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:
- Rural e-Connectivity (ReConnect) Broadband Pilot, Round 4 (Florida)
- Rural e-Connectivity (ReConnect) Broadband Pilot Technical Assistance (new)
- Rural Broadband Program (Distance Learning, Telemedicine, And Broadband Program) (new)
- Affordable Connectivity Program Household Support
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 Makes $200 Million Available for Public-Private Partnerships to Connect Microgrids to Infrastructure in Alaska, Hawaii, and Territories The funds are available through the Transmission Facilitation Program. Projects must demonstrate the ability for DOE to recover any program investment. Applicant eligibility is not addressed in the Request for Proposals. Applications are due May 31.
DOE Announces Availability of $90 Million to Improve Building Efficiency, Increase Resilience, and Lower Consumer Costs This is the second funding opportunity under the program, which supports implementation of resilient and efficient energy codes. Concept papers are due April 5 and full applications are due June 6.
DOE Selects 17 Projects to Receive up to $366 Million Through the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas Program A list of projects selected for award negotiation is here.
DOE Issues Request for Information (RFI) to Inform Implementation of Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs Program The IIJA appropriated $3.5 billion for projects to support the development of up to four regional DAC hubs. The RFI seeks public input on the role of mid-scale commercial direct air capture demonstration facilities in the DAC industry’s commercialization plans. Responses are due April 25.
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Announces Third and Final Round of IIJA Superfund Investments More than $1 billion in IIJA funds will be used for cleanup projects at more than 100 Superfund sites. EPA only provided a list of 25 sites that will receive funding for new cleanup projects; according to the press release, more than 85 ongoing cleanup projects will also be supported.
EPA Updates Clean School Bus Rebates Program Q&As New information is indicated by a date of 2/29/2024.
EPA Announces Availability of $1.25 Million Under the 2024 Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Opportunity to Advance Resilience (SOAR) Fund Applications are due June 7.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Releases Survey Data on Use of Affordable Connectivity Program The commission also confirmed that April will be the last fully funded month for the program barring new funding.
TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Publishes FY 2024 Apportionments for Period Ending March 1 Funding totals $9.9 billion for the period covered by the first three FY 2024 continuing resolutions (CRs). The figures also include certain appropriations from the IIJA. Some areas will see changes to funding amounts due to new urbanized area boundaries and population changes resulting from the 2020 Census.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Posts Funding Opportunities Totaling Approximately $180 Million
- FY 2024 Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI; ~$84.4 million available)
- FY 2023 Commercial Motor Vehicle High Priority Enforcement Training and Support (HP- ETS; $5 million available)
- FY 2024 High Priority Program – Innovative Technology Deployment (HP-ITD; ~$40 million available)
- FY 2024 Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST; ~$3.5 million available)
- FY 2024 High Priority Program – Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV; ~$46.5 million available)
Applications for each program are due April 19.
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) Publishes Best Practices for Payment Systems at Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Posts Calendar Year 2024 Discretionary Grant Schedule
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Proposes to Adopt Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET) The CSET—developed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)—may be used voluntarily by transportation authorities to assist in identifying, detecting, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from cyber incidents. Comments are due April 19.
FTA Posts FY 2024 List of Certifications and Assurances for Grants and Cooperative Agreements An applicant for financial assistance typically must execute current Certifications and Assurances in any year in which it applies for an award or an amendment to an existing award.
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.
ENVIRONMENT
EPA Opens Two Competitions Totaling $3 Billion Under New Clean Ports Program
- Zero-Emission Technology Deployment ($2.8 billion): This program will directly fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions at ports.
- Climate and Air Quality Planning ($150 million): This program will fund climate and air quality planning activities at ports, including emissions inventories, strategy analysis, community engagement, and resiliency measure identification.
Both opportunities are open to port authorities; state, regional, local, or tribal agencies that have jurisdiction over a port authority or port; air pollution control agencies; and certain private entities in partnership with an eligible entity above. Applications are due May 28. EPA will host a webinar on the opportunities March 13, 2:00 p.m. ET (register). Additional information is here.
INTERIOR
National Park Service (NPS) Announces Investment of $195 Million for Restoration and Resilience Projects in National Parks A list of projects is here.
HEALTH
HHS Examines Impacts of IRA Medicare Provisions on Rural Enrollees The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) examined the impact of the $35 insulin cap, elimination of copays for covered vaccines, changes in benefit design, and drug price negotiation.
HHS Receives Counteroffers from Drug Companies HHS announced that all manufacturers participating in the first cycle of Medicare drug price negotiations have responded with counteroffers. HHS sent initial offers on February 1. Negotiations will continue over the next several months. If HHS and a participating manufacturer agree on a maximum price by the end of the negotiation period, those new negotiated prices will be published by September 1, 2024, and take effect beginning in 2026.
CMS Issues Final Part One Guidance for the New Medicare Prescription Payment Plan The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance focuses on the operational requirements for Medicare Part D plan sponsors as they prepare for the new program.
TREASURY
Treasury Releases Analysis of IRA Benefits The analysis argues that the IRA’s benefits exceed projections while its economic costs are lower than fiscal costs.
Treasury Releases Final Regulations for Elective Payment of Tax Credits They address the election under the IRA to treat certain tax credits as a payment of federal income tax and affect state and local governments, among others. They will become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Proposed Rule Addresses Election to Exclude Certain Unincorporated Organizations from Rules on Partnerships The proposed regulations would allow certain unincorporated organizations that are organized exclusively to produce electricity from certain property to be excluded from partnership tax rules. It affects state and local governments, among others. Comments must be received within 60 days of publication in the Federal Register. A public hearing is scheduled for May 20, 10:00 a.m. ET.
CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT (CHIPS)
Natcast Requests Input on Semiconductor Prototyping Needs Natcast, the operator for the CHIPS for America National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), seeks input from companies, academic faculty, students, and university applied research centers, among others. The deadline for submissions is March 29.
National Institute of Standards (NIST) Publishes First NOFO for CHIPS Research and Development (R&D) National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) Regarding Materials & Substrates CHIPS R&D anticipates making available approximately $300 million. Concept papers are due April 12. Invited full applications will be due July 3. NIST is holding a hybrid Proposer’s Day meeting on March 12 in Rockville, Maryland. Advance registration is required. Questions may also be submitted via email to [email protected], with the subject line: 2024–NIST–CHIPS–NAPMP–01.
CORONAVIRUS
Download COVID-19 State Allocations Spreadsheet No new allocations are provided this week.
EDUCATION
Department of Education (ED) Updates COVID Materials Updates include:
- Status of state maintenance of effort waiver requests
- Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund Year 4 reporting webinar and slides
- Education Stabilization Fund Program for the Outlying Areas-State Educational Agencies (ESF-SEA) reporting resources and expectations letter and recipient data collection form (available here, under ESF-SEA tab).
HEALTH
TREASURY
Treasury Approves Pennsylvania’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF) Plan A summary of the project is here.
Treasury Awards State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Funds to North Carolina Ten venture capital firms will receive $32 million.
Reporting Deadline Approaches for Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund The 2023 Obligation and Expenditure Reports are due March 31 and cover January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
Treasury Updates State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) FAQs The updated question (#2.14) addresses whether funds may be used for investments in affordable housing. Short answer: yes.
OTHER NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
House Passes Short-Term Extension of Airport and Airways Trust Fund Currently, the fund’s authority expires March 8, after which it would no longer collect revenues to fund many of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) operations and programs. The House bill would extend the fund’s authority through May 10. The Senate is expected to act before the March 8 deadline.
BUDGET UPDATE
Appropriators Release Six-Bill Budget Package The package encompasses the following appropriations bills: Agriculture, Transportation-Housing and Urban Development, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs. It would also temporarily extend several expiring health programs, including community health center funding and provisions related to the SUPPORT Act, a broad law to address the opioid crisis. The House and Senate are considering the legislation this week. FFIS’s Jim Martin Table summarizes funding for key grant programs in the bill.
GENERAL
Census Bureau Releases Final Errata Tables for 2020 Census Count Question Resolution (CQR) Program The CQR program allowed jurisdictions to ask the Census Bureau to review their boundaries or housing counts to identify errors in their 2020 Census counts. The new counts will be incorporated into future annual population estimates. North Carolina and South Carolina had changes at the state level, while 30 states had changes at the tract and block levels.
Nine Federal Agencies Finalize Rule to Restore Religious Liberty Protections for Beneficiaries of Federally Funded Social Services The final rule makes several changes, including clarifying that all covered social service programs (both vouchers and grants) may not discriminate against beneficiaries on the basis of their religion and encouraging government agencies to help beneficiaries identify alternative providers in their area, including those more compatible with their beliefs.
AGRICULTURE
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Publishes Intent to Establish Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Authorized by the Growing Climate Solutions Act (passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) the program will provide technical assistance via qualified entities to farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners to support their participation in voluntary environmental credit markets.
USDA Extends Application Deadline for Rural E-Connectivity (ReConnect) Program Round 5 NOFO Applications will now be accepted between March 22 and May 21.
EDUCATION
ED Issues Proposed Priority and Requirements for a National Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate IDEA Part B Data Comments close May 20.
ENERGY
DOE Hosting Webinars on $18 Million Communities Sparking Investments in Transformative Energy (C-SITE) Funding Opportunity The new program will support municipal or tribal-led, high-impact clean energy projects in disadvantaged communities. The webinars will be held on the following dates:
- March 7, 2:00 p.m. ET
- March 21, 3:00 p.m. ET
Links to join the webinars are available at the link in heading. The funding opportunity is here; applications are due May 31.
DOE Awards $45 Million for 16 Projects to Enhance Cybersecurity in Energy Sector A list of projects is here.
ENVIRONMENT
EPA Establishes Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to Strengthen Engagement with Agricultural and Rural Communities
EPA Announces Finalized Amendments to Risk Management Program (RMP) The RMP requires facilities that use extremely hazardous substances to develop a Risk Management Plan. The final rule—the text of which is not yet available—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 Issues Notice of Data Availability of Emission Allowance Allocations for New Units Under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) Trading Programs The notice covers the 2023 control periods. Objections to the information are due April 1. The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case to temporarily block EPA’s “good neighbor” program, under which these emission allowances are enforced. EPA’s ability to enforce these allowances may be affected by the court’s decision.
HEALTH
CMS Revises State Operations Manual – Community Mental Health Centers The revisions to Chapter 2 and Appendix F are a result of the Hospital Outpatient Perspective Payment System final rule released in November 2023.
CMS Releases Latest Enrollment Figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) The figures are through November 2023. Medicaid and CHIP highlights are available here.
CDC Updates, Simplifies Respiratory Virus Recommendations for Community Settings
HUMAN SERVICES
ACF Publishes Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Final Rule to Improve Affordability, Access, and Quality The final rule would make several changes to CCDF, including:
- Capping co-payments to no more than 7% of income and allowing states to waive copayments for certain families at or below 150% of the federal poverty level
- Encouraging states to adopt presumptive eligibility for child care subsidies and allowing all families to enroll for CCDF benefits online
- Encouraging more providers to participate in CCDF, ensuring payments are timely, and encouraging higher payment rates.
A fact sheet is available here. ACF will be holding a webinar on March 7, 12:00 p.m. ET (more details here).
ACF Posts Instructions, Allocations for State Court Improvement Program ACF provided guidance on the eligibility requirements and grant application procedures, as well as final FY 2023 allotments.
ACF Posts FY 2020 and FY 2021 CCDF Data Tables ACF posted FY 2020 final data and FY 2021 preliminary data. The tables include state data on children and families served, as well as information on providers.
ACF Publishes Final Rule to Modify Child Support Performance Standards During Natural Disasters The final rule provides the secretary of HHS with ongoing authority to provide targeted and time-limited relief to states from certain child support program performance penalties when natural disasters and other calamities affect program operations.
ACF Posts Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Updated Second Quarter Allocations The release covers allocations through March 8 and includes state allocations.
ACF Announces Webinar on New Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Performance Management Website The purpose of the webinar is to introduce the new website. It is today at 1:00 p.m. ET (register at the link above).
ACL Launches Multi-Pronged Effort to Strengthen Direct Care Workforce The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced several new initiatives and resources to address the shortage of direct care workers who provide services that many older adults and people with disabilities need to live in the community. These include two technical assistance opportunities to help states strengthen their systems for recruiting, retaining, and developing direct care workers; a national hub to connect states, stakeholders, and communities to best practices and resources; and a webinar series for states focused on direct care workforce topics.
ACL Seeks Comment on Performance Data for State Grants for Assistive Technology Program Comments must be submitted by March 29.
HOUSING
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Treasury Extend Initiative to Finance Construction and Rehabilitation of Affordable Rental Homes for Low-Income Families The Section 542(c) Housing Finance Agency Risk-Sharing Initiative provides capital for state and local housing finance agencies (HFAs) that supports the creation and preservation of rental homes. The initiative was set to cease accepting applications in September 2024, but will now accept them on an ongoing basis.
HUD Hosts Stability Vouchers Webinar Series The webinar series is intended for public housing authority (PHA) staff and will review topics related to Stability Vouchers (SVs) and best practices for implementation. The next webinar is March 20, 1:00 p.m. ET (register here).
HUD Final Rule Addresses Rent Adjustments in the Mark-to-Market Program The rule revises program regulations to clarify that annual adjustment of restructured rents will be based on an operating cost adjustment factor determined by HUD and clarifies when HUD may approve rent adjustments on a budget basis. It becomes effective March 29.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Awards Funds to State and Jurisdictional Councils to Expand National History Day Programs
Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Announces Information Collection for 2024 Election Administration and Voting Survey Comments close April 3.
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Adopts Categorical Exclusions (CEs) Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Developed by the Denali Commission The CEs are available to NBRC as of February 29.
INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Apportions $1.3 Billion to States Through FY 2024 Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Fund State apportionments are available here and here.
NPS Awards $1 Million in American Battlefield Protection Program Grants to Four Sites in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
FWS Awards $3.85 Million for Great Lakes Basin Research and Restoration Projects
LABOR
Department of Labor (DOL) Announces Unemployment Insurance (UI) Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments (RESEA) Program Outcome Payments for FY 2023 The payments—totaling more than $37 million—will go to 43 states for meeting certain criteria.
DOL Posts Memo Regarding Need to Protect Identifying Information in Notices of Award to Prevent Fraud
DOL Posts Updated Guidance for Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
NUTRITION
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Announces Winners of Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards The awards went to four school districts in Alaska, Iowa, Maine, and Ohio.
FNS Seeks Comment on Information Collection for Scratch Cooking Assessment & Learning Evaluation (SCALE) and Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS) Data Request for School Food Authorities Comments close April 3.
FNS Posts Video of Webinar on Community Eligibility Provision for Child Nutrition Programs
FNS Makes Available Video, Guidance Based on Inspector General’s Audit Regarding Unused Reimbursement, Site Proximity in Summer Food Service Program
FNS Publishes Corrected Table of 2024-2025 Child Nutrition Income Eligibility Guidelines The table published on February 20 had misplaced columns.
TREASURY
Treasury Issues Final Rule to Amend Regulations Governing State and Local Government Series (SLGS) Securities The final rule prevents uses of the SLGS program, most notably the use of program flexibilities by tax-advantaged entities (usually a state or local government) investing in SLGS securities to create impermissible cost-free options. This rule is effective August 26.