With ARPA, IIJA, IRA, and numerous other Federal funding sources, it is important to identify and track grant and loan availability across a wide array of programs. Build your library of funds and determine the actions necessary to secure those funds.
With the array of funding sources, assemble your team to apply for funding. When possible utilize personnel experienced in successfully applying for funds to maximize grant success. Supplement internal personnel with experienced outsiders when necessary to maximize funding success.
Develop your plan on how to best align funds to your portfolio of projects. This often means aligning fund availability and capital structure with development timelines.
Your program funding approach should be right-sized to address the time horizon and scale necessary to achieve infrastructure goals. Careful planning is required to ensure program capital is sufficient throughout the developemnt lifecyle of funded projects.
A complex portfolio of funding sources might require sophisticated management of local funding shares in order to avoid potential clawbacks. Make sure your organization has experienced resources to do the project finance modeling necessary to ensure compliance.
The saying "Experience is the Best Teacher" is definitely true when it comes to how efficiently and successfully an agency of municipality is in securing infrastructure funding. Consider supplementing your team with resources experienced in obtaining funds from each source. You might find the return to be far more than the cost.