In the fall of 2022, 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 and the Inflation Reduction Act. Hundreds of communities have taken advantage of these free trainings – and now more are on the way!
Starting in September 2024, NLC and the Local Infrastructure Hub will kick off another round of bootcamps to provide resources and training for communities interested in securing federal grant funds to address sustainable infrastructure needs.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
Assists communities as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. The program aims to shift the federal focus away from reactive disaster spending and instead focus efforts on proactive investment in community resilience.
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program
Supports local communities through investments in strategies to harden resilience, in plans for flood mitigation, and in the reduction of the risk of damage before a disaster. Projects might include reducing flood losses by elevation and relocation of flood-insured structures, along with floodproofing non-residential structures, small local flood reduction projects, and plans to reduce flood damage.
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)
Provides investments in road, rail, transit, and port projects to enhance freight and passenger transportation networks. These projects will ultimately strengthen supply chains, reduce bottlenecks, and make local communities safer and more efficient for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Projects might include the development of master plans, zero emissions plans, reducing conflicts in residential areas between freight and traffic, development of port planning, and risk assessments.
IRA Cash Back – Clean Energy & Vehicle Tax Credits
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes a provision that provides non-taxable entities investing in clean energy with a direct payment option instead of tax credits. Local leaders can utilize direct pay as an option for developing clean energy projects. Projects may include clean energy generation, battery storage, community solar projects, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, and/or purchasing clean vehicles for fleets.
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
DWSRF is a federal-state program that provides low-interest loans to eligible recipients for drinking water infrastructure projects. The IIJA provided $11+ billion to the DWSRF to increase states’ loan capabilities and set aside $4 billion to address emerging contaminants in drinking water and $15 billion to replace lead service lines. The IIJA also authorized states to use a portion of DWSRF funds as forgivable loans.
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.
Learn More About the Local Infrastructure Hub
To learn more about the offerings and register for future trainings, visit the Local Infrastructure Hub website.
These technical trainings are being led by the National League of Cities (NLC) with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Ballmer Group, Emerson Collective, Ford Foundation, and The Kresge Foundation. Bootcamp participants span the United States, most of whom hold city staff positions and some of whom serve as mayors for their respective communities.
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