Facilities

Application Process

The application portal opens March 4, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

Application instructions, requirements, and other information can be found in the funding announcement.

Applicant webinar
(Registration required)
January 14, 2025
3:00 p.m. Eastern

Type 1 Single Project Application Questions
Type 2 Multi-Community Application Questions

Contact

For grants management or programmatic questions:
Susan Wilson
202-366-0765
RuralandTribalTA@dot.gov

Topics This Program Addresses

Transportation