Exploring Infrastructure Win

Cities celebrate funds for transportation, broadband and water

by Clarence E. Anthony, National League of Cities

After 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.

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.

KEY PROGRAMS AND FUNDING BY PRIORITY AREA

1. Rebuild transportation connectivity.

▸ $5 billion Safe Streets and Roads for All program supports “vision zero” plans and other improvements to reduce crashes and fatalities, especially by cyclists and pedestrians.

▸ $20 billion historic investment in large bridges in poor condition and bridges in rural and tribal areas.

▸ $5 billion in National Infrastructure Project Assistance grants to complete critical large projects.

▸ Additional $7.5 billion in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants and $8 billion in Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grants to rebuild critical transportation infrastructure.

▸ $500 million for Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grants demonstrating transportation technology integrations.

▸ $2.5 billion in Electric Charging and Fueling Infrastructure competitive grants for designated alternative fuel corridors.

▸ $25 billion for the Airport Improvement grant program and funds for a new Airport Terminal Improvement program.

▸ $1 billion for the new Reconnecting Communities program to remove barriers to community connectivity and rectify harms from past transportation investments.

▸ Transit’s Capital Investment Grant program jumps to $3 billion per year. Also, a $1.75 billion All Stations Accessibility Program and $250 million under the Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program.

▸ $66 billion investment in rail with $12 billion dedicated to partnership grants for intercity rail service, including highspeed rail, and $5 billion for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program (CRISI) for intercity passenger and freight rail.

▸ Advanced Research Projects Agency-Infrastructure (ARPA-I) will advance transportation infrastructure and develop innovative science and technology solutions for long-term challenges.

▸ $3 billion for the Grade Crossing elimination grant program to fix rail and road crossing congestion.

2. Invest in water and climate resilience.

Water:

▸ $11.713 billion each for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) over five years (49% as principal forgiveness/grants, 51% as loans).

▸ $15 billion for lead pipe replacement through the Drinking Water SRF (49% as principal forgiveness/grants, 51% as loans).

▸ $10 billion in grants to address emerging contaminants and PFAS drinking water contamination.

▸ $75 million for the Army Corps WIFIA program for safety projects to maintain, upgrade and repair dams identified in the National Inventory of Dams.

Climate change and resilience:

Provisions for energy efficiency, electric grid resilience, pre-disaster mitigation, drought and Western water resilience, and flood and wildfire mitigation. The bill invests in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, establishes a carbon reduction program to reduce transportation emissions and establishes a formula and competitive grant program to help states improve transportation infrastructure.

▸ $550 million for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

▸ $500 million for the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program.

▸ $250 million for a new Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund.

▸ $225 million for grants to implement updated building energy codes.

▸ $8.3 billion for Bureau of Reclamation western water infrastructure, including funds for aging infrastructure, water storage, water recycling and reuse, waterSMART and drought contingency plans.

▸ $500 million for the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act to provide loans and grants to local communities facing rising water levels, coastal erosion and flooding.

▸ $3.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance program, which helps provide financial and technical assistance to states and communities to reduce the risk of flood damage to homes and businesses through buyouts, elevation and other activities.

▸ $1 billion for the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program, a pre-disaster mitigation program supporting hazard mitigation projects to reduce the risks from disasters and natural hazards.

Environment:

Provides funding for environmental cleanup and municipal recycling programs.

▸ $1.5 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Program to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties.

▸ $3.5 billion for the Hazardous Substance Superfund program to allow EPA to invest in cleanups and move forward on remedial actions for Superfund sites.

▸ $275 million over five years for grants to states to support improvements to local post-consumer materials management, including municipal recycling programs, and assist local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems.

▸ $75 million for grants focused on improving material recycling, recovery, management and reduction. The EPA program will educate households and consumers about residential and community recycling.

3. Funds for broadband access, digital equity and cybersecurity.

Broadband infrastructure:

▸ $42 billion for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program. Provides formula grants to states to award subgrants for broadband planning, mapping, deployment and adoption programs and prioritize unserved areas, underserved areas and anchor institutions. States will coordinate with local governments when drafting plans for approval by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

▸ $1 billion for Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure. Creates a competitive grant program for construction, improvement or acquisition of middle mile broadband infrastructure.

Digital equity and broadband affordability:

▸ $1.3 billion for the Digital Equity Act, establishing two digital equity grants: state formula grants and competitive grants, which local governments and nonprofits could access. These funds are for digital inclusion work such as connecting residents in need of devices, subsidized broadband subscriptions and skills training.

▸ The Affordable Connectivity Program extends and modifies the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC)

Emergency Broadband Program for five years and drops the monthly discount to $30 per household.

▸ Policy changes:

o Consumer Broadband Labels – FCC to promulgate regulations for consumer broadband labels providing standardized information on pricing and performance.

o Broadband Speed Study – Government Accountability Office to provide a report to Congress evaluating the FCC’s process for establishing broadband speed standards.

o Digital Discrimination – FCC to promulgate rules to facilitate equal access to broadband and prohibit broadband deployment discrimination (also known as digital redlining) based on an area’s income, race/ethnicity composition or other factors. Directs FCC to develop model state and local policies to ensure broadband providers don’t engage in digital discrimination.

Cybersecurity:

▸ $120 million for the Cyber Response and Recovery Act to allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to declare a Significant Cyber Incident and provide direct support to impacted entities. Establishes a Cyber Response and Recovery Fund of $20 million per year for six years.

▸ $1 billion for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. Establishes a cybersecurity grant program for states and localities to develop and implement cybersecurity plans and address imminent threats. Funds are routed through states, and allocation plans must be developed with and approved by localities.

▸ $250 million Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program. Directs a study on incentives to encourage public utilities to invest in cybersecurity and participate in Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs), establishes an incentive program and directs the EPA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to identify public water systems vulnerable to cyberattack and develop a plan for technical support.

Source: Diggs IE. What the Senate Infrastructure Bill Means for Local Governments. National League of Cities. bit.ly/3DU7kUI.