Local Match Program (LOMA) - Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Local Match Program (LOMA) is administered by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), in collaboration with the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and the Governor’s Office. The program was created following the enactment of Senate Bill 22-215, which established the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Cash Fund, codified in Colorado Revised Statute 24-75-232. This legislation allocated approximately $80 million in state general funds to support the non-federal match requirements for local governments and state agencies applying for funding under the federal IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The IIJA, signed into law in November 2021, provides $1.2 trillion in funding for various infrastructure sectors including transportation, energy, water systems, and broadband internet. The primary purpose of the LOMA program is to alleviate the financial burden associated with the non-federal matching component required by many IIJA-funded federal infrastructure programs. Through this support, Colorado local governments can more effectively compete for federal infrastructure dollars. The funding is divided into two phases: Phase One allocated $6,000,000 for FY 2022-2023, and Phase Two added $4,000,000 in FY 2023-2024, bringing the total available funding to $10,000,000. Applicants must demonstrate a documented match requirement in a federal IIJA program to be eligible for LOMA support. Eligible applicants include Colorado counties, municipalities, special districts, and federally recognized tribes that are either applying or intend to apply directly to the federal government for an IIJA-funded opportunity. Importantly, the IIJA program being pursued must be administered by a federal agency rather than a state agency. Exceptions to the local match requirement are considered for applicants in rural, historically disadvantaged, or persistently poor areas if the match would improve the competitiveness of the application. Before applying, local governments must first contact Snow Staples at snow.staples@state.co.us to confirm eligibility. Applicants must be in compliance with Colorado’s audit, budget, and election laws before proceeding. Once confirmed, they can apply through the DOLA online grants portal. Applications are reviewed by a state committee that includes representatives from the Governor’s Office, OEDIT, and DOLA. The review process uses a scoring matrix based on alignment with the Governor’s policy priorities, demonstration of need, equitable impacts, workforce and job creation potential, long-term community impact, project readiness, and exceptional circumstances. Awards can be fully approved, partially funded, or denied based on a scoring scale from 0 to 35. Successful applicants will receive a conditional award letter within 30 days of submission, contingent upon confirmation of a federal award. If federal funding is received, the local government must submit project documentation and a spending timeline. DOLA then issues an award agreement and disburses funds via advance payment. Awarded entities are required to submit quarterly reports detailing expenditures by funding source and projected timelines for full fund utilization. If the federal application is denied or only partially funded, the conditional award will be rescinded. Application materials include a detailed proposed project budget encompassing federal, state, and any other sources. This budget must specify how LOMA funds will be used. The grant portal has been accepting applications since September 26, 2022, and remains open until funds are exhausted. Additional support for applicants is available through GFOA’s Funding Opportunity Tracker and resources from the National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities. General inquiries regarding the IIJA should be directed to alyssa.dinberg@state.co.us or Wendy Hawthorne at wendy.hawthorne@state.co.us.