Dive Brief:
Diving knowledge:
The IIJA, signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021, did $711.8 billion available to states, cities and territories to support transport, clean energy, broadband and other infrastructure projects.
The IIJA expires September 2026. In January, President Donald Trump tried to halt the disbursement of IIJA funds meant to help cities improve air quality, safe water systems and resilience to natural disasters and cyberattacks, but a US district judge ordered the administration to unfreeze these funds in April
Carolyn Berndt, NLC’s legislative director and interim director, sustainability and infrastructure, said “there’s still a lot of opportunity” for cities to apply for IIJA funds that have yet to be allocated.
“We are encouraging local governments to maximize this moment and apply to their state agencies for this funding,” he said.
NLC has been helping communities access IIJA funding through the Local Infrastructure Hub, a program that helps small and medium-sized cities develop competitive infrastructure grant applications, Berndt said.
Berndt said NLC is also encouraging local leaders to talk to their congressional representatives about their infrastructure and resiliency needs as Congress begins debating IIJA replacement legislation.
Cities can’t rely on federal funding alone, especially when it comes to resilience and climate projects, Berndt said. But “many local governments and local leaders are committed to doing this work, and they will find new partnerships and opportunities to do it,” he said.
“The Municipal Infrastructure Report shows how cities, towns and villages of all sizes are innovating in the face of rising costs and complex permitting processes to deliver the infrastructure residents depend on for a thriving community,” NLC Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Clarence Anthony said in a statement.
