Stephen Stukas’ Post

Today, the CPUC approved $157 million in the eighth round of grants for last mile broadband projects as part of the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account grant program, which expands broadband internet access for underserved and unserved communities across California. This includes $61 million for five last-mile infrastructure grant projects in Amador and Solano Counties, benefiting approximately 10,000 Californians and $96 million for three last-mile infrastructure grant projects in Los Angeles County, benefiting approximately 1.2 million Californians.  The CPUC also approved a contingent $50 million grant from the Broadband Loan Loss Reserve Fund for Golden State Connect Authority to help expand access to reliable, affordable, high-speed broadband for rural Californians. Currently, the total amount in grants recommended and awarded is $829 million for projects in 35 counties.

The CPUC today approved $237 million in third and fourth round grants for last mile broadband projects as part of the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program. Currently, the total amount in grants recommended and awarded is $434 million for projects in 22 counties. Many awardees are creating new networks, connecting the next generation to education, improving access to healthcare, and empowering rural communities for economic development and emergency connectivity. Combined, these proposed projects will serve predominantly disadvantaged and low-income communities across the state. Today’s awardees include $95 million for 10 Last Mile Federal Funding Account broadband infrastructure grant projects in Alpine, Modoc, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Tulare counties. This includes grants to two tribes—the Fort Bidwell Indian Community in Modoc County and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in Santa Barbara County. Awardees also include $142 million for 11 Last Mile Federal Funding Account broadband infrastructure grant projects in Mono, Nevada, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, and San Mateo counties. This includes a grant to the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

As critically important as infrastructure is, I will continue to make the case that it is not the best option for the Rams money. St. Louis has an infrastructure deficit in the multiple billions of $. It desperately needs much more resources if it hopes to avoid bankruptcy. For this reason, I advocate that the Rams fund must be leveraged with private investment to grow tax revenue. One way to do this is a collateral support fund. Property owners in N. City cannot get a mortgage to rehab their property due to the appraisal gap. The fund could be used to fill that gap and unlock bank financing for thousands of properties, which can generate more tax revenue for infrastructure over the next 25 years than multiple Rams Funds. In my article published in the STL Business Journal, I have demonstrated the math as to how the city could transform the $250 million fund into $3.3 billion in investment. Quite frankly, the city cannot afford to miss out on that opportunity. https://lnkd.in/gdaaKwP2 If anyone wants to read the article and cannot due to the pay wall, DM me and I can send you a copy. Michael Browning Shane Cohn Shameem Clark Hubbard Pam Boyd Tom Oldenburg Bret Narayan Daniela Velázquez Alisha Sonnier Cara Spencer Rasheen Aldridge Jr Cristina Garmendia L. Jared Boyd Christine Stroer Ingrassia Neal Richardson, MBA

TOP CHOICE FOR RAMS FUNDS — In a survey of 600 St. Louis City voters who are likely to vote in the City’s April 2025 general election, participants ranked investing in infrastructure in underinvested neighborhoods in North and Southeast City and in Downtown as their top choice for how the City should use funds from the Rams settlement, according to a newly released poll commissioned by Greater St. Louis, Inc. Here are the key takeaways: ▪Support for proposal is strong in every region of the City ▪55% of likely City voters say proposal is “a very good idea” for use of Rams funds ▪Proposal would invest $130 million in infrastructure, catalytic projects, retail activation, and improving housing stock in North and Southeast City neighborhoods, $100 million in Downtown infrastructure ▪Proposal to invest Rams funds in North and Southeast City neighborhoods, Downtown is “decidedly more popular than using the money for other options,” says national polling firm FULL STORY — bit.ly/4dJ5aJG

Have to say this is about 1000x more important than the High Line.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy recently awarded more than $267 million in state grants to Michigan cities, villages, and townships for water infrastructure repairs and improvements. The MI Clean Water Plan aims to support Michigan communities through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). SRFs are a great way for states to provide funds for infrastructure projects. They provide low-interest loans to improve water and sanitation infrastructure, and because they are loans. Ultimately investing in the SRF program, and growing the pool of funds available for water infrastructure loans, ensures we provide our communities with the resources they’ll need for decades to come. Renewal of these SRFs beyond 2026 is imperative to make sure projects like this get funded. Tap https://lnkd.in/gqkZFzMt to read how they plan on allocating these funds. Eddie Morrison Theresa Jaime David Shaw Nathaniel Peirce Rory Budds JB Butler Troy Dressler Anne Forrest Tim Hallmark Doug K. Rich Schaefer Marty Mazzella Greg Davis Emma Wiegers Perry Kevin King Claire Morley Greg Velz Jason Fraser

NEW Grant Opportunity posted July 3, 2024 for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot grant program. The United Stated States Department of Transportation (USDOT) is requesting applications for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) discretionary grant program through the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The RCP Program aims to advance and support reconnection of communities divided by transportation infrastructure – with a priority on helping disadvantaged communities improve access to daily needs (jobs, schools, healthcare, grocery stores, and recreation). Funds for the fiscal years (FY) 2024, 2025, and 2026 RCP grant program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning and capital construction activities that aim to restore community connectivity through the removal, retrofit, mitigation or replacement of highways, roadways, or other infrastructure facilities that create barriers to mobility, access or economic development. The Biden Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifies that the maximum Community Planning Grant award funded with RCP funds is $2 million and that the minimum Capital Construction Grant award funded with RCP funds is $5 million. Applications will be submitted through Valid Eval, but the signup links are not yet available. We expect this to be a brief delay. Please check the "How to Apply page" regularly at the Reconnecting Communities Website and sign up for email updates. Reach out to PROTEC. We can help. #grants #infrastructure #internet #broadband https://lnkd.in/e8XGyAzr

Texas Downtowners, get ready now for a Fall 2024 call for the RAISE transportation infrastructure grant for your downtown district! RAISE Grant is a key opportunity for downtown communities looking to improve infrastructure in and around the commercial corridor to create a more vibrant, livable, and economically thriving district. The RAISE program, which stands for Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, funds surface transportation projects with local and regional impact by enhancing safety, mobility, sustainability, and economic growth. The next round of RAISE grants is anticipated to open for applications this fall, so now is the time to prepare. There are two types of projects awarded through the RAISE Grant Program: capital grants and planning grants. Capital grants range in size from $1 million (in rural areas) and $5 million (in urban areas) to a maximum size of $25 million. Capital grants can fund highways, bridges, public transportation, intermodal projects, culvert replacement, and a variety of other transportation priorities. Planning grants have no minimum award amount and can fund the needed elements of a potential project: planning, preparation, design, community engagement, benefit cost analysis, and other pre-construction activities. For more information, https://lnkd.in/etkKu-fb #grant #funding #USDOT #TexasDowntown #TXD #resources

City and County of San Francisco proposing $360 million property tax increase for infrastructure projects. How do cities estimate with accuracy the true cost of capital projects? They cannot since they use manual methods and unfortunately almost always disappoint voters when the list of identified projects remains incomplete. Fortunately technology exists for not only the cost of capital projects but also the maintenance and staffing.

Looking for More Federal Civic Infrastructure Funding? We've Got Ideas. Check out this new article from the Percent for Place coalition, of which Rural Assembly is a member, synthesizing nearly 20 federal programs that can be used to invest in civic infrastructure. #Percent4Place #civicinfrastructure #publicspace #federal #funding