Funding Opportunities

https://iowadot.gov/grants-programs

Regional Planning Affiliation 13 (RPA-13) is now taking applications for its Regional Transportation Alternatives Program fund for projects in Cass, Fremont, Montgomery, and Page Counties.  The submission window for applications is December 15, 2024 through February 14, 2025.  Eligible applicants include:

• Local governments,
• Regional transportation authorities,
• Transit agencies,
• Natural resource or public land agencies,
• School districts and local education agencies,
• Tribal governments,
• A non-profit entity;
• Any other local or regional government entity responsible for oversight of transportations or recreational trails.
• A State, at the request of an eligible entity listed above.

To be eligible for funds, the project or area served must fit one or more of the following:

• Construction, planning and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized forms of transportation.
• Construction of infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for non drivers, including children, older adults and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs.
• Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists or other non-motorized transportation users.
• Construction of turnouts, overlooks and viewing areas.
• Inventory, control or removal of outdoor advertising.
• Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities.
• Vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway safety, prevent against invasive species, and provide erosion control.
• Archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of transportation project eligible under this title.
• Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and mitigation to address storm water management, control and water pollution prevention or abatement related to highway construction or due to highway runoff.
• A construction or non construction project eligible under the Safe Routes to School program.
• A project eligible under the Recreational Trail Program as defined by section 206 of Title 23.

Additionally, the projects must:                                                               

• Provide a non-federal match of at least 20 percent of eligible costs.
• Project sponsors may be a city, county, public agency, private non-profit, tribal government, school district, transit agency, etc. as listed on page 1.
• Project sponsors should expect to devote considerable time and resources toward following the federal requirements necessary for their project to be successful.
• Sponsors should note experience and ability to comply with federal requirements.
• Sponsors must register in the System for Award Management (SAM) and provide a Uniform Entity Identifier (UEI) to the Iowa DOT.
• Sponsors must be willing to maintain the project for 20 years, including an official endorsement in the form of a fully executed resolution.
• Narrative discussing public input process.
• Must be able to complete the project within two fiscal years of award.

You may request a hard copy of the application by:

• Calling Tammy DeBord at 866-279-4720 (toll free) ext. 234 or at 712-249-4300
• Emailing Tammy.DeBord@swipco.org

Completed applications must be in the Southwest Iowa Planning Council office by 4:30 P.M. on February 14, 2025.  Applications will be submitted to the Iowa DOT for review.  The RPA 13 Technical Committee and Policy Board will meet to score the applications and to award recommendations.  Award letters will be sent to applicants and the Iowa DOT by August 1, 2024.  Funds will be released by the IDOT after Oct. 1, 2025.

The application and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically to Tammy DeBord (tammy.debord@swipco.org) by February 14, 2025.

All project funding is subject to the availability of transportation funds.

Eligibility

• Projects must be consistent with the goals of the RPA13 Long Range Transportation Plan.  The project does not need to be listed in the plan.
• Projects must fall into at least one of the following categories:
  • Construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of qualified routes.
  • Capital costs for transit projects and publicly owned intra-city and/or intercity bus terminals or facilities. 
  • Highway and transit safety programs.
  • Surface transportation planning, highway and transit technology transfer activities.
• Must be sponsored by state, county, or municipal governmental entity.
• Projects will be let through the Iowa DOT’s Office of Contracts and must meet the documentation requirements specified by that office.
  • All funds will be received and disbursed by the Iowa DOT.  Reimbursement will be received from the Iowa DOT for expenditures on the project.
  • The maximum amount is 80% of the total cost of a project for STBG funds and 100% for SWAP funds.
• An engineer, licensed in Iowa, must prepare all plans and specifications for the project.  Additionally, the engineer must oversee work on the project.
• RPA 13 receives federal funding and may not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, or national origin, according to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  By applying to receive these funds the applicant acknowledges they understand and adhere to the principles of Title VI when performing activities related to the funding they receive.