DOT kicks off new Accelerators program

• Date: 21 January 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/fgc.31500
• Published date: 21 January 2021

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DOT kicks o new

Accelerators program

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

recently launched a new demonstration program

to establish several Regional Infrastructure Accel-

erators (Accelerators), which will expedite delivery

of transportation infrastructure projects through

innovative nance and delivery methods. A total of

$5 million is available for the program, DOT said.

“These Regional Infrastructure Accelerators will

deliver projects more quickly to local communities

through innovative nancing methods,” said U.S.

Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao in a

statement.

Build America Bureau issued the Notice of Fund-

ing Opportunity to solicit applications to designate

Accelerators to serve dened geographic areas, act

as a resource to qualied entities within the des-

ignated areas, and demonstrate their effectiveness

to expedite the delivery of eligible projects through

federal credit assistance programs, including the

Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Inno-

vation Act (TIFIA) and other innovative nancing

methods, DOT said.

According to the release, the Accelerators will

assist project sponsors in:

• project planning;

• evaluating innovative nancing options;

• accessing technical assistance and best prac-

tices; and

• developing a pipeline of projects ready for

investment.

The department said the Build America Bu-

reau—which was established as a “one-stop shop” to

streamline credit opportunities—will administer the

Regional Infrastructure Accelerator program.

For more information on the Regional Infra-

structure Accelerators program see the grant alert

on page 6 and visit https://www.transportation.

gov/buildamerica/nancing/tia/regional-

infrastructure-accelerators-program. ■

Grants alerts

Talent Search Program (ED)

Scope: The Education Department’s Office of

Postsecondary Education seeks applications for the

Talent Search Program announcement to identify

qualied individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds

with the potential for education at the postsecondary

level. The Program encourages these individuals

to complete secondary school and undertake

postsecondary education.

Deadline: Feb. 26, 2021.

Funds: $171 million for up to 473 awards.

Eligibility: Colleges and universities; nonprot

organizations; and state, local, special district, and

Native American tribal governments.

Areas: ED said there are three competitive preference

priorities: Competitive Preference Priority 1—

Fostering Knowledge and Promoting the Development

of Skills that Prepare Students to be Informed,

Thoughtful, and Productive Individuals and Citizens;

Competitive Preference Priority 2—Promoting Science,

Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) Education,

with a particular focus on Computer Science; and

Competitive Preference Priority 3—Applications that

Demonstrate a Rationale.

➜ www.grants.gov; FON# ED-GRANTS-122820-001

Native American and Alaska Native children

in school program (ED)

Scope: The Education Department’s Office of English

Language Acquisition seeks applications for the Native

American and Alaska Native Children in School (NAM)

Program announcement to develop and enhance

capacity to provide effective instruction and support to

Native American and Alaska Native students, including

Native Hawaiian and Native American Pacic Islander

students, who are identied as English learners (ELs).

Deadline: March 3, 2021.

Funds: Eight awards ranging from $275,0000 to

$325,000 with project periods of up to 60 months are

expected.

Vol. 45, No. 4 January 21, 2021

(more)