Last fall, the National League of Cities (NLC) and Local Infrastructure Hub launched a series of bootcamps designed to help small and mid-sized local governments take advantage of the grant opportunities available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Hundreds of communities took advantage of these free trainings – and now more are on the way!
In January 2023, NLC and the Local Infrastructure Hub kicked off five new bootcamps to provide resources and training for communities interested in securing federal grant funds to address sustainable infrastructure needs. Those bootcamps included:
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
- Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants
- Safe Streets and Roads for All
- Brownfields
Beginning June 2023, the following five bootcamps will prepare participants to competitively apply funding from:
The Combined Railroad Crossing Elimination Program & CRISI (($3B for RCE; $5B for CRISI)
Helps communities implement strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions; implement renewable energy projects; and improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other appropriate sectors. *Please note that the bootcamp will be focused on technical assistance for cities with populations of 35,000 and above, or from representatives of cities from the ten most populous cities within each state. Other communities will be eligible to apply for this program through their state, and support for those communities will be available from the Local Infrastructure Hub at a later date.
The Drinking Water Revolving Fund ($2.75 billion available)
This fund will provide cities, towns, and villages with opportunities to address urgent water challenges facing local communities. Through these grants, local governments can strengthen their drinking water and wastewater systems.
Broadband Opportunities ($42.25 billion available for BEAD)
Introduces cities to the entire ecosystem of federal broadband opportunities, as well as ways cities can engage with the private sector and serve as promoters of household programs. Cities will learn about broadband in their community, identify future opportunities, and do a deep dive into available federal programs, particularly the new Broadband Equity, Access, & Development Program (BEAD), which helps fund opportunities for communities looking to expand high-speed internet access through broadband planning, deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption projects and activities.
Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program ($5 billion available)
Helps to reconnect neighborhoods divided by infrastructure. Cities, towns, and villages can use funds to address local infrastructure projects such as removing, replacing, or retrofitting highways and freeways. This grant program supports equitable transportation planning and will allow residents to become more active in the infrastructure projects that negatively impact them and their surrounding environment.
The Bridge Investment Program ($2.36 billion available)
Focuses on existing bridges to reduce the number of bridges in poor condition. This funding marks an unprecedented focus on bridge infrastructure, which are vital for connecting residents and local communities
Bootcamps are designed to help communities develop competitive funding applications for federal grants with an emphasis on helping traditionally underserved small and mid-sized cities and towns. With at least 30 courses available in this two-year project, each of the courses will run for an average of four months, with live learning sessions taught by subject matter experts, along with coaching sessions, office hours, and opportunities for peer learning. Participating cities should plan to devote several hours of active participation to the program each month and will be guided through the process of how to execute a community engagement strategy, ground applications in data, assemble a budget, and ultimately write winning grant applications that are tailored to specific grant opportunities.
Upon program completion, participating local governments will be able to submit compelling grant application packages that are grounded in data, feature detailed project plans, and include relevant policy objectives.
To learn more about the offerings of each course, please visit localinfrastructure.org/application-bootcamp.
To register, city officials can submit an interest form online starting today through June 7th. Space is limited in the program, and preference will be given to early enrollees.
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