Grant Details

The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE Discretionary Grant program, provides a unique opportunity for the DOT to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives. Previously known as the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants, Congress has dedicated nearly $8.9 billion for twelve rounds of National Infrastructure Investments to fund projects that have a significant local or regional impact. 

Consistent with the environmental sustainability merit criterion, the Department seeks to fund projects under the RAISE Program that considered climate change and environmental justice in the planning stage and were designed with specific elements to address climate change impacts. Projects that incorporate such planning considerations are expected to better address climate change and advance long-term environmental sustainability. Projects should directly support Climate Action Plans or apply environmental justice screening tools in the planning stage. Projects should include components that reduce emissions, promote energy efficiency, increase resiliency, and recycle or redevelop existing infrastructure. The Department seeks to fund projects that, to the extent possible, target at least 40% of resources and benefits towards low-income communities, disadvantaged communities, communities underserved by affordable transportation, or overburdened communities.

Consistent with the quality of life and partnership merit criteria, the Department seeks to use the RAISE program to encourage racial equity in two areas: (1) incorporating planning and adopting policies related to racial equity and reducing barriers to opportunity; and (2) investing in projects that either proactively address racial equity and barriers to opportunity, including automobile dependence as a form of barrier, or redress prior inequities and barriers to opportunity. This objective supports the Department's strategic goal related to infrastructure, with the potential for significantly enhancing environmental stewardship and community partnerships.

For FY22. the Department seeks to fund projects under the RAISE Program that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are designed with specific elements to address climate change impacts. Specifically, the Department is looking to award projects that align with President Biden's gas reduction goals, promote energy efficiency, support fiscally responsible land use and transportation efficient design, increase use of lower-carbon travel modes such as transit and active transportation, incorporate electrification or zero emission vehicle infrastructure, increase climate resilience, support domestic manufacturing, incorporate lower-carbon pavement and construction materials, reduce pollution, and recycle or redevelop brownfield sites.

In FY22, the Department is also encouraging applicants to consider how their projects can create workforce development opportunities. Applicants can be more competitive in the process if they are creating jobs with free and fair choice to join a union and good labor standards, creating jobs that underserved communities can access, or are supporting worker opportunities and training. Applicants are also encouraged to utilize registered apprenticeship and local and economic hire agreements. The RAISE program is one way the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law acts on President Biden's promise to bring good-paying jobs to local communities.