Community Challenge Planning Grants, TIGER II

This notice announces the availability of funding and requests proposals for the HUD's Community Challenge Planning Grants in conjunction with a portion of the Department of Transportation’s National Infrastructure Investments Grants that can be used for transportation planning grants.HUD’s $40 million Community Challenge Planning Grant Program will foster reform and reduce barriers to achieving affordable, economically vital, and sustainable communities.Such efforts may include amending or replacing local master plans, zoning codes, and building codes, either on a jurisdiction-wide basis or in a specific neighborhood, district, corridor, or sector to promote mixed-use development, affordable housing, the reuse of older buildings and structures for new purposes, and similar activities with the goal of promoting sustainability at the local or neighborhood level. HUD’s Community Challenge Planning Grant Program also supports the development of affordable housing through the development and adoption of inclusionary zoning ordinances and other activities such as acquisition of land for affordable housing projects.

DOT is authorized to use up to $35 million of the funds available for TIGER II Discretionary Grants for TIGER II Planning Grants to fund the planning, preparation, or design of surface transportation projects that would be eligible for funding under the TIGER II Discretionary Grant program.

Eligibility

State and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs),other political subdivisions of State or local governments, and multi-State or multijurisdictional groupings.

Pre-Applications are due by 5:00 PM, 30 days after this Notice is published in the Federal Register and applications must be submitted by August 23, 2010.

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TIGER II Discretionary Grant Program, Deadline Aug 23

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to award $600 million in TIGER II Discretionary Grants pursuant to Title I (Department of Transportation) of the FY 2010 Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 111-117, Dec. 16, 2009). This appropriation is similar, but not identical to the appropriation for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or “TIGER Discretionary Grant”, program authorized and implemented pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”). Because of the similarity in program structure and objectives, DOT is referring to the grants for National Infrastructure Investments under the FY 2010 Appropriations Act as “TIGER II Discretionary Grants”. As with the TIGER program, funds for the TIGER II program are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area or a region.

Eligible Applicants for TIGER II Discretionary Grants are State and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), other political subdivisions of State or local governments, and multi-State or multi-jurisdictional groups applying through a single lead applicant (for multi-jurisdictional groups, each member of the group, including the lead applicant, must be an otherwise eligible applicant as described in this paragraph).

There is a cost-sharing requirement.

Original Closing Date for Applications:
Aug 23, 2010

The criteria for the TIGER II Discretionary Grant program were announced in the interim notice of funding availability in the Federal Register. The notice requires that pre-applications must be submitted by July 16, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Final applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by August 23, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Current Closing Date for Applications:
Aug 23, 2010 The criteria for the TIGER II Discretionary Grant program were announced in the interim notice of funding availability in the Federal Register. The notice requires that pre-applications must be submitted by July 16, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

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Scenic Byways Grants Available, Due April 16

Federal highway has announced the availability of scenic byway grants for the next funding cycle. The picture shown is an underground water tank GFA designed along a scenic heritage route in Peninsula Township.

Expected Number of Awards: 150
Estimated Total Program Funding: $40,000,000
CFDA Number(s): 20.205 -- Highway Planning and Construction
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes

Eligible Applicants
County governments
City or township governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Individuals

Additional Information on Eligibility:
Federal agencies, local units of government, and nonprofit organizations may apply to this program, but they must coordinate their applications with their State Departments of Transportation (DOT). The formal applications to FHWA are submitted by the State DOTs, and the projects are generally managed by the cognizant State DOT. Indian tribe governments have the option of submitting byway grant applications through the State or directly to the FHWA Division office in their State.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued the FY 2010 solicitation for proposals under the National Scenic Byways Program. Under this program, the Secretary of Transportation may make grants to States or Indian tribes to implement projects on roads designated as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads, State scenic byways, or Indian tribe scenic byways. The Secretary may also make grants to States or Indian tribes to plan, design and develop a scenic byways program. Eligible projects must be from one of the following eight eligible activities:
State or Indian tribe Scenic Byway Programs,
Corridor Management Plans,
Safety Improvements,
Byways Facilities,
Access to Recreation,
Resource Protection,
Interpretive Information,
or Marketing.

FHWA will continue to be more strategic in its FY 2010 National Scenic Byways Program grant awards process by targeting its resources toward projects that provide the greatest benefits. FHWA is particularly focusing on projects that place additional emphasis on livability, or with demonstrated benefits for the byway traveler and invites the application of large-scale, high-cost projects that provide strategic benefits to the byway. The Federal share of the byway project grant is 80 percent.

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