Want to bring federal dollars to your agency but don’t know what’s available? Want to increase your success at applying for federal discretionary grants like BUILD? Then the new Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Toolkit is for you! The Toolkit addresses these challenges by assisting rural stakeholders to better understand how to access the Department’s grants and financing products. Specifically, the Toolkit illustrates key applicant requirements when participating in the Department’s discretionary grants processes. It also catalogues discretionary grant programs by applicant type and eligible project activities. Additionally, the Toolkit provides resources for applicants to maximize the potential for award success.
ROUTES Initiative at the U.S. Department of Transportation is the latest effort to improve rural access to federal grant funds. The Toolkit provides user-friendly information and resources to enhance rural applicants’ familiarity with the Department’s discretionary grant programs and the funding process. Discretionary grant applications can be complex and resource-intensive to complete. Many of the Department’s discretionary grant programs require non-federal funding to cover a portion of project costs, which may present an additional barrier to rural communities with limited funding.
To learn more about the ROUTES Initiative and the Toolkit, visit www.transportation.gov/rural.