INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA)
Download FFIS’s IIJA State Allocations Spreadsheet FFIS continues to populate its IIJA spreadsheet with new announcements on program implementation; each week’s changes are highlighted in yellow. A dedicated tab includes recently issued Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs). New allocations are provided for:
- National Electric Vehicle Formula Program (FY 2023 competitive allocations for two separate opportunities)
AGRICULTURE
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Announces Webinar on Rural E-Connectivity (ReConnect) Program Round 5 Notice of Funding Opportunity The webinar will take place January 24, 1:00 p.m. ET. Register at the link above.
ENERGY
Department of Energy (DOE) Announces Availability of $562 Million for Formula Grants Through the FY 2024 Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid (Grid Resilience) Program Draft formula allocations are available here. Application materials are available here (see Amendment 8); applications are due April 17. DOE will host a webinar on February 1, 2:00 p.m. ET (register).
DOE Finalizes Terms for $1.1 Billion in Credit Payments to Diablo Canyon Power Plant (California) Through Civil Nuclear Credit Program The program supports the continued operations of safe and reliable nuclear energy facilities.
ENVIRONMENT
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Publishes Final Rule to Ensure Equal Access to Broadband Service Mandated by the IIJA, the rule takes effect March 22 (with the exception of one provision regarding informal complaints, delayed indefinitely pending review by the Office of Management and Budget).
TRANSPORTATION
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Awards $46.5 Million for 30 Projects Through the Ride and Drive Electric Program The program is funded as a set-aside of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. It works to boost electric vehicle (EV) charging performance, resiliency, and reliability; support equitable access to clean transportation solutions; and grow the clean energy workforce. A list of awards is here.
FHWA Awards Nearly $150 Million Through the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Program This program is also funded as a set-aside of the NEVI program. A list of awards is here.
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Announces Four Upcoming Webinars The webinars, which focus on EV charging infrastructure, will be held January 25, February 13, February 15, and February 27. Details and registration are available at the link above.
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Launches Locomotive Emissions Comparison Tool to Help Potential Grantees Estimate Emission Reductions in Grant Applications The tool is for applicants under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program and the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail program.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Hosting Technical Assistance Office Hours for Potential Applicants Under Upcoming FY 2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Funding Opportunity Applicants can fill out the form at the link above to request technical assistance about planning and demonstration applications.
INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA)
Download IRA State Allocations Spreadsheet The spreadsheet, updated weekly, lists state allocations and estimates, summary information on eligibility and other grant features, and links to additional information; each week’s changes are highlighted in yellow. No new allocations are provided this week.
AGRICULTURE
USDA Announces IRA-Funded Awards Totaling $208 Million
- Urban and Community Forestry
- Rural Energy for America Program
- Fertilizer Production Expansion Program
ENVIRONMENT
EPA Updates Implementation Grants General Competition Funding Opportunity Under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program (CPRG) to Reflect Changes in State and Local Government Eligibility The changes are based on state and local governments that turned down Planning Grant noncompetitive allocations. Five states (Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, South Dakota, and Wyoming) have declined planning funds, making them ineligible under the $4.6 billion Implementation Grants competition. With some exceptions, which are listed in the amended funding opportunity, local governments in those five states are also ineligible to apply. Applications are due April 1.
EPA to Host Webinar on CPRG Implementation Grants Funding Opportunity for Tribes and Territories It will be held January 24, 4:00 p.m. ET (register).
TREASURY
Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Release Guidance on Clean Vehicle Charging Infrastructure The guidance addresses an IRA requirement that qualified property must be in an eligible census tract. Two appendices provide the list of eligible tracts: Appendix A and Appendix B.
CORONAVIRUS
Download COVID-19 State Allocations Spreadsheet New allocations are provided this week for:
- FEMA Public Assistance
- FEMA Funeral Assistance
- Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Cooperative Agreements (New)
- COVID-19-Related Unemployment Insurance Benefits
EDUCATION
Department of Education (ED) Updates COVID Materials Updates include:
- Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) FY 2023 (year 4) reporting resources (all available here)
- Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) FY 2023 (year 4) reporting resources (all available here)
- Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) FY 2023 (year 3) reporting resources (all available here)
- Education Stabilization Fund – State Educational Agencies (ESF-SEA) FY 2023 (year 4) reporting resources (all available here)
- ESF FY 2024 improper payments study communication
HUMAN SERVICES
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Examines Child Care Workers’ Experiences of Economic Hardship During the COVID-19 Pandemic
HHS Releases Initial Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Implementation and Impact Report HHS also released an update to the LIHWAP Data Dashboard, which includes grant recipient program data from the final quarter of FY 2023.
LABOR
Department of Labor (DOL) Posts Instructions for Reconciling CARES Act Funding for First Week of Compensable Regular Unemployment for States with No Waiting Week States are expected to complete the reconciliation and provide supporting documentation to DOL by June 30.
TREASURY
North Carolina Approved for Capital Projects Fund (CPF) A fact sheet is here.
New York Approved for CPF
Treasury Updates State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) FAQs A new question addresses what to do when a state changes or adds venture capital funds subsequent to program approval.
Treasury Posts Slides from SSBCI Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program Pre-Application Webinar
OTHER NEWS
BUDGET UPDATE
President Signs Third Continuing Resolution (CR) The latest CR extends funding deadlines into March. FFIS Issue Brief 24-01 highlights its provisions and shows annualized funding for selected grants under it.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
House Ways and Means Committee Advances Tax Bill H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, would make changes to the Child Tax Credit, business tax incentives, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and disaster relief tax policy. A section-by-section summary is here. The bill awaits action on the House floor and in the Senate Finance Committee.
EDUCATION
ED Releases 2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP), Complementary Resources The NETP provides recommendations for states, districts, and school leaders for addressing disparities in educational technology. The department also announced:
- Guidance to increase understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s (IDEA’s) requirements regarding assistive technology (AT) devices and services
- A collection of federal resources to support students’ digital health, safety, and citizenship
Administration Announces Additional $4.9 Billion in Approved Student Debt Relief
ED Issues Proposed Priorities, Requirements, Definitions, and Selection Criteria for Comprehensive Centers Program The program supports the establishment of centers that provide capacity-building services to state educational agencies (SEAs), regional educational agencies (REAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and schools to improve educational outcomes, close achievement gaps, and improve the quality of instruction. Comments close February 22.
ENERGY
DOE Announces $131 Million for EV Research and Development Projects Awards include $71 million for 27 projects, and $60 million for a single project to address priorities for the next phase of EV commercialization.
ENVIRONMENT
EPA Lowers Lead Screening Levels for Contaminated Residential Soil Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, or “Superfund”) Lead concentrations higher than the recommended screening level indicate the need for further site investigation under CERCLA. The guidance is effective immediately; feedback will be accepted here through March 17.
HEALTH
HHS Announces New Actions to Ensure Access to Emergency Health Care HHS announced a series of actions to educate the public about their rights to emergency medical care and to help hospitals comply with federal requirements under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.
CMS Finalizes Rule to Expand Access to Health Information, Improve Prior Authorization Process The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule sets requirements for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), among other health care organizations and issuers. A fact sheet is available here.
CMS Issues 2024-2025 Medicaid Managed Care Rate Development Guide This is a resource for states to use when setting capitation rates with managed care plans. The guide details what information must be included in states’ actuarial rate certifications for CMS to review and approve for rating periods between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
CMS Announces New Model to Advance Integration in Behavioral Health This new model, Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH), is to test approaches for addressing the behavioral and physical health, as well as health-related social needs, of people with Medicaid and Medicare. CMS will release a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the model this spring. CMS anticipates it will operate for eight years in up to eight states.
FDA Announces Shelf-Life Extension for Naloxone Nasal Spray The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the manufacturer of over-the-counter (OTC) NARCAN 4 mg Naloxone Nasal Spray for opioid overdose reversal is extending the shelf-life from 3 years to 4 years. The shelf-life extension applies only to products produced after this announcement.
MACPAC Releases 2024 Data Book: Beneficiaries Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) data book includes information on the demographic and other personal characteristics, expenditures, and health care utilization of individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid coverage.
HHS Releases Poverty Guidelines for 2024 The guidelines are used to determine financial eligibility for certain programs.
Administration Announces New Actions to Increase Reproductive Healthcare Access HHS also released a series of actions it is taking, including a letter to Medicare plans, health insurance issuers, and states about upholding their obligations under federal law.
Administration Launches New Program to Improve Rural Health Outcomes The Platform Accelerating Rural Access to Distributed & InteGrated Medical Care (PARADIGM) program will focus on early detection and management of diseases in rural communities.
HUMAN SERVICES
ACF Provides Details on Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Performance Data Form The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) provided the form and instructions for completing the FY 2023 report, which is due January 31.
ACF Releases New Guidance to Help Prevent Homelessness for Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care The guidance provides Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) grant program recipients with information about HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program and ways in which grant recipients can partner with child welfare agencies to support young adults who may be receiving RHY services and are also eligible for the FYI program.
ACF Provides Head Start Grantees with Details on Reporting Changes The Program Instruction notifies grant recipients of the submission requirements for two reports (Standard Forms 425 and 428). It notes that the liquidation date for closeout is now no later than 120 calendar days after the project period.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Expands Individual Assistance Benefit Options and Simplifies Program Procedures Changes include but are not limited to the following:
- Making cash payments of $750 available to households for all disasters receiving individual assistance (as opposed to being provided on a case-by-case basis)
- Establishing displacement assistance for survivors who cannot return home after a disaster
- Removing the requirement that survivors apply for a Small Business Administration loan before being considered for certain types of financial assistance
- Streamlining rules to help survivors access funds for uninsured losses
The rule is effective for emergencies and major disasters declared on or after March 22. A fact sheet on changes in the rule is here.
FEMA Issues Notice of FY 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Application Process, Deadlines, and Award Selection Criteria The application period will run from January 29 through March 8.
HOUSING
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Issues Guidance on Submitting Consolidated Plans and Annual Action Plans for FY 2024 The notice instructs Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Housing Trust Fund (HTF), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) formula grantees on the timing of plan submissions.
HUD Issues Notice on CDBG Waivers The notice provides waivers and establishes alternative requirements for certain CDBG-Disaster Recovery and CDBG-National Disaster Resilience grantees that have submitted requests, for grants provided under the public laws specified in the notice.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
FCC Seeks Comment on Broadband Data Collection Challenge Processes Input will inform a report to Congress evaluating the processes and considering the need for alternatives. Comments will be accepted through February 19.
LABOR
DOL Publishes Proposed Revisions to Registered Apprenticeship Regulations Revisions affect worker protections and equity, the quality of registered apprenticeship programs, state governance provisions, and pipelines to registered apprenticeship programs, such as registered career and technical education apprenticeships. Comments will be accepted through March 18.
DOL Proposes Regulation on Automatic Portability of Retirement Savings Accounts The proposal implements a section of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. Comments will be accepted for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
DOL Posts Guidance Clarification for Financial Management and Reporting for Employment and Training Administration Grants, Cooperative Agreements
DOL Announces Second Cohort of Youth Systems Building Academy Communities Each of the 10 new communities will receive training and technical assistance to develop and implement systems that engage and support young people entering the workforce.
NUTRITION
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Posts Video of Webinar on Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule
FNS Publishes Summer Food Service Program 2024 Reimbursement Rates
FNS Posts Guidance Clarifying Reporting Expectations for Certifications Section of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Program and Budget Summary Statement, Part B – Program Activity Statement
FNS Posts Implementation Guidance for Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meal Service Under Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option
FNS Publishes Information on SNAP Application Processing Timeliness The page summarizes effective practices, promising initiatives, and resources shared by states in listening sessions in August 2023.
TRANSPORTATION
FHWA and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to Host Webinar on Integrating Asset Management into Planning and Programming It will be held February 7, 1:00 p.m. ET (register at the link above).
FTA Hosting Two Webinars on Transit Agencies’ Use of Real Property to Support Transit-Oriented Development that Includes Affordable Housing