Each month, our Office of Economic and Community Development compiles a list of grants and funding opportunities to support our Georgia Energy Cities. We aim to help our communities secure essential resources, advance existing industries, and attract new businesses. This month, the funding featured is the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program and the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Railroad Administration

Railroad Crossing Elimination Program
Type: Grant
Deadline: 9/23/2024

The RCE Program provides a federal funding opportunity to fund highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods. Such projects will improve American rail infrastructure to enhance rail safety, improve the health and safety of communities, eliminate highway-rail and pathway-rail grade crossings that are frequently blocked by trains, and reduce the impacts that freight movement and railroad operations may have on underserved communities.

https://railroads.dot.gov/grants-loans/railroad-crossing-elimination-grant-program

U.S. Department of Transportation – Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program
Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program
Type: Loan or Grant
Deadline: 9/30/2024

The RCP Program focuses on improving access to daily needs such as jobs, education, healthcare, food, nature, and recreation, and foster equitable development and restoration, and provide technical assistance to further these goals. Funding for this fiscal year is a combined allocation of FY 2024, 2025, and 2026. Up to $607 million is available for planning, capital construction, and technical assistance. The funding will be implemented as appropriate and consistent with the priorities in Executive Order 14052. The Department will prioritize grant funding applications that demonstrate the following characteristics: 

• Equity and Justice40 (i.e., will benefit economically disadvantaged communities)  
• Access
• Facility Suitability 
• Community Engagement, and Community-based Stewardship, Management, and Partnerships  
• Equitable Development 
• Climate Change Mitigation and/or Adaptation and Resilience 
• Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity 
• Planning Integration 

https://www.transportation.gov/reconnecting

*Feature Image courtesy of Department of Transportation RCP program