USDOT offering webinar on applying for SMART Grants

Register now for Sept. 29 webinar; applications due Nov. 18

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will hold a Sept. 29 webinar to assist individuals interested in applying for a Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant.

Registration is now open for the webinar, which runs from 2:30-4 p.m. ET.

The grants were authorized as part of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) approved in November. The new grant program offers up to $100 million annually over the next five years. The grants would fund transportation projects that “use data and technology to solve real-world challenges facing communities today,” according to the USDOT announcement.

The SMART Grants Program does not require other funding such as matching or cost sharing, according to USDOT, which details its Notice of Funding Opportunity. State, local and tribal governments and agencies are eligible to apply.

Up to 30% of funds are set aside for projects meant to benefit rural communities and regional partnerships. The focus is on innovation such as the following:

• Vehicle technology, like automation and connectivity
• Systems innovation, like delivery and logistics, traffic signals, smart grid, and data integration
• New ways to monitor and manage infrastructure, like sensors and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)

Grant applications are due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 18.