Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Marks First Anniversary

Put a candle on the cake! This week marks the one-year anniversary of the massive $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Pub. L. 117-58), which aims to provide federal funds to rebuild roads, bridges, ports and airports; upgrade public transit and rail systems; replace lead pipes to provide clean water; reduce pollution; and provide affordable, high-speed Internet nationwide, among other infrastructure-related projects.

According to a fact sheet issued by the White House, the federal government has provided more than $185 billion in funding and to some 6,900 specific projects that affect around 4,000 communities across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Among these include the launch of 2,800 bridge repair and replacement projects nationwide, funding for more than 5,000 new clean transit and school buses; and the approval of state plans for water funding, EV charging networks and high-speed internet deployment.

Some specific projects of interest that are receiving IIJA funding include:

• The Federal Railroad Administration’s Northeast Corridor Inventory, which outlines major backlog projects that will get IIJA funding, including the East River Tunnel in New York, the Connecticut River Bridge, and the Susquehanna River Bridge and Frederick Douglas Tunnel in Maryland.
• All 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico now have access to federal fiscal year (FY) 2022 and FY 2023 National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program funding now that their Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plans have been approved. The program will provide $1.5 billion to help build electric vehicle chargers covering about 75,000 miles of highway across the country, with strong labor, safety and workforce standards.
• The Environmental Protection Agency will provide more than $9 billion in funding in FY 2022 and 2023 for states, tribes and territories to upgrade aging water infrastructure, sewerage systems, pipes and service lines, and more through their state revolving fund programs, to target resources to disadvantaged communities, make progress on providing lead-free water for all, and tackle dangerous chemicals.
• The Federal Communications Commission launched the Affordable Connectivity Program, which lowers the cost of high-speed Internet service by up to $30 per month for eligible households (up to $75 per month for households on tribal lands) and provides up to $100 towards the purchase of a desktop, laptop or tablet computer.

In addition, the states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories have appointed an infrastructure coordinated to ensure clearer communication and coordination between all levels of government. We will continue to watch for developments under IIJA programs and how they affect nonfederal entities and their grant programs.

Join us for our following Thompson Grants events:
Federal Grants Forum | Dec. 7-9, 2022 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Nonprofit Legal, Finance, and Grants Conference | April 6-7, 2023 | Washington, D.C.