Reconnecting Communities & Neighborhoods
The USDOT has released a joint Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) totalling over $3.3B for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and Neighborhood Access & Equity (NAE) programs, combining two major discretionary grants into one solicitation. Together, the combined program is known as Reconnecting Communities & Neighborhoods (RCN).
In an unprecedented effort to build good transportation infrastructure to reconnect communities to economic opportunities, this streamlined program makes it easier to submit an application and increase opportunity for communities seeking to fund projects that address harm from past infrastructure planning decisions, accelerate equitable community revitalization, and improve access to everyday destinations.
Available Funding
- $198M for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, including:
- $148M in Capital Construction Grants
- $50M in Community Planning Grants (including technical assistance)
- $3.155B for the Neighborhood Access & Equity Program, including:
- $135M in Community Planning Grants
- $2.57B in Capital Construction Grants
- $450M in Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants
RCP Program Webinars
The USDOT is hosting a number of webinars throughout July and August, including:
- Program Overview for Prospective Applicants
- July 11, 2023, 1:30 – 3:30pm ET (recording, passcode: F3T?Qy5&)
- August 9, 2023, 1:30 – 3:30pm ET (webinar link)
- RCN Program for Tribal Communities
- July 27, 2023, 1:30 – 3:30pm ET (webinar link)
- RCN Program for Rurals & Nonprofits
- August 15, 2023, 1:30 – 3:30pm ET (webinar link)
- RCN Program & Capital Construction
- August 24, 2023, 1:30 – 3:30pm ET (webinar link)
The RCN deadline for applications is 11:59 pm EDT on September 28th, 2023. Interested applicants can find the NOFO, FAQ, and other helpful resources here.
Reconnecting Communities
The Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) program was established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to provide competitive grants that restore community connectivity by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to mobility, access, and economic development.
Neighborhood Access & Equity
The Neighborhood Access & Equity (NAE) grant program was established under the Inflation Reduction Act to fund projects that improve walkability, safety, and affordable transportation access through context-sensitive strategies.
The program offers funding for planning and capacity building in disadvantaged or underserved communities, for technical assistance to local governments to facilitate efficient and effective contracting, design, and project delivery, and to build capacity for delivering surface transportation projects.
