Transportation Secretary Announces $500 Million in BUILD Grants

What happened: Thirty projects in 27 states will receive grants under the BUILD program (formerly RAISE), that supports projects with local or regional significance. Though the grants can support any surface transportation mode, 77 percent of the projects selected will support road and bridge improvements. Resources for these grants were approved as part of the 2021 infrastructure law. Select highlights include:

• Arkansas: $24 million to construct the final phase of the 20-mile Springdale Northern Bypass.
• Mississippi: $21 million to design and construct two replacement bridge structures on U.S. 49.
• South Carolina: $24 million to widen U.S. 78, expanding the roadway from two to five lanes.

View the complete list of awards.

Why it matters:  The BUILD Grants mark the first new awards for this administration, as U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has primarily focused on oversight of outstanding grant awards from the previous administration.

What’s next: Grantees must sign an agreement with U.S. DOT before the project can move to bid.