Billions in federal funding available now directly to counties through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Author
Rachel Yeung
Upcoming Events
Related News
Key Takeaways
November 15, 2024, will mark the third anniversary of the signing of the five-year, $973 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted formally as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58). Providing nearly $1 trillion in funding from Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 to FY 2026 for projects ranging from broadband deployment to habitat connectivity to bridge construction, the BIL is a historic investment in American infrastructure.
Since the law’s enactment, over 60,000 construction projects have been advanced, including projects to rebuild deteriorating bridges, upgrade transportation services, develop clean energy, restore ecosystems, enhance cybersecurity and invest in tribal communities. View the White House BIL fact sheet here.
Why the BIL is important to counties
Counties play a crucial role in our nation’s infrastructure, owning, operating and maintaining 44 percent of public roads and 38 percent of the nation’s bridges while also directly supporting over one-third of airports and public transit systems. Beyond transportation, counties are also owners of utilities and water systems, facilitators of broadband and first responders to disasters – all sectors supported by the BIL. Annually, we invest over $134 billion in building, maintaining and operating infrastructure and public works. To learn more about BIL opportunities for county infrastructure, check out NACo’s legislative analysis.
Billions are available now directly to counties through the BIL, including through the following programs:
- $500 million through the U.S. Department of Energy Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance program | Deadline: October 30, 2024
- $550 million (funding is allocated, not competitive) through the U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block grant program | Deadline: October 31, 2024
- $279.9 million through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security State and Local Cybersecurity grant program | Deadline: December 3, 2024
- $58 million through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant program | Deadline: December 20, 2024
- $70 million through the U.S. Department of Interior National Fish Passage Restoring River, Floodplain, and Coastal Connectivity and Resiliency program | Deadline: December 31, 2024
- $300 million through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program | Deadline: January 15, 2025
- $47 million through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration Marine Debris program | Deadline: January 31, 2025
For a full list of current and future BIL funding opportunities where counties are eligible, visit NACo’s funding matrix for counties.
Resource
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
Related News
Innovating Solutions Together: Turning Ideas into Results
NACo CEO Matt Chase: "Every one of these counties started in the same place: a local vision, followed by a search for ideas. NACo builds the networks that connect county officials and other experts."
U.S. Department of Transportation announces final Safe Streets and Roads for All grant awards
On Oct. 30, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced awards for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. The awardees included 76 county governments, which received more than $282 million through the program to implement and plan for roadway safety projects.
Counties play a growing role in the fight to lower utility costs for residents
County governments rarely have a direct role in the energy market, but a new NACo report finds that counties can often be most effective as advocates, helping lower residents’ utility costs by leveraging state programs, local partnerships and outreach.