Only public institutions, and state and local government entities are eligible to request projects. Projects cannot be designated for private individuals or for-profit entities. The Subcommittee will only accept legally eligible requests under the following accounts: Department of Transportation - Airport Improvement Program (AIP); Department of Transportation – Highway Infrastructure Projects; Department of Transportation – Transit Infrastructure Projects; Department of Transportation – Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI); Department of Transportation - Port Infrastructure Development Program; Department of Housing and Urban Development - Economic Development Initiative (EDI). To be considered, the project must be legally eligible for grants under these accounts and comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations related to the specific grant program. If you have questions about the appropriations CPF application process, please contact our office. Supporting documents and materials should be submitted to GoldenCPF@mail.house.gov. 

Department of Transportation - Airport Improvement Program (AIP)

AIP community project funding requests shall be used for enhancing airport safety, capacity, and security, and mitigating environmental concerns. All projects must be:

• AIP eligible in accordance with sections 47101 to 47175 of title 49, United States Code, and FAA policy and guidance.
• Included in the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS)
• Supported broadly by local stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and elected officials.
• Administered by an airport and/or airport sponsor.

For large and medium primary hub airports, the grant covers 75 percent of eligible costs (or 80 percent for noise program implementation). For small primary, reliever, and general aviation airports, the grant covers a range of 90-95 percent of eligible costs, based on statutory requirements. Specific cost share requirements should be understood by the grantee, and verified by the FAA Regional District Office, along with other requirements to receive FAA funding.

Department of Transportation – Highway Infrastructure Projects

Highway capital projects eligible under title 23 of the United States Code. Eligible projects are described under Section 133(b) of title 23, United States Code. This includes construction for highways, bridges, tunnels, and local access roads.Tribal and territorial capital projects authorized under Chapter 1 or Chapter 2 of title 23, United States Code, are also eligible. All projects must be:

• Capital projects or project-specific planning/design for a capital project.
• Supported by the state or Tribal government that would administer the project. Inclusion on a Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) or Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) would satisfy this requirement.
• Administered by public entities or Tribal entities.
• Meet the cost-share requirements as defined in statute.

The Subcommittee will not fund activities that are administrative in nature even if they are eligible expenses under the statutory citation.

Department of Transportation – Transit Infrastructure Projects

Transit capital projects eligible under Chapter 53 of title 49 of the United States Code. All projects must be:

• Transit capital projects or project-specific planning/design for a transit capital project.
• Supported by the state, local governmental authority, or Tribal government that would administer the project. Inclusion on a Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) or Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) would satisfy this requirement.
• Administered by public entities or Tribal entities.

Public transportation or transit is defined in Section 5302(15) and (22) of title 49, United States Code, as regular, continuing shared-ride surface transportation that is open to the general public or open to a segment of the general public defined by age, disability, or low income, and does not include intercity passenger rail transportation, intercity bus service, charter bus service, school bus service, sightseeing service, courtesy shuttle service for patrons of one or more specific establishments, or intra-terminal or intra-facility shuttle services.

The Subcommittee will not fund activities that are administrative in nature even if they are eligible expenses under the statutory citation. The Subcommittee will continue to treat the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program as programmatic requests and will not fund CIG projects under the Transit Infrastructure Projects program. 

Department of Housing and Urban Development - Economic Development Initiative

Please note: In a change from FY24, the only eligible recipients for Community Project Funding in the Economic Development Initiatives account are the following types of governmental entities and public institutions of higher education:

• States and the District of Columbia;
  
• Territories;
• Counties;
• Cities, towns, parishes, or other local government entities; and
• Public colleges and universities, including community college.  

EDI community project requests may be used for economic and community development activities. Project requests for the FY24 Economic Development Initiative program must be eligible under one or more of the following criteria of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program: 42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), 5305(a)(5); which are as follows—but limited to—land or site acquisition, demolition or rehabilitation; blight removal; and construction and capital improvements of public facilities, except for “buildings used for the general conduct of government.” Programmatic and operational expenses are not eligible.

• 5305(a)(1) – the acquisition of real property (including air rights, water rights, and other interests therein) which is (A) blighted, deteriorated, deteriorating, undeveloped, or inappropriately developed from the standpoint of sound community development and growth; (B) appropriate for rehabilitation or conservation activities; (C) appropriate for the preservation or restoration of historic sites, the beautification of urban land, the conservation of open spaces, natural resources, and scenic areas, the provision of recreational opportunities, or the guidance of urban development; (D) to be used for the provision of public works, facilities, and improvements eligible for assistance under this chapter; or (E) to be used for other public purposes.

• 5305(a)(2) – the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or installation (including design features and improvements with respect to such construction, reconstruction, or installation that promote energy efficiency) of public works, facilities (except for buildings for the general conduct of government), and site or other improvements;

• 5305(a)(4) – clearance, demolition, removal, reconstruction, and rehabilitation (including rehabilitation which promotes energy efficiency) of buildings and improvements (including interim assistance, and financing public or private acquisition for reconstruction or rehabilitation, and reconstruction or rehabilitation, of privately owned properties, and including the renovation of closed school buildings);

• 5305(a)(5) – special projects directed to the removal of material and architectural barriers which restrict the mobility and accessibility of elderly and handicapped persons.

Given that projects must meet these authorized purposes of the CDBG program, the Appropriations Committee expects to fund the following types of projects and other similar projects:

• Water or sewer infrastructure projects, which are not otherwise eligible to be funded as CPFs in EPA STAG (Interior bill) or Rural Water and Waste (Agriculture bill);
• Local road infrastructure, which is not otherwise eligible as a CPF in Highways (in this bill);
• Streetscape improvements;
• Public or non-profit housing rehabilitation, housing development financing, residential conversions, and neighborhood revitalization projects, which would increase housing supply and/or improve housing affordability in the local community;
• Projects with a clear economic development benefit, such as workforce training centers and manufacturing incubators;
• Projects that meet a compelling local need consistent with the statutory purposes. For example, food banks in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, youth and senior centers, and multipurpose community centers.

So that prospective applicants have the clearest possible guidance on the front end, the following types of projects are not eligible for CPF funding:

• Museums, commemoratives, memorials;
• Swimming pools, water parks, golf courses;
• Healthcare facilities;
• Venues strictly for entertainment purposes – e.g., theaters and performing arts venues;
• Strictly research or planning activities; 
• Buildings for the general conduct of government (courthouses, post office, city halls).