Opportunity Information: Apply for NSFHP 21 INFRA21
The INFRA Grants opportunity is a USDOT discretionary funding program for FY 2021 aimed at supporting transportation projects with national or regional significance. The program is framed around delivering real economic and public benefits, with an emphasis on creating good-paying jobs, improving transportation safety, using transformative or innovative approaches, and, notably for this round, explicitly addressing climate change and racial equity. USDOT highlights the urgency of these investments in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain it placed on state and local budgets, positioning INFRA as a tool to stimulate economic recovery while modernizing critical infrastructure.
A central feature of this funding round is the stronger focus on climate change and environmental justice. Projects are judged in part on whether they are part of a broader, comprehensive climate strategy or whether they directly support greenhouse gas reduction approaches. Examples mentioned include deploying zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and advancing strategies that reduce vehicle-miles traveled, such as encouraging shifts to other travel modes. Alongside climate considerations, racial equity is a selection criterion to the extent that applicants demonstrate meaningful, equity-focused community outreach and show that the project is designed to benefit underserved communities. USDOT also signals added interest in projects located in federally designated community development areas, including Opportunity Zones, Empowerment Zones, Promise Zones, and Choice Neighborhoods, which can strengthen the case that the investment will support communities facing long-standing disadvantages.
The program makes funding available for both large and small projects, with minimum grant sizes set to shape the project pipeline. Large projects must request at least $25 million in INFRA funds, while small projects must request at least $5 million. Statutory set-asides apply: 10 percent of available funding is reserved for small projects, and USDOT must award at least 25 percent of total funding to rural projects. For FY 2021, total funding available is described as approximately $889 million. The notice also lists a very high award ceiling value in the source data, reflecting the program’s ability to support major projects, though actual award sizes depend on competition and project scope. The application deadline listed for this round is March 19, 2021.
USDOT is especially interested in projects that can move quickly into construction and where the local sponsor shows significant investment, which is another way of signaling preference for projects that are well-developed, financially committed, and ready to deliver near-term benefits. INFRA grant funds can cover a wide range of eligible project costs, including reconstruction and rehabilitation, property acquisition (including land and related improvements), environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, equipment purchases, and operational improvements tied directly to system performance. Beyond the traditional grant, the NOFO introduces an "INFRA Extra" pathway: strong applicants that do not ultimately receive an INFRA award may be identified as competitive and then be authorized to pursue a TIFIA loan for up to 49 percent of total project cost. This effectively gives high-quality projects another route to financing even if they miss the cut for grant dollars.
Eligible applicants are public-sector and quasi-public entities with transportation responsibilities. This includes states (or groups of states), metropolitan planning organizations serving urbanized areas over 200,000 in population, local governments (or groups of local governments), political subdivisions, special purpose districts and public authorities with transportation functions (including port authorities), federal land management agencies applying jointly with a state or group of states, tribal governments or tribal consortia, and multi-state or multi-jurisdictional groups of public entities. Joint applications are allowed, but they must name a lead applicant, each participating entity must independently qualify as an eligible applicant, and the submission must clearly describe roles and responsibilities and include signatures from each applicant. Overall, this INFRA round is structured to reward projects that are construction-ready, locally supported, economically meaningful, and aligned with newer federal priorities around decarbonization, environmental justice, and equitable community benefit.Apply for NSFHP 21 INFRA21
- The 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "INFRA Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.934.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-01-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-03-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,100,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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INFRA Grants (USDOT) FY 2021 - FAQs
What is the INFRA Grants program (FY 2021)?
INFRA is a USDOT discretionary grant program for FY 2021 that supports transportation projects with national or regional significance. In this round, USDOT emphasizes real economic and public benefits, including good-paying jobs, improved safety, and the use of transformative or innovative approaches. The program also places explicit weight on addressing climate change and racial equity.
Why does USDOT describe this INFRA round as urgent?
USDOT frames these investments as urgent because the COVID-19 pandemic strained state and local budgets. INFRA is positioned as a tool to support economic recovery while modernizing critical infrastructure.
How much total funding is available for FY 2021?
The total funding available for this INFRA round is described as approximately $889 million.
When is the application deadline?
The listed deadline for this round is March 19, 2021.
What types of projects does INFRA prioritize in this funding round?
USDOT highlights projects that deliver strong economic and public benefits, create good-paying jobs, improve transportation safety, and use transformative or innovative approaches. For this round specifically, USDOT adds stronger emphasis on climate change, environmental justice, and racial equity outcomes.
How are climate change considerations reflected in selection?
Projects are judged in part on whether they are part of a broader, comprehensive climate strategy or whether they directly support greenhouse gas reduction approaches. Examples mentioned include deploying zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and advancing strategies that reduce vehicle-miles traveled, such as encouraging shifts to other travel modes.
What does USDOT mean by environmental justice in the context of INFRA?
This round places a stronger focus on environmental justice, including whether the project supports greenhouse gas reduction and whether benefits reach communities that have historically borne disproportionate burdens. The notice also ties this concept closely to equity-focused outreach and benefits to underserved communities.
How does racial equity factor into award decisions?
Racial equity is a selection criterion to the extent that applicants show meaningful, equity-focused community outreach and demonstrate that the project is designed to benefit underserved communities.
Do projects in certain federally designated areas receive added interest?
USDOT signals added interest in projects located in federally designated community development areas. Examples listed include Opportunity Zones, Empowerment Zones, Promise Zones, and Choice Neighborhoods. Locating a project in one of these areas can strengthen the case that the investment will support communities facing long-standing disadvantages.
What is the difference between a large project and a small project?
The distinction is based on the minimum INFRA funding request. Large projects must request at least $25 million in INFRA funds, while small projects must request at least $5 million.
Is any funding reserved specifically for small projects?
Yes. Statutory set-asides apply, including a reservation of 10 percent of available funding for small projects.
Is there a requirement related to rural projects?
Yes. USDOT must award at least 25 percent of total INFRA funding to rural projects.
Does INFRA have a maximum award size?
The notice references a very high award ceiling value in the source data, reflecting the program's ability to support major projects. Actual award sizes depend on competition and project scope.
What does USDOT mean by "construction-ready" and why does it matter?
USDOT expresses strong interest in projects that can move quickly into construction. This signals preference for projects that are well-developed, have clear financial commitment from the sponsor, and can deliver near-term benefits.
How important is local or non-federal investment?
USDOT is especially interested in projects where the local sponsor shows significant investment. This is described as a sign that the project is financially committed, well-developed, and ready to proceed.
What kinds of costs can INFRA grant funds cover?
INFRA funds may cover a wide range of eligible project costs, including reconstruction and rehabilitation, property acquisition (including land and related improvements), environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, equipment purchases, and operational improvements tied directly to system performance.
Can INFRA funds be used for environmental mitigation?
Yes. Environmental mitigation is explicitly listed among the eligible cost categories.
Can INFRA funds be used for property acquisition?
Yes. Property acquisition is eligible, including land and related improvements.
Can INFRA funds be used for equipment purchases?
Yes. Equipment purchases are explicitly included as eligible project costs.
Can INFRA funds be used for operational improvements?
Yes. Operational improvements are eligible when they are tied directly to system performance.
Who is eligible to apply for INFRA grants?
Eligible applicants include public-sector and quasi-public entities with transportation responsibilities. Specifically listed eligible applicants are: states (or groups of states); metropolitan planning organizations serving urbanized areas over 200,000 in population; local governments (or groups of local governments); political subdivisions; special purpose districts and public authorities with transportation functions (including port authorities); federal land management agencies applying jointly with a state or group of states; tribal governments or tribal consortia; and multi-state or multi-jurisdictional groups of public entities.
Can metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) apply?
Yes. MPOs are eligible if they serve urbanized areas with populations over 200,000.
Are tribal governments eligible to apply?
Yes. Tribal governments and tribal consortia are listed as eligible applicants.
Can federal land management agencies apply?
Yes, but only when applying jointly with a state or group of states.
Are joint applications allowed?
Yes. Joint applications are allowed, but they must name a lead applicant.
What are the requirements for a joint application?
Each participating entity must independently qualify as an eligible applicant. The application must clearly describe roles and responsibilities, and it must include signatures from each applicant.
What is the "INFRA Extra" pathway mentioned in the notice?
INFRA Extra is an additional pathway described in the NOFO. Strong applicants that do not ultimately receive an INFRA grant may be identified as competitive and then be authorized to pursue a TIFIA loan for up to 49 percent of total project cost.
Does INFRA Extra guarantee funding if a project is not selected for a grant?
No. The notice describes INFRA Extra as an option for strong, competitive applicants that are not awarded a grant. It is a separate financing route (via a TIFIA loan authorization) rather than a guaranteed grant award.
How much of a project's cost could be financed through the INFRA Extra TIFIA loan route?
The notice states that competitive projects identified through INFRA Extra may be authorized to pursue a TIFIA loan for up to 49 percent of the total project cost.
What overall themes does this INFRA round reward?
This round is structured to reward projects that are construction-ready, locally supported, and economically meaningful, and that align with federal priorities around decarbonization, environmental justice, and equitable community benefit.
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