Funding made available through the bipartisan Portman Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

March 23, 2022

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Press Releases

WASHINGTON DC. – Today, US Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the US Department of Transportation announcement that $2.85 billion in competitive grant funds have been made available to support multimodal projects across the country, which can help improve the resilience of our freight networks.

“Thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Act, Ohio and our localities will have access to new and higher levels of existing funding opportunities for multimodal projects in our communities,” said Portman. “I am pleased that the Department of Transportation has simplified the application process for applicants through this ‘common application’ approach and look forward to helping Ohio applicants secure these funds.”

The National Infrastructure Project Assistance Program (AKA “Mega”) is an all-new, competitive grant program that will help fund multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects of national or regional significance. Eligible projects include highways, bridges, mass transit, ports, railroads, and mass transit of national or regional significance with total costs exceeding $500 million. The Department of Transportation will allocate 50% of the $1 billion available for this fiscal year to projects with a total cost of $500 million or more and 50% to projects with a total cost between $100 million and $500 million.

The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program funds highway, freight, and multimodal projects. Prior to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, this grant program typically received $1 billion in annual funding. Now, this program will receive $1.55 billion this year, with a total of $8 billion for this program over the next five years. This means more projects in Ohio and across the country will have the opportunity to receive this critical assistance.

The all-new Rural Surface Transportation Program will provide up to $300 million in grants for fiscal year 2022 to support projects that improve and expand transportation infrastructure in rural areas. Eligible projects include highways, bridges and tunnels projects that improve the movement of goods, safety and increase access to agricultural, commercial, energy or transportation facilities to stimulate economic growth in rural areas. In total, this competitive grant program will receive $2 billion in funding over the next five years.

In order to streamline the application process, the Department of Transportation has issued a Combined Notice of Funding Opportunity for the above grant programs. The deadline for apps is May 23, 2022.

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