DOT’s RAISE capital grants fund surface transportation construction projects that improve public infrastructure resilience to flood, weather, and climate risks; with planning grants that support pre-construction activities such as environmental analysis, benefit-cost analysis, feasibility studies, and community engagement.

Gives special consideration for small communities

Application cycle: January 30, 2025.

Summary: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants are a good fit for communities with large, expensive surface transportation projects, including roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, or intermodal transportation. Some past projects included measures to address flooding, such as roadway elevation or flood warning sensors. Rural communities can apply for multi-million-dollar grants through this program, and they receive special consideration for grants up to $5 million. In fact, in 2019, the Department of Transportation awarded 50% of this grant funding to projects located in communities with fewer than 200,000 people. RAISE grant funds will be divided equally between rural and urban areas. In 2023, RAISE funding supported 162 projects across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Eligible applicants: States, District of Columbia, any territory or possession of the United States, a unit of local government, a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more States, a special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority, a Federally recognized Indian Tribe or a consortium of such Indian Tribes, a transit agency, a multi-State or multijurisdictional group of entities that are separately eligible.

Eligible activities: Planning, preparation, design, or construction of capital projects, such as road or bridge projects; public transportation projects; passenger and freight rail transportation projects; port infrastructure investments; and intermodal projects. Example flood protection and mitigation measures include flood-prone bridge replacement, roadway elevation, flood warning sensors, and green infrastructure.

Funding: 

• Maximum: $45 million
• The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides $1 million minimum for projects in rural areas, defined as being located outside of an urban area with a population of less than 200,000, and $5 million minimum for projects in all other areas.
• There is no minimum award size, regardless of location, for planning grants under the FY 2022 Appropriations Act.

Cost share: 

• Up to 100% federal / 0% local, for projects in rural areas, Areas of Persistent Poverty, and Historically Disadvantaged Communities.
• 80% federal / 20% local, for all other projects.
• Nonfederal sources may include state funds originating from programs funded by state revenue, local funds originating from state or local revenue-funded programs, or private funds.

Application process: Visit the U.S. Department of Transportation online for more information.