Main Streets are thoroughfares for people. Throughout their history, Main Streets have accommodated pedestrians, bicyclists, transit-riders, and personal vehicles – from the horse and buggy to the gas-powered automobile. The 21^st century has seen the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), but many Main Street districts lack the infrastructure and charging stations needed to ensure a robust and reliable EV network. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant program to strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the place people live and work. Grant applications to support this infrastructure are available through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) until August 28, 2024. Read on for more information and register for an upcoming webinar with speakers from Main Street America communities and the U.S. Department of Transportation to learn more.

The CFI Program investments will make modern and sustainable infrastructure accessible to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles. This program provides two funding categories of grants: Community Charging and Alternative Fueling Grants (Community Program); and Charging and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $2.5 billion over five years for this program to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities.

EV charging and other alternative fueling infrastructure is vital in Main Streets as emissions from transportation account for about 28 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest contributor of emissions in the U.S. Additionally, auto manufacturers are moving towards EVs and other alternative fueling for vehicles; while EVs account for 6.7 percent of total market share, it could climb to 67 percent over the next decade. A transition to electric vehicles and a cleaner economy is already underway, and CFI grants will ensure that Main Street is part of that transition. 

There are many benefits to electric vehicles in Main Street communities, especially for local businesses. Given the significant time required to charge EVs, EV drivers may tend to combine their refueling stops with other activities, like visiting local restaurants, shops, and other amenities. Providing EV charging stations can ensure communities provide for their residents, draw regional travelers driving EVs and stay connected to the broader EV charging network. Given the CFI program’s resources, the large investment required for charging infrastructure can be greatly subsidized. 

Interested in learning more about EV charging and other transportation improvements for your Main Street district? Join Main Street America and the DOT ROUTES team to discuss the CFI program as well as Safe Streets and Roads for All Program on July 16 at 12pm ET. Learn more >

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program 

Community Charging and Alternative Fueling Grants (Community Program): To install electric vehicle charging and alternative fuel in locations on public roads, schools, parks, and in publicly accessible parking facilities. Community Program grants will prioritize rural areas as well as low- and moderate-income neighborhoods with low ratios of private parking or high ratios of multiunit dwellings.

Charging and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program): To deploy electric vehicle charging and hydrogen/​propane/​natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors.

Eligibility

The following groups of applicants are eligible for the CFI grant program:

• State Governments;
• Local Governments;
• Federally Recognized Tribes and Affiliated Groups; 
• Planning and Project Organizations; 
• Transportation Providers and Operators; 
• U.S. Territories

For Main Street leaders, if your organization operates out of local government, you are directly eligible for the program. Reach out to colleagues in other departments to collaborate across the city on an application. If you operate a nonprofit, you may leverage your partners in local government or at a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and advocate that they apply for funding. Though you are not directly eligible for funding, you can work with the partner in the administration and implementation of the grant to ensure it reflects your district’s needs and priorities. 

How to Get Started

Review the CFI website and Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to determine if your project is a good fit for the program. Carefully follow the requirements described in the NOFO to prepare your application. Reach out to CFIGrants@​dot.​gov by July 29 with any questions about the application. 

We are here to help! Main Street America encourages communities interested in applying for CFI to communicate with us at advocacy@​mainstreet.​org or our member community, the Point, to share questions and receive support.