Update: $700m Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program – Virginia Teaming

May 4, 2023

Program Overview

The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) is a new competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work – urban and rural areas alike – in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs).

CFI Program investments will make modern and sustainable infrastructure accessible to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles.

This program provides two funding categories of grants: (1) Community Charging and Fueling Grants (Community Program); and (2) Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $2.5 billion over five years for this program. This offers up to $700 million from Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities.

Teaming

Virginia Clean Cities will provide support to any Virginia business or Virginia eligible entity for application. If your request is less that $500,000 please know you could join a group or regional grants. Teaming Arrangement Sign Up List. Teaming arrangement list is published here.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

States or political subdivision of States
Metropolitan planning organizations
Unit of local governments
Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, including port authorities
Indian tribes
U.S. Territories
Authorities, agencies, or instrumentalities or entities owned by, one or more entities listed above
Group of entities listed above
State or local authorities with ownership of publicly accessible transportation facilities (applies to Community Program only)
Virginia Clean Cities also intends to submit an application and can pull in partners for this effort. VCC can compartmentalize support to all stakeholders.

Grant Application

The CFI Program is making up to $700 million (FY 2022 $300 million and FY 2023 $400 million) available for this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov no later than June 13, 2023 (the “application deadline”). Applicants are encouraged to submit applications in advance of the application deadline; however, applications will not be evaluated, and awards will not be made, until after the application deadline.

Applicants must register and use the system to submit applications electronically. Applicants are encouraged to register in advance of the submission deadline and to register to receive notifications of updates/amendments to this NOFO. Approval of user registrations for the site may take multiple weeks. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to monitor Grants.gov for any updates to this Notice.

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

FY22/23 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the CFI Program is available on grants.gov.

Webinars

On May 3, VCC hosted an informative discussion about upcoming funding opportunities in clean transportation. The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) Speakers included:Alleyn Harned, Executive Director of VCC, moderated the discussion Mike Scarpino, Acting Technical Assistance and Implementation Team Lead for the US Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, gave an overview of the CFI program Erin Belt, Decarbonization Lead for the VDOT, gave a Virginia-specific IRA/ IIJA/CFI overview All speakers’ presentation slides

YouTube Recording

Webinars to share information about the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the CFI Program have been held throughout this period. Webinars are open to the public and registration is often required. Past webinars here:

https://driveelectric.gov/webinars/