Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Grants Program

Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Grants Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The BUILD grant program provides discretionary federal funding for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact.

[](https://www. transportation.

gov/rural/grant-toolkit/better-utilizing-investments-leverage-development-build-grants) ## Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grants Eligible applicants for BUILD Grants are: * States and the District of Columbia; * Any territory or possession of the United States; * A unit of local government; * A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by 1 or more States; * A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority; * A Federally recognized Indian Tribe or a consortium of such Indian Tribes; * A multi-State or multijurisdictional group of entities that are separately eligible Eligible project types are: * Highway or bridge projects eligible under title 23; * Public transportation projects eligible under chapter 53 title 49; * Passenger and freight rail transportation projects; * Port infrastructure investments including inland port infrastructure and land ports of entry; * The surface transportation components of an airport project eligible for assistance under part B of subtitle VII; * Projects investing in surface transportation facilities located on Tribal land, the title or maintenance responsibility of which is vested in the Federal Government; * Projects to replace or rehabilitate a culvert or prevent stormwater runoff for the purpose of improving habitat for aquatic species that will advance the goal of the program; * Intermodal projects whose components are otherwise an eligible project type; * Any other surface transportation infrastructure project that the Secretary considers to be necessary to advance the goals of the program The Department will review the statutorily required Merit Criteria for all applications and will then review Project Readiness and Economic Analysis only for a subset of projects determined by the Merit Criteria ratings.

Project Readiness consists of Applicant Capacity, Project Risk, and Financial Completeness Reviews. The statutorily required Merit Criteria are safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness and opportunity, state of good repair, partnership and collaboration, and innovation.

For each merit criterion, the Department will consider whether the benefits are clear, direct, and data driven, which will result in a rating of “high, “medium,” “low,” or “non-responsive. ” Specific considerations for each merit criterion are described in the rating rubric in the NOFO. For **capital projects located in urban areas**, the minimum award is $5 million.

For **capital projects located in rural areas**, the minimum award is $1 million. **Planning projects** do NOT have a minimum award size. The maximum grant award is $25 million.

The Federal cost share may not exceed 80% for urban projects that are NOT located in an Area of Persistent Poverty (APP)/Historically Disadvantaged Community (HDC). However, Federal cost share may exceed 80% for projects that are rural, or located in an Area of Persistent Poverty, or located in a Historically Disadvantaged Community.

Historically Disadvantaged Communities (HDC) will use the same definition as APP for the purpose of the FY 2026 BUILD NOFO. Please see the FY 2026 BUILD Frequently Asked Questions for more information. The Dashboard provides users with a high-level overview of relevant Federal discretionary grant programs.

The information in the Dashboard is maintained as a secondary resource and may not be updated with the most recent changes to each program's primary guidance materials. Accordingly, please refer to the Federal grant-making agency for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on a grant opportunity in the Dashboard.