Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program

The intent of this Program is to advance transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities by supporting development-phase activities for projects reasonably expected to be eligible for certain DOT credit and grant programs. Grants fund financial, technical, and legal assistance to states and rural and tribal communities. The grants are intended to augment organizational capacity in communities that may not have resources available to evaluate and develop projects that qualify for federal funding and financing programs.

Applicants for the Program must be one of the following:
i. a unit of local government or political subdivision that is located outside of an urban area with a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Bureau of the Census;
ii. a State seeking to advance a project in an area located outside of an urban area with a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Bureau of the Census;
iii. a federally recognized Indian Tribe; or
iv. the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Complete and eligible applications will be reviewed by an Application Review Team consisting of approximately three Department of Transportation staff. The Application Review Team will evaluate the Merit Criteria of each application in the order in which they were received. Applications that meet Merit Criteria standards will be recommended for funding to the Undersecretary of Transportation.