Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program (20.943)
Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program (Assistance Listing 20.943) is run by the Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation, part of the Department of Transportation. It awarded $3.4 million in 13 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $261,538 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $311,000. Half of the 13 awards fell between $263,000 and $320,000, and they ranged from $40,000 to $320,000.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$3.4 million
- Grant awards13
- Typical award$311,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$0
- Size rank1,691 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceGrant
Key findings
- It is the 1691st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 13 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 8 states and territories.
What the program funds
The intent of this Program is to advance transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities by supporting development-phase activities for projects reasonably expected to be eligible for certain DOT credit and grant programs. Grants fund financial, technical, and legal assistance to states and rural and tribal communities. The grants are intended to augment organizational capacity in communities that may not have resources available to evaluate and develop projects that qualify for federal funding and financing programs.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Applicants for the Program must be one of the following: i. a unit of local government or political subdivision that is located outside of an urban area with a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Bureau of the Census; ii. a State seeking to advance a project in an area located outside of an urban area with a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Bureau of the Census; iii. a federally recognized Indian Tribe; or iv. the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
What the money can and cannot pay for
The Department will provide reimbursable grants to enable recipients to employ or acquire the services of financial, technical, and legal advisors to provide development-phase assistance. The intent of this Program is to advance transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities by supporting development-phase activities for projects reasonably expected to be eligible for certain DOT credit and grant programs. However, there is no requirement for grantees to apply for other funding programs in the future.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Awards will be made up to the statutory limit of $320,000 (FY22) and $360,000 (FY23). Up to 16 awards are expected.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2023: Examples of funded grant agreements are: City of Independence, OR: Design and Engineering of Chestnut Street Bridge Replacement City of Elkhorn, WI: Design of Centralia Street Reconstruction and Bicycle Lane Addition Roosevelt City, UT: Design, permitting & estimating of 500 W RoadwayFiscal Year2025: https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/sites/buildamerica.dot.gov/files/2025-08/RTA%20R1%20Recipients%20List.pdf
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program (20.943) awarded $3.4 million across 13 grant awards, an average of $261,538 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence, City of | Oregon | 1 | $320,000 |
| Fond Du Lac Reservation | Minnesota | 1 | $320,000 |
| City of Elkhorn | Wisconsin | 1 | $320,000 |
| Contra Costa, County of | California | 1 | $320,000 |
| Nulato Tribal Council | Alaska | 1 | $320,000 |
| Tolowa Dee-Ni Nation | California | 1 | $315,000 |
| County of Douglas | Oregon | 1 | $311,000 |
| Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi | Michigan | 1 | $300,324 |
| Roosevelt City Corp | Utah | 1 | $266,000 |
| City of Blair | Nebraska | 1 | $263,000 |
| Bois Forte Reservation Tribal Council | Minnesota | 1 | $175,000 |
| Igiugig Village | Alaska | 1 | $129,676 |
| Karuk Tribe of California | California | 1 | $40,000 |
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 53% of the money, nonprofits 24% and tribes 23%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 6 | $1.8 million | 53% |
| Nonprofits | 3 | $815,000 | 24% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 4 | $785,000 | 23% |
By state
No state received $1 million or 10 awards from this program, so it has no state pages.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 3 | $675,000 |
| Oregon | 2 | $631,000 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $495,000 |
| Alaska | 2 | $449,676 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $320,000 |
| Michigan | 1 | $300,324 |
| Utah | 1 | $266,000 |
| Nebraska | 1 | $263,000 |