Opportunity Information: Apply for DOT NAE FY23 01
The Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program is a U.S. Department of Transportation discretionary grant opportunity that, for FY 2023, is being offered through a combined Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that merges two related programs: the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) program. Under this single NOFO, the combined effort is referred to as the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program. While the NOFO is shared, the NAE side of the funding is specifically geared toward helping communities that are economically disadvantaged or otherwise underserved, with an emphasis on repairing the long-term impacts of transportation infrastructure that has physically divided neighborhoods or limited access to jobs, services, and opportunity.
The central purpose of NAE is to fund planning and construction work that restores connectivity and improves equitable access. The program targets places where highways, major roadways, or other transportation facilities have become barriers to mobility and local economic development. Projects are expected to focus on strategies such as removing an obstructive facility, retrofitting or reconfiguring it to reduce harms, mitigating its impacts, or replacing it with infrastructure that better supports safe movement and neighborhood cohesion. In practical terms, NAE is meant to support community-centered transportation investments that reconnect people to essential destinations and to each other, particularly where past infrastructure decisions created isolation, disinvestment, or persistent safety and access issues.
FY 2023 NAE funding is awarded competitively and supports multiple activity types. The opportunity includes Community Planning Grants for early-stage planning and project development work, Capital Construction Grants for implementation and build-out, and Regional Partnership activities that encourage coordination across jurisdictions or agencies when connectivity problems and solutions span more than one community. The overall focus across these categories is on advancing projects that directly address barriers created by existing transportation infrastructure and that can demonstrate meaningful improvements to access, mobility, and equitable outcomes.
Eligible applicants are broadly defined to include state, county, and city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and certain nonprofit entities (including nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education). The listing also notes “Others” may be eligible, with further clarification referenced in the program’s additional eligibility information. The program is administered by the Department of Transportation, Office of the Under Secretary for Policy (Agency code 69A345). The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number associated with this opportunity is 20.205.
From a funding standpoint, the notice lists an award ceiling of up to $450,000,000 and anticipates making around 100 awards, indicating an intent to support a sizable number of projects nationwide across planning and construction stages. The opportunity was posted on July 5, 2023, and the application deadline is firm: applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, September 28, 2023, and late submissions will not be accepted.
One of the most important procedural details is the required submission platform. Applications are not submitted through Grants.gov. Instead, applicants must apply through Valid Eval using the designated application portals depending on the grant type. Community Planning Grant applications must be submitted at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/rcnplanning/signup, and Capital Construction Grant applications must be submitted at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/rcncaptialconstruction/signup. This submission requirement is emphasized in the notice, so applicants need to plan around account setup and upload time within Valid Eval to avoid missing the deadline.Apply for DOT NAE FY23 01
- The Department of Transportation, 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.205.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 05, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 28, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $450,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program (FY 2023) - FAQs
1) What is the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program?
The Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) discretionary grant program that funds planning and construction activities aimed at restoring connectivity and improving equitable access in communities that have been harmed or divided by transportation infrastructure.
2) How does NAE relate to the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and the RCN Program?
For FY 2023, NAE is offered through a combined Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that merges two related programs: the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program. Under this single NOFO, the combined effort is referred to as the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program. The NOFO is shared, but the NAE portion is specifically focused on economically disadvantaged or otherwise underserved communities.
3) What is the main purpose of NAE funding?
The central purpose of NAE is to fund planning and construction work that restores connectivity and improves equitable access, particularly in places where highways, major roadways, or other transportation facilities act as barriers to mobility, access to jobs and services, neighborhood cohesion, and local economic development.
4) What types of community problems is NAE designed to address?
NAE targets locations where existing transportation infrastructure has physically divided neighborhoods or limited access to opportunity. The program emphasizes repairing long-term impacts tied to isolation, disinvestment, persistent safety concerns, and reduced access caused by past infrastructure decisions.
5) What kinds of projects or strategies does NAE support?
Projects are expected to focus on strategies such as removing an obstructive facility, retrofitting or reconfiguring it to reduce harms, mitigating its impacts, or replacing it with infrastructure that better supports safe movement and neighborhood cohesion.
6) What activity types are funded under FY 2023 NAE?
FY 2023 NAE funding supports multiple activity types, including:
- Community Planning Grants for early-stage planning and project development work
- Capital Construction Grants for implementation and build-out
- Regional Partnership activities to encourage coordination across jurisdictions or agencies when connectivity challenges and solutions span more than one community
7) Is this funding competitive?
Yes. FY 2023 NAE funding is awarded competitively.
8) What outcomes are projects expected to demonstrate?
The program focuses on advancing projects that directly address barriers created by existing transportation infrastructure and that can demonstrate meaningful improvements to access, mobility, and equitable outcomes.
9) Who can apply for NAE funding?
Eligible applicants are broadly defined to include state, county, and city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and certain nonprofit entities (including nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education). The listing also notes that "Others" may be eligible, with additional clarification referenced in the program's eligibility information.
10) Can nonprofits apply even if they are not a 501(c)(3)?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes certain nonprofit entities, including nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
11) Which USDOT office administers this opportunity?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Under Secretary for Policy (Agency code 69A345).
12) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number associated with this opportunity is 20.205.
13) What is the maximum award amount listed in the notice?
The notice lists an award ceiling of up to $450,000,000.
14) How many awards does USDOT expect to make?
The notice anticipates making around 100 awards.
15) When was this grant opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 5, 2023.
16) What is the application deadline?
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, September 28, 2023.
17) Are late applications accepted?
No. The notice states that late submissions will not be accepted.
18) Is the application submitted through Grants.gov?
No. Applications are not submitted through Grants.gov. Applicants must apply through Valid Eval using the designated application portals.
19) Where do applicants submit Community Planning Grant applications?
Community Planning Grant applications must be submitted through Valid Eval at:
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/rcnplanning/signup
20) Where do applicants submit Capital Construction Grant applications?
Capital Construction Grant applications must be submitted through Valid Eval at:
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/rcncaptialconstruction/signup
21) Why is the submission platform detail important?
The notice emphasizes that applications must be submitted via Valid Eval (not Grants.gov). Applicants are encouraged to plan for account setup and file uploads within Valid Eval to avoid missing the firm deadline.
22) What is the overall emphasis of NAE within the combined NOFO?
Within the shared NOFO, NAE is specifically geared toward helping communities that are economically disadvantaged or otherwise underserved, with an emphasis on repairing the long-term impacts of transportation infrastructure that has physically divided neighborhoods or limited access to jobs, services, and opportunity.
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