Grant writing tips to maximize Infrastructure Act funding possibilities

In a companion article, we looked at the wide variety of programs for which grants and other funding opportunities are available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). In this article, we provide tips for eligible entities (such as utilities, local governments and tribal governments) to research available grants and prioritize those that will provide the most benefit to their communities.     

Guidebook to grants 

The White House maintains a guidebook to the 380 programs funded under the IIJA. A helpful grid displays program names, the federal agency administering the program, the funding mechanism (grant, loan program, cooperative agreement, direct federal spending), applicant eligibility and program description. The guidebook can help eligible entities determine which programs may support their priority projects.  

Assessing how many grants or projects an entity could successfully implement if it received all possible funding is an essential step before starting the grant application process. Entities should consider creating a funding matrix that displays the project category, the program name offering funds, open and close dates for grant applications, the agency/bureau name, eligible activities and the funding amount. 

Federal grant basics 

All applicants need a federal award identifier called a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned to an entity. You obtain a UEI by registering with SAM.gov (System for Award Management). This process can take 3-4 weeks. Once you have a UEI, you can register with Grants.gov and other department-specific grant portals, through which you can apply to grant opportunities. 

Vetting grant opportunities 

Vetting a potential funding opportunity to determine whether your organization and project fit the announcement’s funding priorities will optimize effort and increase grant application success. Organizations should consider the following questions:  

• Is our organization eligible for the opportunity?  
• What type of grant is it? (discretionary/competitive vs. formula)