Best Public Infrastructure Grants in Alabama

Rebuild Alabama Annual Grant Program (RAA)

The RAA Annual Grant Program is an ALDOT administered transportation infrastructure grant program for projects of local interest created in the Rebuild Alabama Act of 2019.

Projects may be submitted for improvements to any classified road or bridge open to public traffic.

Funding

The RAA Annual Grant Program was established by Legislative Act #2019-2. The program allocates no less than $10 million annually to eligible projects as identified by ALDOT during a fiscal year.

The total funding allocated for the FY 2026 program will be $15 million. $10 million of the FY 2026 allocation will be awarded with no local match required. The maximum amount of funding that can be requested per project with no match required will be $250,000. $5 million of the FY 2026 allocation will be awarded with a 50 percent local match required. Any RAA Annual Grant funding requested over $250,000 will require a dollar-for-dollar local match from the sponsor, up to a maximum of $100,000 per project.

Therefore, the maximum amount of total RAA Annual Grant funding that can be requested per project is $250,000 with no local match required, or $350,000 with a local match of $100,000.

Alabama local governments, conservation districts, and tribal sponsors can receive support to repair public watershed infrastructure and reduce flooding and erosion risks. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical and financial assistance for debris removal, streambank stabilization, drainage repairs, levee and structure repair, vegetative cover, and floodplain easements on damaged lands following natural disasters.

Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TAP) 

TA Set-aside funds are awarded through an ALDOT administered competitive selection process. It should be noted that while certain types of projects are technically eligible, not all types of projects have the same level of priority in the competitive selection process.

The purpose and intent of this program is to provide new "Transportation Alternatives" to communities, as well as enhance existing non-motorized transportation infrastructure. All eligible applications will be evaluated on how the proposed project improvements advance the intent of the program.

The following areas are considered in the competitive selection process:

Promotes Safety

• Reduces/Improves Conflict Points
• Provides Separation for Non-Motorized Travel

Increases Local Transportation Options

• Improves Public Travel Experience
• Promotes Mobility
• Encourages Multimodal Options
• Meets the Needs of Non-Motorized Users

Provides Community Enhancements

• Improves Usability of Existing Facilities
• Improves Access to Quality of Life Enhancements

Provides Access to Community Amenities

• Connects Activity Centers
• Connectivity to Essential Services
• Improves Public Health/Physical Activity

Local Commitment

• Sponsor and/or MPO Resolution
• Public Involvement and Community Support
• Part of a Larger Comprehensive Plan
• Project Manager Identified with Qualifications
• Readiness and Deliverability of Project
• Addresses Challenges and Obstacles
• TAP Project Delivery History

Community Impacts

• ADA Compliance
• Provides and/or Enhances Services for Individuals with Disabilities
• Improves Transportation Options in Underserved and Underrepresented Communities
• Mitigates Transportation Environmental Effects
• Reduces Automobile Dependence as a Barrier to Opportunity

Communities and counties in Alabama can apply for competitive funding to improve public infrastructure and housing, with awards ranging from US $400,000 - US $500,000. Focused on community development, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs invites eligible non-entitlement jurisdictions to propose projects like water and sewer upgrades, housing rehab, and neighborhood or downtown revitalization.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Alabama with $100,000+ budgets can seek funding for workforce preparation, youth development, and community accessibility projects. RBC Foundation USA provides Alabama public-serving groups with support for job readiness, skills training, inclusive prosperity, and net-zero transition efforts in communities where RBC Wealth Management has an active presence.

Industrial and energy-focused organizations in Alabama developing thermal or electric storage concepts for industrial facilities can access funding through the U.S. Department of Energy. The Industrial Energy Storage Systems Prize offers up to US $700,000 across three competitive phases to design, prototype, and validate cost-effective industrial energy storage solutions that improve efficiency and support public energy infrastructure.

Researchers conducting quasi-experimental evaluations of social programs and policies in the U.S., including work on public infrastructure, may be eligible for funding to study causal impacts. Grants from Arnold Ventures help Alabama and other U.S. public infrastructure, education, workforce, reproductive health, and public finance researchers build rigorous evidence to inform policy and improve outcomes.

Very small, financially distressed rural communities in Alabama can use this program to fund predevelopment planning for water and waste disposal infrastructure projects. Focused on rural public infrastructure, USDA Rural Development invites eligible local governments, nonprofits, and federally recognized tribes to seek support for feasibility studies, preliminary design, engineering analysis, and technical assistance for future construction.

Bradley-Turner Foundation provides Alabama public infrastructure and community organizations, especially in the Chattahoochee Valley, with approximately US $50,000 for capital projects, scholarships, community initiatives, and arts and culture institutions. 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Russell County and nearby eligible counties may benefit, particularly those addressing chronic local needs or undertaking strategic capital campaigns.

Public infrastructure and transportation policy organizations in Alabama can seek funding for U.S.-focused transportation research, data, and policy reform projects. With a mission to improve lives through evidence-based solutions, Arnold Ventures provides up to US $200,000 for work on surface transportation, access and mobility outcomes, cost and delivery challenges, and related public transit and infrastructure issues.

State and local transportation agencies in Alabama seeking to deploy advanced transportation technologies can apply for competitive ATTAIN grants, with awards up to US $12,000,000, to improve safety, mobility, and system performance. DOT Federal Highway Administration supports projects enhancing public infrastructure, congestion management, intermodal connectivity, and infrastructure return on investment across the U.S.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA: Capital Improvement Grants

Any request to support a project that seeks to improve a facility is considered a capital improvement. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Range improvements
• Berm improvements
• Clubhouse/Classroom facility improvements
• Shelter structures/covered firing lines/pavilions
• Road improvements
• Commercial-grade trap machines (see section regarding trap machines, below)
• Any other permanent improvement to an organization’s property or facility

The Grant Program considers requests for certain trap machines to be a capital improvement to the facility. Specifically, requests for commercial grade trap machines that have a capacity of 300 clays and up.

The Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grant Program (84.041C) offers $19M in funding to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to address urgent school facility needs. This initiative supports repairs, renovations, or replacements required to maintain safe educational environments. Grants cover projects that improve accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensure that facilities meet health standards. The program aims to enhance learning conditions by responding effectively to emergency situations.

About Boeing

A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company

One of the largest employee-managed funds of its kind in the world, the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company has empowered employees to make a greater impact by pooling their tax-deductible donations for more than 60 years. Employee-led grantmaking committees at 20 Boeing sites provide combined employee donations to nonprofits in their communities through ECF grants.

Charitable or educational organizations can apply for grants from the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company.

Puget Sound Chapter

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing Puget Sound is a pooled fund consisting of recurring payroll contributions from generous Boeing employees. It funds local nonprofits that help thousands of families and individuals in the Puget Sound region where Boeing employees live and work.

ECF focus areas

ECF makes grants to 501(c)(3) Health & Human Service nonprofits such as food banks, job-training programs, shelters, transitional housing, mental health services, and low-income medical clinics. ECF seeks the direct client benefit of each grant to ensure that our employees’ contributions directly help those in need.

ECF funding criteria

ECF has two distinct grant categories – Supporting Grants and Capital Campaign Grants.

ECF of Boeing Company: Puget Sound Chapter Supporting Grants

Consideration is given to nonprofits/agencies that are performing well and are seeking to upgrade, replace or modify elements of their infrastructure.

• Supporting grants cannot exceed $50,000. The requested amount cannot be more than 10% of an agency’s gross annual revenue.
• Supporting grants will be considered only for agencies benefiting residents in the Puget Sound Region.
• Supporting grants help agencies continue to effectively provide services through enhanced direct client benefit by aiding them in procuring and/or paying for items such as:
  • Equipment (ex. office, kitchen, industrial, furniture, etc.)
  • Vehicles used to support clients and/or transport food and/or goods (cost of vehicle and accommodations, tax, and licensing only; operating expenses, such as insurance, fuel, etc. is not allowed)
  • Phone systems
  • Cell phones for direct client use
  • Remodels and/or renovations (must hold at least a 10-year lease or own the building)
  • Purchase or construction of new buildings
  • Computers or tablets for direct client benefit and/or use
  • Software for direct client benefit and/or use (ex. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device)
  • Information Technology expenses, without which procured tools would not work
  • External improvements for client safety (i.e. security system, exterior lighting, improved ADA accessibility, new or refinished pavement or concrete)
• Supporting grants which are accepted must be spent as approved within nine (9) months.

The Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Energy Program, initiated by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), aims to enhance rural electric systems through substantial funding of approximately $175 million. This initiative focuses on increasing emission-free nuclear power and improving transmission infrastructure efficiency, promoting long-term reliability and affordability. Eligible entities include electric cooperatives serving rural areas and their subsidiaries. The program aligns with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, thus fostering a sustainable energy future.

The BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)—Formula Grants Program aims to support states and local governments in enhancing their DNA analysis capabilities. By providing funding for existing crime laboratories, this initiative seeks to increase the processing capacity for DNA samples, thereby reducing the backlog in forensic DNA analysis and ensuring timely entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Applications are due by November 5, 2026.

The FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) FAA Contract Tower Competitive Grant Program offers up to $100 million for airport traffic control tower projects. This initiative aims to support airports in modernizing and repairing aging infrastructure, ensuring safety and efficiency in air traffic management. Eligible projects may involve construction, rehabilitation, or installation of essential air traffic control equipment, enhancing the operational capabilities of the nation's airports.

The Prioritization Process Pilot Program (PPPP) Competitive Grant Program, funded by the DOT Federal Highway Administration, offers up to $26 million for innovative transportation planning in FYs 2024-2026. Grants of up to $2 million will support the development of transparent, data-driven prioritization processes for project selection in transportation plans, ensuring that funded projects deliver public benefits and meet community needs.

The Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program by the USDA's Rural Utilities Service provides funding for essential technical assistance and training aimed at resolving water and waste management issues. This program supports applicants in preparing loan and grant applications, enhancing the operational efficiency of water systems, and ensuring compliance with best practices in facility management. However, grant funds cannot be used for duplicating existing services or for capital expenditures.

Federally recognized Indian Tribes in Alabama can seek funding to plan, design, engineer, and construct safer public bridges through the TTP Bridge Program. Focused on public infrastructure, the Federal Highway Administration supports improvements to BIA/Tribally owned and other eligible bridges in poor condition, including rehabilitation, seismic retrofits, and safety countermeasures.

Alabama public entities planning major surface transportation or public infrastructure projects can access funding through the US Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. State and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities in the U.S. territories and states may receive up to US $25,000,000 for impactful, multi-modal projects.

Alabama public infrastructure and community-focused 501(c)(3) charities or government entities can seek support for projects that strengthen local facilities, services, and community wellbeing. SC Johnson Giving backs initiatives that advance healthier lives, environmental sustainability, and economic and social mobility, including programs that improve public infrastructure in communities where the company has operations across the U.S.

The Wiregrass Foundation Grant aims to enhance the health, education, and quality of life for residents in Houston, Henry, Dale, and Geneva counties, Alabama. Eligible organizations must have been in operation for at least two years and focus on areas such as health, education, and community well-being. The foundation does not fund churches, political organizations, or individual scholarships, ensuring that resources are directed to impactful community-driven projects.

Nonprofits, government entities, and tribal organizations working on community traffic safety and public infrastructure in Alabama can seek US $50,000 - US $200,000 to implement innovative, evidence-based road safety projects. The National Safety Council’s Road to Zero Coalition program supports Safe System approaches that reduce traffic fatalities and address disparities in mobility safety and access across the U.S.

Local governments and community-based nonprofits in small to mid-sized U.S. cities, including Alabama, can seek up to US $25,000 to plan and deliver temporary street safety pilot projects that address dangerous, divisive roads. Smart Growth America’s Community Connectors program offers a yearlong cohort with training, support, and an in-person convening for selected teams.

State and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and higher education institutions in eligible Appalachian counties of Alabama can seek funding for critical public infrastructure and workforce or business development projects. With a mission to strengthen Appalachian communities, Appalachian Regional Commission provides Alabama public infrastructure initiatives with support for water, wastewater, transportation, broadband, and related economic development systems.

The Ittleson Foundation Environmental Program Grants support innovative projects that enhance environmental activism through education and grassroots efforts. In 2025, grants will focus on initiatives that strengthen environmental movements and engage new constituencies, particularly in environmental equity. The Foundation has provided resources since 1932 to improve public policy and community welfare, alternating its grantmaking focus annually between mental health and environmental initiatives.