Page:FACT SHEET Competitive Infrastructure Funding Opportunities for Local Governments.pdf/7

 #Establish relationships with the regional offices for key federal agencies, who can help direct you to resources and provide technical assistance.

The American Rescue Plan also provided over $350 billion in critical resources to every state, county, city, and unit of local government to support their response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, including in making the investments needed to ensure a durable and equitable economic recovery. Cities should look to leverage those resources to help prepare for the transformative investments included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law including training the workers needed to build high quality infrastructure; hiring back the public sector workers needed to help manage potential federal investments; and getting a jump start on water, sewer, and broadband projects that could complement investments from the infrastructure law

We recognize local capacity may be strained due to the pandemic, historic underinvestment, or just the challenges of day-to-day governance. A city’s lack of capacity to apply for federal funds can create significant inequities – and for many communities, this will be their first time applying for funds from a suite of federal agencies. While many funding streams in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically set aside funds for disadvantaged communities, the White House Infrastructure Implementation Team will be engaging states, Tribal governments, territories, federal agencies, philanthropies, and others to leverage all available resources to quickly deliver the necessary technical assistance and capacity to underserved communities.

Agency Contact Information

Environmental Protection Agency: State&Local@epa.gov Department of Transportation: intergov@dot.gov Department of Interior: OIEA@ios.doi.gov Department of Commerce: CommerceIGA@doc.gov Department of Energy: DL-RegionalSpecialists@hq.doe.gov Department of Agriculture: EIA@usda.gov Department of Homeland Security: dhs.iga@hq.dhs.gov