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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> Becky Lunde <rebecca.lunde@noaa.gov><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 19, 2021 9:49:32 AM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Fwd: INFRA grant opportunity announced yesterday</font>
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<div>In case you're interested or working with those that may have a project, USDOT recently announced the INFRA grant opportunity for infrastructure projects scaling between $5M and $25M. More details below. From the announcement:<br>
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<div>"For the first time, the USDOT seeks INFRA projects that address climate change and environmental justice."<br>
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<div>and</div>
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<div>"Eligible INFRA project costs may include: reconstruction, rehabilitation, acquisition of property (including land related to the project and improvements to the land), environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, equipment acquisition, and operational
improvements directly related to system performance."<br clear="all">
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<div><i><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"></span></i>Please direct questions to
<a href="mailto:Amanda.Rutherford@dot.gov">Amanda.Rutherford@dot.gov</a>.</div>
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<div>Best,</div>
<div>Becky</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class="x_gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>
From: <strong class="x_gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Rutherford, Amanda (MARAD)</strong>
<span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:amanda.rutherford@dot.gov" target="_blank">amanda.rutherford@dot.gov</a>></span><br>
Date: Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 8:02 AM<br>
Subject: INFRA grant opportunity announced yesterday<br>
To: Rutherford, Amanda (MARAD) <<a href="mailto:amanda.rutherford@dot.gov" target="_blank">amanda.rutherford@dot.gov</a>><br>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">Just Released – an Opportunity to Apply for Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grants<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) today announced it is seeking applicants for the FY 2021 round of the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program to fund transportation projects
of national and regional significance that are in line with the Biden Administration’s principles for national infrastructure projects that result in good-paying jobs, improve safety, apply transformative technology, and explicitly address climate change and
racial equity. The funding available for this year’s grants totals approximately $889 million.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">The Department recognizes the role that infrastructure investment plays in economic development and job creation, and the added urgency of this funding at time when the COVID-19 pandemic has put stress on state and local
budgets. “As we work to recover and emerge from this devastating pandemic stronger than before, now is the time to make lasting investments in our nation’s infrastructure,” said Secretary Buttigieg. “We are committed to not just rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure,
but building back in a way that positions American communities for success in the future—creating good paying jobs, boosting the economy, ensuring equity, and tackling our climate crisis. The INFRA grant program is a tremendous opportunity to help achieve
these goals."<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">For the first time, the USDOT seeks INFRA projects that address climate change and environmental justice. Projects will be evaluated on whether they were planned as part of a comprehensive strategy to address climate change,
or whether they support strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as deploying zero-emission-vehicle infrastructure or encouraging modal shift and a reduction in vehicle-miles-traveled.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">Racial equity will also be considered as a selection criterion, to the extent that project sponsors have completed equity-focused community outreach, and projects are designed to benefit underserved communities. The Department
will also consider whether the project is located in a federally designated community development zone, including qualified Opportunity Zones, Empowerment Zones, Promise Zones, or Choice Neighborhoods.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">USDOT seeks projects that apply innovative technology, delivery, or financing methods with proven outcomes to deliver projects in a cost effective manner. The Department will make awards under the INFRA program to both
large and small projects. For a large project, the INFRA grant must be at least $25 million. For a small project, the grant must be at least $5 million. Under statutory requirements, 10 percent of available funds are reserved for small projects, and the
Department must award at least 25 percent of funding for rural projects. INFRA grants may be used to fund a variety of components of an infrastructure project, however, the Department is specifically focused on projects in which the local sponsor is significantly
invested and is positioned to proceed rapidly to construction. Eligible INFRA project costs may include: reconstruction, rehabilitation, acquisition of property (including land related to the project and improvements to the land), environmental mitigation,
construction contingencies, equipment acquisition, and operational improvements directly related to system performance.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">The INFRA NOFO also announces the creation of the “INFRA Extra” Program, which will identify competitive INFRA applicants who do not receive an INFRA award and authorize them to seek a Transportation Infrastructure Finance
and Innovation Act of 1998 (TIFIA) loan up to 49 percent of their project cost.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">The Department will post and respond to questions related to the expanded INFRA program criteria, and post notices of upcoming webinars for stakeholders through
<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/financing/infra-grants/infrastructure-rebuilding-america">
this site</a> and at <a href="mailto:INFRAgrants@dot.gov" target="_blank">INFRAgrants@dot.gov</a>
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">This NOFO will remain open through Friday, March 19, 2021. For more information and webinars, visit:
<a href="http://www.transportation.gov/INFRA" target="_blank">www.transportation.gov/INFRA</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">Webinars will be provided for interested applicants, so keep an eye out for those being scheduled.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">Please let me know if your agency will be submitting an application.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Amanda Rutherford<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Maritime Administration of USDOT<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Designated Federal Officer MTSNAC<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Gateway Director Mid-Atlantic<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">202-595-4657<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang=""><a href="mailto:Amanda.Rutherford@dot.gov" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US">Amanda.Rutherford@dot.gov</span></a></span><span lang="">
</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><u></u> </p>
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<div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">*****************************************************************<br>
Becky Lunde | West Coast Learning Services Coordinator<br>
</font><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">NOAA Office for Coastal Management</span></div>
<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">1301 Clay St, Suite 160N | Oakland, CA 94612</span><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><br>
</font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">*During COVID-19 the best number to reach me is 808-223-2635</font><br>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Pronouns: she/her/hers <i>(</i></span><i><a href="https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why" target="_blank" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">why is this important?</a><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">)</span></i></div>
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