September 28, 2023
For almost three years now, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has offered funding to rebuild our infrastructure, put it on a sustainable path, and do so while driving the creation of good-paying union jobs in America. It was followed by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its funding for the clean energy economy to create even more jobs and combat climate change.
Those funds are starting to bear fruit in Appalachia and beyond. But, while our communities, nonprofits, and businesses are eager to take advantage, they also can feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of federal funds being offered. We at ReImagine Appalachia sometimes do! That is why we are introducing you to four funding trackers that will hopefully help you find funding opportunities that will fit your needs.
Infrastructure (+ IRA) Funding Tracker: Broad Overview, Short Summaries, Regular Updates
What is it? With a free subscription to the Infrastructure Funding Tracker newsletter, users receive a simple, skim-able email each time the federal government opens a new funding opportunity from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act. You’ll get an update usually within 24 – 72 hours after the funding opportunity was announced.
How is it organized? Their emails contain a short description of the funding opportunity; it lists the funding amount, eligible applicants, key dates (such as application deadlines), as well as additional links (usually to grants.gov and sometimes to government press releases).
Who’s behind it? The Infrastructure Funding Tracker was developed by Florian Schalliol, a former state and city economic development manager and is now run by the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University.
Is it for you? If you want to be up to date on federal funding opportunities via email, get a broad but short overview regarding the funds the government puts out there, and you don’t mind updates several times a week, then this tracker is for you.
Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Coal & Power Plant Communities & Economic Revitalization: Sophisticated search engine and comprehensive bi-monthly email update
What is it? IWG’s Funding Clearinghouse is a search engine relevant for energy communities looking for funding opportunities connected to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Currently, the Clearinghouse contains over 450 funding opportunities.
How is it organized? The IWG Funding site offers its users not just one, but four search engines each with various filters. First, you can pick if you want to search for competitive funding, formula funding, or tax credits. If this is too narrow, select Funding Clearinghouse for a comprehensive search tool. Like the Infrastructure Hub’s search engine, the IWG’s Clearinghouse offers several filters; one nice filter is Status, letting you search for funding opportunities that are currently open, planned or closed. You can also search based on your own keyword. Once you’ve selected a funding opportunity, you’ll see a one page summary of the fund with all relevant information and links.
Who’s behind it? The Energy Communities IWG is a government organization that is co-chaired by the Director of the National Economic Council (NEC), the National Climate Advisor, and the Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation.
Is it for you? The IWG Funding Clearinghouse is for energy communities. It is a large database with advanced search options that help you find funding that fits your project. You can sign up for their bi-monthly newsletter that keeps you current on new funding opportunities, application deadlines, and other useful resources.
Grant Search by the Local Infrastructure Hub: Search engine with filter options and keyword search capabilities
What is it? With its Grant Search tool, the Local Infrastructure Hub helps users navigate over 400 funding opportunities available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The Grant Search was developed with communities as users in mind.
How is it organized? The Hub’s Grant Search can be used two ways: When selecting the New and Updated link, the Grant Search functions like a tracker, listing recently published funding opportunities on top. The Grant Search link lets users search the tool based on topics. You can enter keywords (e.g. brownfield, solar, farm bill) and narrow the search by U.S. Agency, Category (e.g. Agriculture, Energy, Housing), and Eligible Applicant, if desired. Once you click on a specific funding opportunity, you’ll get more detailed information such as program summary, eligible applicants, funding amount, match requirements, application deadlines, and more.
Who’s behind it? The Local Infrastructure Hub is financed by several philanthropic organizations with Bloomberg Philanthropies seeming to be the biggest contributor. The Hub is hosted by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University.
Is it for you? If you want to fine tune your search to get targeted results on funding opportunities, then this search engine is a good fit. Be aware that the Grant Search only includes funds connected to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and that it doesn’t alert you regarding updates.
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Tracker: Agency updates on federal funding opportunities
What is it? The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Tracker offers users an IRA Database with information about the law’s climate change-related provisions, as well as an IRA Action Tracker that lists changes regarding the IRA taken by federal agencies. While the IRA Database is a fixed document that includes 119 programs, the IRA Tracker changes based on new agency rules, guidance and funding opportunities. The action tracker is updated once a week.
How is it organized? The IRA Tracker uses filters along with a keyword search. When you click on the agency action you want to know more about, the tracker will take you to an action summary along with useful links. It also links back to the IRA Database when applicable with more in-depth information regarding the program.
Who’s behind it? The IRA Tracker is a joint project of Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the environmental organization Environment Defense Fund.
Is it for you? If you are looking for a database and search engine that provides comprehensive information regarding the IRA climate change-related provisions, then this tracker is for you. On the flipside, you won’t get update emails and the tracker only covers the Inflation Reduction Act.