Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
Upcoming Events
Related News
On November 15, 2021, President Biden enacted the five-year, $973 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58). Following the end of the federal legislature’s responsibilities to develop and pass the legislation comes the role of covered federal agencies to implement the law at the federal, state and local levels.
The BIL provides $973 billion over five years from Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 through FY 2026, including $550 billion in new investments for all modes of transportation, water, power and energy, environmental remediation, public lands, broadband and resilience.
Implementation of BIL at the county level
The BIL is a major victory for counties, who worked closely with our partners in Congress throughout the legislative process to ensure county priorities were included. Currently, the BIL is being implemented through agencies and departments across the federal government. As Congress works to implement BIL, counties will be able to access transportation funds in the following ways:
1. MEETING CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FORMULA FUNDS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEMS AND AIRPORTS
Example: The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) transit formula grants apportion funds directly to qualifying public transit systems based on population and other factors.
The Airport Improvement Program is another example of a program that distributes funding based on formulas to airport sponsors based on enplanement numbers.
2. RECEIVING SUBALLOCATIONS FROM STATE GOVERNMENTS
Example: The Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program apportions funds to state departments of transportation, who are subsequently required to suballocate 55 percent of funds through planning organizations to the local level based on population.
3. APPLYING DIRECTLY TO A FEDERAL OR STATE AGENCY FOR COMPETITIVE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
The BIL provides just over $100 billion in direct, competitive grant opportunities through USDOT to state and local governments over the life of the bill. Other federal agencies also have considerable discretionary funds to distribute as a result of the BIL. Several of these funding opportunities are open now.
4. FEDERAL FINANCING THROUGH LOANS AND LOAN GAURANTEES
Federal financing programs, such as the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program and the newly established Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (CIFIA) program, support counties in constructing infrastructure through federal financing options and low-interest loans.
Download Funding Book
Download the printable funding booklet.
Resource
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Examining Investments in County Infrastructure
House Natural Resources Committee advances Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act
On November 20, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources advanced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776), which would make important changes to streamline federal permitting and strengthen county involvement in decision-making by amending the National Environmental Policy Act. Counties support commonsense permitting reforms, and NACo secured provisions in the SPEED Act that would guarantee counties a seat at the table during federal environmental reviews.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency releases new definition of the “waters of the United States”
On November 17, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a proposed rule defining what constitute the “waters of the United States” and are subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act. The new definition is narrower than previous rules and codifies the decision of U.S. Supreme Court in the 2023 case Sackett v. EPA.
U.S. House Passes Reauthorization Bill for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program
On November 17, the U.S. House passed a reauthorization bill for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP).
How County Governments Thrive with Cloud-Based Solutions
Modern cloud infrastructure enables agencies to better meet residents and workforce needs. Agencies report increased efficiencies as well as reduction of technical and operational debt as they replace aging, fragmented systems.
Federal district court issues ruling preventing the federal government from imposing immigration compliance mandates on grant recipients
On November 4, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation cannot condition federal grant funding on a recipient’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
County Countdown – Nov. 17, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
From Secure Collaboration to AI insights: Streamlining GIS Analysis, Field Work and Records Management
Join county government leaders as they share practical, battle-tested ways they’ve transformed operations in the age of AI — from consolidating content and replacing legacy file systems to securing mission-critical election workflows.
Modernizing County Infrastructure: Empowering Smart, Secure, and Resilient Communities
Learn how future‑ready infrastructure can position your county to lead in smart government initiatives and prepare for emerging capabilities like AI, digital twins, and next‑generation applications.
Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader's Perspective
Join us for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.
When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.
This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.
Key takeaway: Rethinking your budget model can be just as impactful as upgrading your technology — delivering fiscal stability and enhanced services for your community.
FAA-NACo Airport Land Use Compatibility
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:300 p.m. ET
Counties play a crucial role in our nation’s aviation system, owning and operating hundreds of airports across the country. And even in places where the county may not own the airport, county planning departments and development organizations work to maximize the value of this asset to the community’s economic and overall wellbeing. Join NACo and staff from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports Planning and Programming to learn more about the FAA’s “Advisory Circular on Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning,” which will enable counties work smarter to integrate airports into broader planning efforts for land use, economic development and more. FAA staff will also be available to answer questions from county leaders about planning needs in their community and how the Advisory Circular can guide those efforts.
Speakers:
- Jacqueline Essick, Associate Director, Jacobsen|Daniels
- Amber McNair, Founder & Principal Investigator, AV McNair, LLC
- Michael (Mike) Hines, Manager of Airports Planning and Environmental Division, FAA
- Jean Wolfers-Lawrence, Manager of Environmental Planning Branch, FAA