U.S. Department of Transportation is releasing funding for its Thriving Communities program.
The first round of funding for the current fiscal year through the Thriving Communities Program has been awarded for projects in 64 communities in 42 states, including 6 Tribal nations and Puerto Rico, according to the webpage.
"We're making sure improvements in America's infrastructure reach everyone," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an April 7 Twitter post. "Our new Thriving Communities program will help under-resourced communities access federal funding to deliver projects that create jobs, improve safety & strengthen economies."
The program's aim is to support under-resourced communities' infrastructure projects that promote mobility, reduce pollution and increase affordable transportation options, the website reported.
The program provides those communities with the technical tools and organizational capacity as DOT selects Capacity Builders and communities through separate but coordinated application and review processes, according to a news release. The program is designed to provide assistance to disadvantaged and under-resourced communities across the U.S. to help them plan for and deliver quality infrastructure projects and community development projects.
The selected communities will be separated into four Communities of Practice based on their technical needs, as identified by DOT, the release reported. These include main streets, complete neighborhoods, complete transit-oriented neighborhoods and networked communities.
“Growing an inclusive and stable economy requires technical assistance that helps communities develop and advance projects that connect people to the resources they need,” Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Christopher Coes said in the release.
The fiscal 2023 Thriving Communities Program opportunity for Capacity Builders and communities is expected to open in this summer, the release said.
"The historic investments we are making in America’s infrastructure must reach the communities that need them the most," Buttigieg said in the news release. "With the new Thriving Communities program, we are helping under-resourced communities better access federal funding for transportation projects that will create jobs, improve safety and strengthen their economies."