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FEDERAL
Exploring Infrastructure Win Cities celebrate funds for transportation, broadband and water by Clarence E. Anthony National League of Cities
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fter years of advocacy, the National League of Cities (NLC) is proud to share the details of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) signed into law by President Joe Biden. This $1.2 trillion bipartisan bill was the result of years of lobbying and activism by NLC with the Florida League of Cities and other state municipal leagues. It means transformative investments in transportation, broadband and water are heading to Florida and cities, towns and villages across our nation. (See details on following pages.) We are ushering in a historic investment in America’s infrastructure. The infrastructure deal includes several new programs like the Safe Streets and Roads for All program that cities can directly access. It also renews and funds many existing infrastructure programs, such as the water state revolving loan that will be just as valuable. As cities rebuild and recover, these funds will be used to increase equality, create safer transportation, build resilient structures and strengthen our economy.
44 QUALITY CITIES | FIRST QUARTER 2022
As we celebrate this huge legislative win, NLC also wants to make sure cities are beginning to plan and prepare to make the most of these opportunities from the bipartisan infrastructure law in 2022. Here are just a few ways to start getting your city ready to rebuild: 1. Identify your local priorities and how they match up to federal grants using NLC’s new Infrastructure Bill Insights Tool for members. This tool provides a searchable list of programs for local leaders in cities included in the IIJA. The NLC will continue to add to this live resource with application links and deadlines as they become available. (Access the tool at bit.ly/3IRlmKq.) 2. Plan to attend NLC’s federal training sessions on new and renewed infrastructure programs that cities can access. The NLC will have federal officials and cities that were successful in these programs sharing their insights so you can familiarize your city with the programs and get
advice. For news about upcoming information sessions, email advocacy@ nlc.org to receive our federal advocacy newsletter.
3. Save the date for the 2022 Congressional City Conference, March 14-16, in Washington, D.C., where
we’ll sit down with key administration leaders who will be administering the programs. We’ll talk about what’s coming and start to advance your city priorities with the administration and Congress. (For more information, go to nlc.org/ conferences-meetings.)
We know all of Florida’s municipalities are ready to rebuild, and NLC is excited to deliver for you to make the most of this historic opportunity in 2022. Cities can do more than survive; we can thrive. Clarence E. Anthony is the CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities. You can follow him on Twitter: @ceanthony50. QC
