Applications opened this week for the first round of U.S. Department of Transportation’s new Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The CFI will provide $2.5 billion over five years to a wide range of eligible applicants that includes cities, counties, local governments, and Tribes to fund the installation of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging as well as alternative fueling infrastructure along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors and in urban and rural communities with a focus on underserved and disadvantaged communities. This first round of funding makes up to $700 million from fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
CFI Program is divided into two grant funding categories, the Community Program and the Corridor Program, and requires that 50 percent of the funding over five years is made available for each. Important to energy marketers is the Corridor Program which provides $1.25 billion to install publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors (AFCs). The Community Program will provide $1.25 billion to install publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure, and hydrogen, propane, or natural gas fueling infrastructure in communities and may be located on any public road or in other publicly accessible locations such as parking facilities at public buildings, public schools, and public parks, or in publicly accessible parking facilities owned or managed by a private entity.
Information about eligibility and grant program can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and on the USDOT Federal Funding Programs website. EMA encourages its state associations to work with their state and local authorities in applying for grants. Applications are due by May 30, 2023. Two webinars are being held March 21st and March 22nd