Counties directly eligible for $700 million in FY 2023 USDOT Electric Vehicle Charging Grants

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BlogOn March 14, the U.S.Counties directly eligible for $700 million in FY 2023 USDOT Electric Vehicle Charging Grants
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Blog
Counties directly eligible for $700 million in FY 2023 USDOT Electric Vehicle Charging Grants
On March 14, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI). Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this program makes $700 million (combination of FY 2022 and FY 2023 funding) available through a competitive grants to support the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, as well as hydrogen, propane and natural gas fueling. Counties are directly eligible to apply for this program through USDOT until 11:59 PM ET on the June 13, 2023, deadline, which is an extension of 14 days from the original deadline.
The CFI will mainly provide funding for Level II chargers in publicly accessible areas in and around local communities through two components:
$350 million for Community Charging and Fueling Grants
- Funds project on any public road or publicly accessible location that must also be accessible to individuals with disabilities
- Allows contracting with a private entity
- Minimum award = $500,000; Maximum award = $15 million
- Must address environmental justice and is encouraged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
$350 million for Corridor Grants
- Must be publicly accessible and located along a designated Alternative Fuel Corridor
- Minimum award = $1 million; No maximum award
- Must be used to contract with a private entity and address environmental justice
Generally, the federal share for this program is 80 percent. Notably, under both the Community Grants and the Corridor Grants, a county contracting with a private entity must include a condition requiring that entity to cover the 20 percent local match requirement.
Unlike the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI), CFI awards can be used to place chargers in a more discretionary manner; however, the BIL still requires recipients of CFI funds to follow certain minimum standards and requirements outlined in the NEVI guidance. Additionally, as part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, this program has an emphases on investing in rural, underserved and disadvantaged communities.
USDOT will host two webinars on CFI, March 21, 1 PM ET and March 22, 2 PM ET. NACo will also host a webinar on March 24, 11 AM ET. Register here.
Counties play a major role in America's transportation and infrastructure network, owning and operating 44 percent of public roads and 38 percent of bridges -- more than any other level of government. Federal funding opportunities like CFI allow counties to continue to modernize our infrastructure while building a more sustainable future.
On March 14, the U.S.2023-03-14Blog2023-09-02
On March 14, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI). Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this program makes $700 million (combination of FY 2022 and FY 2023 funding) available through a competitive grants to support the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, as well as hydrogen, propane and natural gas fueling. Counties are directly eligible to apply for this program through USDOT until 11:59 PM ET on the June 13, 2023, deadline, which is an extension of 14 days from the original deadline.
The CFI will mainly provide funding for Level II chargers in publicly accessible areas in and around local communities through two components:
$350 million for Community Charging and Fueling Grants
- Funds project on any public road or publicly accessible location that must also be accessible to individuals with disabilities
- Allows contracting with a private entity
- Minimum award = $500,000; Maximum award = $15 million
- Must address environmental justice and is encouraged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
$350 million for Corridor Grants
- Must be publicly accessible and located along a designated Alternative Fuel Corridor
- Minimum award = $1 million; No maximum award
- Must be used to contract with a private entity and address environmental justice
Generally, the federal share for this program is 80 percent. Notably, under both the Community Grants and the Corridor Grants, a county contracting with a private entity must include a condition requiring that entity to cover the 20 percent local match requirement.
Unlike the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI), CFI awards can be used to place chargers in a more discretionary manner; however, the BIL still requires recipients of CFI funds to follow certain minimum standards and requirements outlined in the NEVI guidance. Additionally, as part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, this program has an emphases on investing in rural, underserved and disadvantaged communities.
USDOT will host two webinars on CFI, March 21, 1 PM ET and March 22, 2 PM ET. NACo will also host a webinar on March 24, 11 AM ET. Register here.
Counties play a major role in America's transportation and infrastructure network, owning and operating 44 percent of public roads and 38 percent of bridges -- more than any other level of government. Federal funding opportunities like CFI allow counties to continue to modernize our infrastructure while building a more sustainable future.

About Jessica Jennings (Full Bio)
Legislative Director – Transportation | Rural Action Caucus
Jessica serves as legislative director for transportation and infrastructure, as well as the liaison to NACo's Rural Action Caucus (RAC).More from Jessica Jennings
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In June 2023, the U.S. House and U.S. Senate Congressional committees with jurisdiction over aviation introduced bipartisan versions of bills that would reauthorize funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is currently set to expire on September 30, 2023. -
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Counties directly eligible for over $3 billion in competitive USDOT funding for community and regional planning
On July 5, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the availability of over $3 billion in competitive funding through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program.
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Transportation Policy Steering Committee
Responsible for all matters pertaining to federal transportation legislation, funding and regulation and its impacts on county government. This includes highway and bridge development, finance and safety, public transit development and finance, transportation planning, airport development and service, passenger and freight railroads, ports and waterways, freight movement, and research and development of new modes of transportation.pagepagepage<p>Responsible for all matters pertaining to federal transportation legislation, funding and regulation and its impacts on county government.
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Reports & Toolkits
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
As intergovernmental partners, counties play a key role in ensuring the successful interpretation and implementation of the BILReports & Toolkitsdocument100710:00 amReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent jump">
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Contact
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Legislative Director – Transportation | Rural Action Caucus(202) 942-4264
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Related Resources
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ResourceLegislative Analysis for Counties: H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (House FAA reauthorization)Aug. 10, 2023
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