Federal Discretionary Grants 

Resources for Local Agencies

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) encourages local agency partners to be direct recipients of federal discretionary funds. The material below is intended to provide resources to produce competitive applications. For information on specific grant programs and application requirements, refer to the USDOT Competitive Grants Dashboard and the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) available at Grants.gov.

Applicants should have a comprehensive understanding of the grant for which they are applying. Each application must satisfy the requirements of the NOFO, the priorities of USDOT, and FDOT’s commitment to supporting Florida’s transportation initiatives. Once a program is identified, assess whether internal staffing and resources meet the minimum requirements for application and project execution. Identify personnel capable of managing federal requirements for compliance, reporting, and delivery.

Some grant programs require a benefit-cost analysis (BCA). For information to support the development of a BCA, refer to the resource below and the grant NOFO.

Federal discretionary grants that fund capital projects under Title 23 or Title 49, US Code, must be programmed in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) before executing a grant agreement with USDOT. For more information, please visit the STIP Information page.

Notice of Funding Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issues NOFOs throughout the year, soliciting applications for federal discretionary grant programs. Each grant program has its own goals, eligibility requirements, and award amounts. More information on these and many other grants can be found on the USDOT Navigator Webpage.

Collaboration

The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Office of Policy Planning monitors NOFOs and coordinates project identification and grant applications with District Federal Grant Coordinators for FDOT projects statewide. District staff coordinate with local governments and other partners as needed, particularly in relation to grant applications that impact state facilities.

Letters of Consistency

Local agencies can request letters of consistency from FDOT to demonstrate that a local project is consistent with the adopted Work Program and/or the Florida Transportation Plan. To request a letter of consistency for an upcoming discretionary grant application, please contact the district grant coordinator responsible for your area and be prepared to share a completed grant application at least 60 days prior to the grant deadline. It is the applicant's responsibility to submit the request along with the grant application.

Sample Application Narratives

Agencies interested in obtaining a copy of recent application narratives of FDOT projects may contact: April.Combs@dot.state.fl.us. These narratives are provided to demonstrate the level of detail required in a competitive application. There is no single format for applications. Every Federal discretionary grant application is unique, and the application must follow the guidelines set forth in the NOFO.

Direct Recipient Considerations

Transportation projects receiving federal funds are required to meet specific requirements for planning, compliance, implementation, and reporting. If your organization requires additional guidance on implementing federal funding requirements, please visit the FDOT Local Programs Federal Discretionary Grants page.

Florida Awarded Grants

To view an interactive map of Florida projects awarded USDOT discretionary grant funds, click the map below.


Grant Frequently Asked Questions

FDOT developed a frequently asked questions document to support local agencies seeking federal funding.

Additional Resources