On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that $527 million will be available for the third round of the highly successful TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) competitive grant program. TIGER grants fund innovative transportation projects that create jobs and have a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area.

For this round of grants, projects will be selected based on their ability to contribute to the long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improve the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the safety of U.S. transportation facilities and improve the quality of living and working environments of communities through increased transportation choices and connections. DOT will also focus on projects that are expected to quickly create and preserve jobs and spur rapid increases in economic activity.

While these grants are very similar to previous TIGER grants, there are a few differences:

The FY 2011 Continuing Appropriations Act will not provide any funding for projects solely for the planning, preparation, or design of capital projects (“TIGER Planning Grants”); however, these activities may be eligible to the extent that they are part of an overall construction project that receives TIGER Discretionary Grants funding;

Click here to read the full interim notice of funding available (PDF). For more information visit www.dot.gov/tiger/.

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Sincerely,

Smart Growth America