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:
- Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (FY 2024 allocations)
- Aging Infrastructure Account (revision of FY 2023 funding for Montana)
- Pilot Program for Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (awards, FYs 2023-2024)
- Affordable Connectivity Program
COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Continues Approving BEAD Proposals Most recently, initial proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program were approved for Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Oregon, and Puerto Rico.
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 Highlights Technical Assistance Opportunities for Local and Tribal Governments Under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program Offerings include:
- Blueprints and Blueprint Cohorts: for project idea and implementation inspiration
- Community Energy Fellows: for on-the-ground project support
- Tailored strategy design and application assistance from experts (link for local governments)
HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Updates Events Webpage Offerings include overviews and trainings on grant programs; Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirements; emergency planning; and more.
INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation Announces $142 Million Investment in Six Water Recycling and Reuse Projects and Four Desalination Construction Projects A list of projects is available here.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Makes $4.25 Million Available for Surveys and Mapping in Alaska Through Earth Mapping Resources Initiative According to the press release, the funding opportunity is available on grants.gov under funding opportunity number G24AS00355; applications are due December 31. FFIS is unable to locate the funding opportunity.
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.
TREASURY
Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Release Final Rules on Prevailing Wage and Registered Apprenticeship (PWA) Requirements in IRA In general, if taxpayers pay prevailing wages to laborers and mechanics and hire registered apprentices for projects supported by most of the IRA’s clean energy tax incentives, then taxpayers can claim an increased credit equal to five times the base incentive. The guidance is available here.
CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT (CHIPS)
Download FFIS’s CHIPS Act Spreadsheet Updated weekly, the spreadsheet provides information on CHIPS-related NOFOs and awards that may be of interest to states. Each week’s changes are highlighted in yellow. There are no updates this week.
Natcast Announces Webinar to Introduce First Research and Development Funding Opportunity: Artificial Intelligence-Driven Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design Enablement The webinar will take place June 21, 2:00 p.m. ET. Register by June 20, 12:00 p.m. ET. A Proposers’ Day meeting will follow on July 11; proposals will be due August 16.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Posts Webinar on National Semiconductor Technology Center The slides were also made available.
CORONAVIRUS
Download COVID-19 State Allocations Spreadsheet Updated allocations are provided for:
- Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
- Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Benefits
EDUCATION
Department of Education (ED) Updates COVID Materials Updates include:
- Memo on American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and ARP Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) obligation deadlines and liquidation extensions
HEALTH
HHS Releases Brief on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Flexibilities During COVID-19 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) highlights experiences of state agencies, providers, and consumers with the Appendix K policy flexibilities adopted during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
TREASURY
Treasury Posts State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) 2024 Compliance Supplement
Treasury Releases State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Quarterly Report Through March 31, 2024 The report presents cumulative data—including a state-specific summary—based on quarterly reports submitted by participating jurisdictions.
OTHER NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
House Energy and Commerce Committee Advances Bipartisan Public Health, Medicaid Bills The committee approved 13 bills, including:
- Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act (H.R. 8089) – requires states to check with the Social Security Administration Death Master File before automatically reenrolling Medicaid providers
- Medicaid Program Improvement Act (H.R. 8111) – requires a process to regularly obtain address information for individuals enrolled in Medicaid
- To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to further require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program (H.R. 8112) – requires states to check databases to determine whether the secretary of HHS has terminated provider participation
- Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (H.R. 4758) – allows states to streamline the process for out-of-state pediatric care providers to enroll in another state’s Medicaid program
AGRICULTURE
COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Requests Partnership Proposals for Ocean and Coastal Mapping A 70% federal share is available for states and other eligible entities. Proposals are due October 11.
EDUCATION
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Releases Performance Accountability Guidance for WIOA Core Programs The guidance reflects changes made in the “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Effectiveness in Serving Employers Performance Indicator” final rule. The final rule requires states to report the indicator as a shared indicator across the six core programs.
ENERGY
DOE Announces 45 New Participants in Peer-Learning Cohorts Through Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Program Participating entities will exchange strategies and best practices within each cohort, which focus on agrivoltaics implementation, residential energy efficiency, and municipal fleet electrification.
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Awards $9.75 Million to States and Tribes for Water Quality Monitoring at Beaches
EPA to Host Webinar on Fraud Awareness and Prevention It will be held June 20, 1:00 p.m. ET (register at the link above).
HEALTH
CMS Provides States with Additional Tools for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Monitoring and Oversight of Managed Care The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) bulletin provides updates on efforts to expand web-based portal use for managed care reporting, contract, and rate submissions. It also provides reminders on Medicaid managed care and separate CHIP mental health and substance use disorder parity requirements, additional state reporting requirements, CMS’ process for review and approval of managed care contracts, and state responsibilities for managed care program oversight including those related to parity.
CMS Provides Guidance on Enhanced Federal Medicaid Matching Rates for State Information Technology Expenditures The guidance provides examples of state Medicaid information technology expenditures to improve access to and coordination of treatment and support services for Medicaid beneficiaries with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders that may qualify for enhanced federal matching rates.
CMS Issues Funding Opportunity for States to Expand Access to Women’s Reproductive and Maternal Health The Expanding Access to Women’s Health Grant will provide funding for a 24-month period to support activities that enhance and expand access to reproductive and maternal health information, coverage, and services. A letter of intent is due July 8, and the deadline to submit applications is August 7.
CMS Announces Funding Opportunity for Innovation in Behavioral Health Model CMS will accept up to eight state Medicaid agencies to participate in the model, which is focused on improving the behavioral and physical health outcomes and quality of care for people with Medicaid and Medicare who experience moderate to severe behavioral health conditions. A webinar on the NOFO will be held July 11 (register here).
CMS Releases National Health Expenditure Projections The report provides estimates of health spending and health insurance enrollment. For Medicaid, it projects a 5.2% average rate of growth for 2023-2032.
CMS Posts Addendum to 2024-2025 Medicaid Managed Care Rate Development Guide The guide incorporates provisions of the Medicaid and CHIP managed care final rule that takes effect July 9.
CMS Preparing to End Program that Addressed Medicare Funding Issues Resulting from Change Healthcare Cyberattack The program, which provided payments to ease cash flow disruptions, will conclude on July 12.
CDC Releases State Tobacco-Related Disparities Dashboard The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dashboard provides data on cigarette smoking prevalence and related disparities in states by various demographic factors, as well as by prevalence of mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses.
HRSA Awards $11 Million to Expand Medical Residencies in Rural Communities The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded funding to 15 organizations to establish new residency programs. Awardees by state are included in the press release.
New National Institutes of Health (NIH) Study Finds Intervention Did Not Affect Opioid-Related Overdose Death Rates The researchers identified the COVID-19 pandemic and increased prevalence of fentanyl in the illicit drug market as factors that likely weakened the impact of the intervention—which included increasing naloxone distribution and enhancing access to medication for opioid use disorder—on reducing opioid-related overdose deaths.
HUMAN SERVICES
ACF Provides Technical Assistance on Submitting Child Care Development Fund Report The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) bulletin describes how to upload the ACF-801 in the Child Care Automated Reporting System and how to use the Summary Data Assessment Report, which assists states in identifying potential data or submission errors.
ACF Outlines Changes to Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Non-Citizen Eligibility The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 allows citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau residing in the United States to be eligible for certain federal benefits, including SSBG.
ACF Provides Guidance on Applying for FY 2025 SSBG Funding The guidance provides details on the Intended Use Plan and Pre-Expenditure Report, which must be submitted by September 1.
ACL Announces Older Americans Act (OAA) Webinar on Aging Plans and Funding Formulas The Administration for Community Living (ACL) webinar will focus on updated requirements for state and area plans on aging and expectations for intrastate funding formulas. It will take place June 27, 2:00 p.m. ET (register here).
HOUSING
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Awards $10 Million in Housing Counseling Grants The funding will support activities to prepare and equip prospective homebuyers to successfully navigate the homebuying process. A list of recipients and amounts is provided in the press release.
HUD Releases Guidance on Addressing Extreme Heat New options allow public housing agencies (PHAs) to increase utility allowances for residents or forgo surcharges for the use of cooling, so that residents can use air conditioning during periods of severe or extreme heat. The guidance is here.
HUD Posts Materials from Community Project Funding (CPF) FY 2024 Grantees Welcome Webinar Additional materials on CPF topics can be found here.
HUD Publishes Funding Awards The announcement covers the FY 2022 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program, the FY 2021 Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, and FY 2021 Continuum of Care grants.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Posts Report and Order Adopting Cybersecurity Pilot Program for Schools and Libraries The filing window for applications will be determined by the Wireline Competition Bureau.
FCC Announces Meeting of Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) IX The meeting will take place June 28, 1:00 p.m. ET, in person and via conference call. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed live at http://www.fcc.gov/live. Registration is not required.
FCC Announces Carryover Funding Sufficient to Fully Cover Rural Healthcare Program Demand for FY 2024 The program funds telecommunications and broadband services for eligible health care providers.
LABOR
Department of Labor (DOL) Updates WIOA Core Program Performance Accountability Guidance
NUTRITION
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Launches New Program Participation Dashboard The new tool presents data by state and territory on people and households participating and meals served for 10 nutrition programs.
FNS Posts Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Benefit Issuance and Participation Reporting Questions and Answers
FNS Seeks Comment on Information Collection for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Comments close July 17.
FNS Posts Memo on Revised Summer Food Service Report Forms The revised forms will collect data related to the new non-congregate meal service option.
TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Increases Motor Carrier Registration Fees for 2025 Registration Year The fees will be increased by an average of 25%. The final rule is effective June 17.
FMCSA Updates Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) State Procedures Manual (SPM) The manual provides instructions on the processes and procedures for using the CDLIS. The rule is effective July 15.