# Thriving Communities Program Capacity Builders Cooperative Agreements (20.942)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/20-942-thriving-communities-program-capacity-builders-cooperative/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Thriving Communities Program Capacity Builders Cooperative Agreements is run by Department of Transportation. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $44.8 million in 13 grants, about $3.4 million per award.

## Objectives

4 Capacity Builders were selected for FY22 and 9 Capacity Builders (6 Regional and 3 National) were selected for FY23 funding. Each are under a cooperative agreement and are currently providing technical assistance (TA), planning, and capacity building to improve and foster thriving communities through transportation improvements. The selected organizations offer support to communities, enabling them to plan and develop a pipeline of transportation and community revitalization activities that increase mobility, reduce pollution from transportation sources, expand affordable transportation options, facilitate efficient land use, preserve or expand jobs, improve housing conditions, enhance connections to health care, education, and food security, or improve health outcomes.
The selected Capacity Builder organizations support Communities of Practice (or “cohorts”). Each Capacity Builder is assigned to a cohort; and paired with a set of 10-15 communities to provide the support detailed in the NOFO and finalized in their scope of work. The cohort model makes use of peer learning, customized services, and subject matter expertise. The FY22 and FY23 Communities of Practice include:
Main Streets – Focused on Tribal and rural communities and the interconnected transportation, community, and economic development issues they face.?
Complete Neighborhoods – Focused on urban and suburban communities located within Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) planning areas working to better coordinate transportation with land use, housing, and economic development.??
Networked Communities – Focused on those communities located near ports, airports, freight, and rail facilities to address mobility, access, housing, environmental justice, and economic issues.
FY23 added a Regional Cohort to include Alaska DOT, State of Colorado Office of Economic Recovery, Louisiana Division of Administration Planning Office, Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Division, and New York State DOT

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $0 | 0 |
| 2022 | $0 | 0 |
| 2023 | $21.1 million | 4 |
| 2024 | $23.6 million | 9 |
| 2025 | $0 | 0 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Main Street Center Inc | Illinois | $5.9 million |
| Rocky Mountain Institute | Colorado | $5.1 million |
| MZC Foundation, Inc. | Georgia | $5.1 million |
| WSP USA Inc. | New York | $5.0 million |
| Abt Global LLC | Maryland | $5.0 million |
| Conference of Minority Transportation Officials | Virginia | $4.3 million |
| Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated | District of Columbia | $4.3 million |
| Fayette-Raleigh Metropolitan Planning Organization Inc | West Virginia | $2.0 million |
| Executive Office of the State of Colorado | Colorado | $2.0 million |
| Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities | Alaska | $2.0 million |
| Administration, Louisiana Division of | Louisiana | $1.9 million |
| Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission | New Hampshire | $1.2 million |
| Department of Transportation New York | New York | $1.0 million |