37 The Infrastructure Bill: What's in It and What It Means for North Carolina NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES ities, towns, and villages have been calling on Congress to get to work on an infrastructure package since 2016, and on November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden surrounded by city leaders and Members of Congress. Also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this $1.2 trillion bill was the result of years of local leaders calling for action with the National League of Cities (NLC), with the North Carolina League of Municipalities as well as business and industry leaders. It means transformative investments in transportation, broadband, and water are heading to North Carolina, which can be used to create safer transportation, ensure equitable infrastructure among neighborhoods, build resilient structures, and strengthen our economy. North Carolina municipal leaders should begin to plan and prepare now to make the most of these new opportunities coming from the BIL. Municipal officials should consider the following to maximize program opportunities: 1. Consider the existing programs as well as the new programs: BIL includes $550 billion in additional new programs. Many allow communities and their partners to specifically apply for and take advantage of the federal resources, but it also renews many existing programs that will be just as valuable to North Carolina’s municipalities. In the discussion of what’s new, don’t miss those existing programs which will be just as helpful to your city! 2. Reach out to start working at both the State and Federal Level: The number of program funds that cities can access directly from the federal government are substantial, but there are also significant infrastructure dollars that will move directly through your state. Reaching out to both state and federal officials ensure North Carolina’s communities are able to follow through with the necessary applications. Get ready to compete and shape your city’s story for all the funds that will be available. 3. Prepare to support the project and tell your story: The majority of federal grants come with some expectations that a local match will be provided, which is often around 20% for transportation, though some programs can be less, especially for smaller and disadvantaged communities. Take care to understand what your contribution may be and consider how to organize the funding and consider how you will tell your community’s infrastructure story and how projects will contribute to local quality of life and economic growth. PROGRAM OVERVIEW Surface Transportation Congress is investing $110 billion in transportation in the five-year BIL on top of the past levels of federal transportation programs. America’s cities, towns, and villages take care of a significant portion of our nation’s expansive transportation network, and the new BIL provides communities more opportunities than ever before to apply directly for federal funds, work with their regional partners and states, and to C continues on page 38 NCLM.ORG
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