Funding Opportunities for Municipalities

This mid-month edition provides new, time-sensitive information about funding opportunities, including:



• U.S. DOT FHWA Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator
• CT DOT Grant Solicitation for Phase 1 of the State's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Plan
• U.S. DOT Thriving Communities Program
• CTDEEP Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program 

The above excerpt from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's (CTDEEP) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory 1990-2021 reveals that the transportation sector continues to be the largest source of GHG emissions in CT, followed by the residential sector. 

Each of the following funding opportunities featured below offers the opportunity to reduce GHG emissions, and further our progress towards achieving goals to improve the health of residents, create opportunities for businesses, and reduce energy costs for everyone in CT. See CTDEEP webpage for more information about CT's goals and the GHG Emissions Inventory.

Please contact Elizabeth Sanderson with questions or if you are interested in applying for these funding opportunities.

U.S. DOT FHWA Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Grant Program 

Application deadline: November 13, 2023 

U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is now accepting applications from State Departments of Transportation and Local Governments to repair or replace broken or inoperable electric vehicle charging stations across the country. To be eligible for funding, EV charging ports must be publicly accessible Level 2 or Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) chargers identified as "temporarily unavailable" on the Alternative Fuel Station Locator map.

Up to $100M is available. The total application is not to exceed five pages, and FHWA anticipates awarding all eligible applications. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications that include multiple locations.

See CRCOG's Summary for more information, including a list of municipalities within CRCOG that have "temporarily unavailable" EV chargers who may be eligible for this funding.

Apply online at Grants.gov (Opportunity Number: 693JJ324NF00001).

CT DOT FHWA Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Grant Program 

Application deadline: November 13, 2023 

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is seeking proposals to implement Phase 1 of the State's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Plan. This first phase focuses on strategically deploying Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) electric chargers along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). The goal is to build-out the national electric AFC network. Up to $15M is available for this first round of funding.

See CRCOG's Summary for more information, including links to view areas prioritized for this first phase.

CTDOT anticipates opening the call for Letters of Intent (LOI) on September 28. All potential applicants must submit an LOI by 5 pm on November 9 to be considered for this funding opportunity. CTDOT anticipates issuing the Request for Proposals in early 2024.

Interested parties are encouraged to track this program on CTDOT's NEVI Program Website, or subscribe for email updates from CTDOT.

U.S. DOT Thriving Communities Program

Letter of Interest Deadline: November 15, 2023

Grant Application Deadline: November 28, 2023

The Thriving Communities Program (TCP) is a technical assistance and capacity building program to support disadvantaged, rural, and tribal communities. Communities that have been adversely or disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health policy outcomes will be offered the opportunity to apply for funding to receive technical tools and organizational capacity to compete for federal aid and deliver quality infrastructure projects.

Capacity Builder Teams will provide "deep-dive technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to under-resourced and disadvantaged communities across the U.S. to help ensure these communities have the technical tools and organizational capacity to comprehensively plan for and deliver quality infrastructure projects and community development projects that enable their communities and neighborhoods to thrive" (U.S. DOT Thriving Communities Program Website).

See CRCOG's Summary for more information, including a list of municipalities that may benefit from this program and the technical assistance it offers.

U.S. DOT expects to award $22M through a total of nine awards with up to five awards for each of the two different types of cooperative agreements:

1. TCP-National Capacity Builder (TCP-N), with award amounts projected to be $4-5 million each.
2. TCP-Regional Capacity Builder (TCP-R), with awards amounts projected to be $1-2 million each.

There is no cost share or matching required. USDOT will enter into a cooperative agreement with successful applicants, and will fund up to 100% of eligible costs through a monthly reimbursement model.

Submit grant applications via Grants.gov before the application deadline.

Communities interested in receiving no-cost support and technical assistance from National Capacity Builder Team(s) must submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) via DOT's fillable webform by 4:59 p.m. (ET) November 15, 2023.

CTDEEP Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program

Grant Application Deadline: October 24, 2023

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) recognizes the important role that trees and forests play in filtering our air and water, maintaining biodiversity, reducing air temperatures, and many other health and environmental benefits. The Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program makes $150,000 available to CT municipalities and non-profit 501(c)3 organizations to assess, inventory, study, monitor, manage, and plan urban and community trees and forests.

See CRCOG's Summary for more information, including a link to the Request for Proposals and other potential funding opportunities anticipated in the near future.

CTDEEP will accept online applications until 5 pm on October 24.

View previous Funding Opportunities Newsletters here.