Grants / Department of Transportation / Department of Transportation

RSTGP-23-24-RURAL: Rural Surface Transportation Grant Progam

Closed Closed August 21, 2023 Opportunity RSTGP-23-24-RURAL ☆ Save

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Department of Transportation notices from 2023.

• Award ceiling$675 million
• Total funding$675 million
• Cost sharingRequired
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Eligible applicants for Rural grants are: (1) a State; (2) a regional transportation planning organization; (3) a unit of local government; (4) a tribal government or a consortium of tribal governments; or (5) a multijurisdictional group of entities above. For Rural, States are defined to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program awards averaged $21.1 million; this notice allows up to $675 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (93% over five years) went to state and local governments.
• The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.

What the grant funds

The Department is combining three major discretionary grant programs into one Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MPDG) opportunity to reduce the burden for state and local applicants and increase the pipeline of “shovel-worthy” projects that are now possible because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These investments will create good-paying jobs, grow the economy, reduce emissions, improve safety, make our transportation more sustainable and resilient, and expand transportation options in rural America and other underserved communities. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding will help enable more communities to build vital infrastructure projects that also strengthen supply chains and reduce costs for American families. The Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (RURAL) was created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will support projects to improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, and generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life. Eligible projects for Rural grants include highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that help improve freight, safety, and provide or increase access to an agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the economy of a rural area. This year alone, DOT will award up to $675 million in grants through the rural program—part of the $2 billion included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law over five years. At least 90% of rural funding must be awarded in amounts of $25 million or more. If you are seeking less than $25 million, you are competing for only about $67.5 million nationwide. For more information on last year's rural awards, see: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/rural-2022-fact-sheets

Category: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.