Davids Encourages Applications for Federal Infrastructure Program
$1.5 billion bipartisan infrastructure law-funded grant program open for applications
Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the opening of a major federal infrastructure program and encouraged state and local communities across the Kansas Third District to apply. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program is now open for 2023 and contains $1.5 billion for communities to carry out projects with significant local or regional impact. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg unveiled the RAISE program alongside Davids in Kansas City earlier this year.
As an example of this transformative grant opportunity, in October, Davids joined the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to announce their FY2022 RAISE grant of $24.8 million for the Flint Hills Trail. Davids previously sent a letter of support to Secretary Buttigieg advocating for the grant, which will help make infrastructure improvements on 40.5 miles of the trail and open 27 new miles from Council Grove to Herington. An economic impact study conducted by Wichita State University determined that Flint Hills Trail State Park provides more than $1.8 million in economic impact each year to the communities it passes through.
"The Kansas Third is a hub for infrastructure of all kinds, so we are perfectly poised to take advantage of federal grant programs like this one," said Davids. "When I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law, I promised to continue supporting our community as we use these incoming federal funds to improve the quality of life and quality of infrastructure here in Kansas—so I encourage our community leaders to apply and reach out to my office with any questions."
Davids, who serves as Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was the only member of the Kansas delegation to support the bipartisan infrastructure law, which reauthorized the RAISE grant program as well as funding a number of other Kansas infrastructure projects (for example, building the Johnson County Executive Airport's new taxiway, constructing the US 69 and 167th Street interchange, and refurbishing Johnson County's 75-year-old wastewater plant).
Rep. Sharice Davids celebrated the FY22 federal RAISE grant at the Flint Hills trailhead in October.
Background:
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) uses RAISE grants to help communities advance projects that modernize their roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, and other forms of transportation. Eligible projects are rigorously reviewed and evaluated on various criteria, including safety, sustainability, mobility and community connectivity, and economic competitiveness.
In 2022, RAISE funded 166 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including two projects in Kansas.
This year, half of the RAISE grant funding will go to projects in rural areas and half will go to projects in urban areas. At least $15 million in funding is guaranteed to go towards projects located in historically disadvantaged or impoverished communities, and projects located in these areas will be eligible for up to 100 percent federal cost share.
The notice of funding opportunity is available here through the USDOT website. The deadline for applications is 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2023 and selections will be announced no later than June 28, 2023.