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 or updated allocations are provided for:
- Collaborative Aquatic Landscape Restoration (new)
AGRICULTURE
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Announces Funding for Legacy Roads and Aquatic Landscape Restoration Projects More than 100 projects on or including national forest land in 24 states and the District of Columbia will be funded through the Legacy Roads and Trails Program and the Collaborative Aquatic Landscape Restoration Program.
ENERGY
Department of Energy (DOE) Updates State and Local Solution Center Webinar Schedule Topics include EV charging infrastructure, weatherization, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and more.
DOE Clarifies Prevailing Wage Requirements Under IIJA Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Funding
DOE Announces Availability of $425 Million Through Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program DOE will award funds to small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms to increase manufacturing and recycling capacity for materials, components, and systems needed for the clean energy transition. DOE will host a webinar March 14, 3:00 p.m. ET. Additional information, including registration for the webinar, is here. Concept papers are due April 8, and full applications are due June 24.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Hold Webinar on Affordable Connectivity Program Wind-Down The webinar will take place March 13, 1:00 p.m. ET, streamed live here and recorded and archived for public viewing here. No registration is required.
INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation Releases FY 2025 IIJA Spend Plan
TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Proposes to Discontinue Buy America General Waiver for Manufactured Products, Issues Request for Information (RFI) The waiver has been in place for more than 40 years. The proposed rule also includes standards that would apply to manufactured products if the waiver is discontinued. FHWA issued an RFI on the domestic availability of specific manufactured products commonly used in FHWA-funded projects, which will help guide implementation should the waiver be rescinded. Comments on both the proposed rule and RFI are due May 13.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Announces First-Time Funding of $58 Million for New Innovative Finance and Asset Concessions Grant Program The program seeks to facilitate and evaluate public-private partnerships in which the private sector partner could assume a greater role in project planning, development, financing, construction, maintenance, and operation, including by assisting eligible entities in entering into asset concessions. Applications are due May 10.
FHWA Issues RFI on Updates to Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Standards Comments are due April 5.
New Report Provides Best Practices for Payment Systems and Public EV Charging Stations
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Hosting Webinar on Zero-Emission Bus Resources It will be held March 14, 12:30 p.m. ET (register at the link above)
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. New or updated allocations are provided for:
- Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE; new)
AGRICULTURE
USDA Announces Selection of Five Applicants to Move Forward with Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Projects The projects, totaling $139 million, will expand solar energy facilities and energy storage systems in Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, and Nebraska (two projects).
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Provides Update on Climate Action Plan Submissions Under Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) EPA has received Priority Climate Action Plans—which are required from Planning Grant recipients—from 45 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and dozens of metropolitan areas. The plans, which were due March 1 for states and metropolitan areas, are available here.
INTERIOR
Department of the Interior (DOI) Awards $72 Million to Tribes for Home Electrification Projects
CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT (CHIPS)
TREASURY
CORONAVIRUS
Download COVID-19 State Allocations Spreadsheet Updated allocations are provided for:
- Medicaid (temporary FMAP increase)
- FEMA Public Assistance
HEALTH
Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) Report Examines Effects of COVID-19 on Medicaid Beneficiaries’ Health and Health Care Utilization
Free Federal COVID-19 Test Program Ends The program ended March 8.
HUMAN SERVICES
ACF Releases American Rescue Plan (ARP) Highlights The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) updated documents that spotlight the innovative ways Low Income Home Energy Program (LIHEAP) and Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) grant recipients leveraged ARP funds to meet the needs of their communities.
HOUSING
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Announces Office Hours for COVID-19 Planning and Response for Homeless Assistance Providers The next session will be March 15, 2:30 p.m. ET.
TREASURY
Treasury Updates ERA FAQs, Sends Notice to Grantees The FAQs and notice clarify that ARP Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funds may be used to cover expenses for the acquisition of real property and predevelopment activities to enable construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable rental housing projects serving very low-income families.
Treasury Releases New Data on How ARP’s State and Local Aid Fueled National Economic Recovery
Treasury Schedules Pre-Application Webinar for SSBCI The webinar will provide an overview of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP) and will highlight additional resources for small businesses within the Investing in America agenda. It will be held March 26, 4:00 p.m. ET. Registration is available here.
OTHER NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
President Signs Short-Term Extension of Airport and Airways Trust Fund The president’s signature prevents a lapse of the fund’s authority, which was set to expire March 8. The fund collects revenues to support many of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) operations and programs. The bill extends the fund’s authority through May 10.
House Clears Slate of 10 Bills Under Jurisdiction of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Notably, the House passed legislation (H.R. 1752) that removes barriers for communities using Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants to develop high-speed broadband access. It also passed a bill (H.R. 6249) to improve federal disaster assistance programs for Americans with disabilities.
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Seeks Feedback on Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization The committee is requesting feedback on policies that should be considered during the reauthorization of the OAA, including the effectiveness of pandemic-era flexibilities. The OAA was last authorized in 2020 and will expire at the end of FY 2024. Comments are due March 21.
BUDGET UPDATE
President Signs Six-Bill Budget Package The package encompasses six appropriations bills: Agriculture, Transportation-Housing-Urban Development, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs. It also extends several expiring health and human services programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), community health centers, and Medicaid provisions related to the SUPPORT Act, a broad law to address the opioid crisis. FFIS’s Jim Martin Table summarizes funding for key grant programs in the bill. A second and final FY 2024 package is expected in the coming days.
President Releases FY 2025 Budget Highlights of the budget include raising taxes on the wealthy and large corporations, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, child care, and housing, and reducing the deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years. All budget documents are available here. The president’s proposed funding for selected state grant programs is shown in FFIS’s Jim Martin Table.
Treasury Outlines Tax Proposals in President’s FY 2025 Budget
AGRICULTURE
USDA Announces $2.2 Billion in Electric Infrastructure Loans for 39 Projects in 21 States The loans will be provided under the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program—funded by regular appropriations—helping utility providers and electric cooperatives build and improve electric infrastructure, smart-grid technologies, and renewable energy systems.
EDUCATION
Department of Education (ED) Issues Final Priorities, Requirements, and Definitions for National Professional Development Program (NPD) The NPD program provides grants to institutions of higher education or public or private entities, in consortia with state educational agencies (SEAs) or local educational agencies (LEAs), to implement pre-service and in-service professional development activities intended to improve instruction for English Learners (ELs) and assist education personnel working with ELs to meet high professional standards. The effective date is April 11.
ENERGY
DOE Launches Prize to Recycle Critical Materials from Electronic Scrap DOE will award up to $4 million to competitors, which may include state and local governments. During Phase 1, competitors will propose solutions to substantially increase the amount of recovered critical materials from electronic waste and used in domestic manufacturing; applications are due September 4. DOE will host two webinars on the program:
DOE Announces New Prize Competition to Strengthen Solar Manufacturing Workforce Teams of domestic solar manufacturers and training organizations (e.g., community colleges or unions) will propose plans to upskill current employees or attract and train new employees including through pre-certification programs, specialized equipment training, or recruitment efforts. Winning teams will receive up to $500,000 each in support of their proposals. Applications are due May 21. DOE will host a webinar March 20, 1:00 p.m. ET (register). Additional information is here.
ENVIRONMENT
EPA Publishes Final Rule Amending Risk Management Program (RMP) The RMP requires facilities that use extremely hazardous substances to develop a Risk Management Plan. The final rule—effective May 10—includes revisions to improve chemical process safety, assist in planning, preparing for, and responding to accidents, and increase public awareness of chemical hazards at regulated sources.
EPA Adds Five and Proposes to Add Three Sites to Superfund National Priorities List (NPL)
HEALTH
CMS Provides Strategies to Improve Delivery of Tobacco Cessation Services The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) bulletin highlights strategies that states have used to improve the delivery of tobacco cessation services to help Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) beneficiaries quit smoking. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also unveiled a new framework to support and accelerate smoking cessation.
CMS Releases Information on the Coverage of New Treatments for Sickle Cell Disease CMS released information on Medicaid and CHIP coverage of new treatments for sickle cell disease on a new website highlighting opportunities to improve care.
HHS Issues Letter to Health Care Leaders on Change Healthcare Cyberattack The letter calls on insurance companies and other payers to take specific actions. In addition, HHS announced steps it is taking to assist states and health care providers to continue to serve patients and avoid disruptions.
SAMHSA Releases Report on Using Braided Funding for Substance Use Disorder Services The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report examines state and federal laws and policies that encourage braided funding, best practices, and pathways to sustainability for programs.
HHS Report Examines Generic Drug Utilization and Spending Among Medicare Part D Enrollees in 2022
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Releases FY 2024 Chartbook for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) The chartbook provides aggregated results of the HCBS Survey database, which asks Medicaid beneficiaries about their recent experiences with long-term services and supports (LTSS) furnished through state HCBS programs.
HUMAN SERVICES
ACF Releases Guidance to Grantees on Leading in Partnership with Youth and Young Adults with Lived Experience ACF sent guidance to Runaway and Homeless Youth, Personal Responsibility Education Program, and Sexual Risk Avoidance Education grant recipients on ways to partner, including clarifying which programs allow grantees to compensate youth and young adults.
ACF Posts FY 2024 Runaway and Homeless Youth Basic Center Program State Allocation Table
ACF Releases Remainder of Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Second Quarter Allocations The release covers allocations through the second quarter and includes a state table.
ACL Announces Virtual Office Hours Focused on Social Connections as a Public Health Priority The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will hold office hours on March 19, 11:00 a.m. ET. Sample discussion topics include partnering with public health departments around policy, systems, and environmental change and identifying sustainable social connection programs.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Issues Funding Eligibility Guidance for Certain Preparedness Programs The document states that law enforcement agencies at institutions of higher education are eligible for funding under the State Homeland Security Program and Urban Area Security Initiative.
FEMA Hosting Webinar Series on Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Safety Response (SAFER) Funding Opportunities The webinars begin March 18. The funding opportunities are available here (FP&S; $36 million) and here (SAFER; $360 million); applications for both are due April 12.
HOUSING
HUD Announces 2024 CDBG-DR Problem Solving Clinic Attendees will discover solutions to reduce administrative burdens for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Mitigation (CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT) grantees. It will be held May 7-9, both virtually and in-person in St. Louis (register here).
LABOR
President Issues Executive Order on Expanding Use of Registered Apprenticeships in Industries, Federal Government Among other things, the order directs agencies to include requirements, application evaluation factors, or incentives for grantees to employ workers on projects receiving federal funding who are participating in or have completed a registered apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship.
DOL Shares Guidance on Revisions to Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment Workload Report The Department of Labor (DOL) expects states to begin reporting the revised line items as soon as feasible, with full implementation of the revised report no later than February 20, 2025.
NUTRITION
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Publishes Study of Food Safety Risks Associated with School Meal Production Methods In addition to food safety resources included in the study results, FNS posted school meal food safety tips.
FNS Posts Videos from 2022 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training National Forum
FNS Shares Report on Lessons Learned from Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Demonstrations
TRANSPORTATION
FAA Awards $13.5 Million to Schools to Attract and Train Aviation Workforce
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Co-Hosting Webinar on Role of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses in Zero-Emission Operations It will be held March 20, 2:00 p.m. ET (register at the link above).