Strategies for organizations to spend federal infrastructure funds

The federal government has made a significant investment in infrastructure and other capital funding available through programs created under the American rescue plan act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA).

The ARPA state and local fiscal recovery funding provided $20 billion to Tribes to potentially invest in certain eligible infrastructure projects, or — for those eligible to use for general government purposes — to prioritize a broad array of capital and infrastructure investments in Tribal communities to address systemic historical disadvantages. The $15 billion dollar investment in Tribal funding available under the IIJA is intended to fund broadband affordability and accessibility, clean and safe drinking water, clean energy, and more.

With many Tribes eligible to use a portion of ARPA and IIJA funds for purposes prioritized by the Tribal leadership, there’s opportunity to make capital and infrastructure investments in your community in the years ahead.

Below are a few strategies to support a successful capital improvement implementation plan.

Evaluate key elements

Many Tribes have deferred maintenance backlogs and long wish lists for their citizens. To prepare for the increase in capital project design and delivery, Tribal leadership could evaluate:

• Service delivery
• Operations
• Cost effectiveness
• Procurement
• Contract management
• Process efficiency

Evaluating these elements can help you hit the ground running, spend federal infrastructure dollars in the most efficient and effective way, and transparently report progress to your community.

Plan early

Planning major construction projects can be demanding as your Tribe works to simultaneously meet current needs and future challenges that have yet to even present themselves.

Take steps early in the process to envision how new construction will operate and serve your community. Focus on grant compliance and contracting strategies that can help bring major advantages to the construction process and final product.