SOI - Rural Transportation Match and Gap Funding Assistance Program

The Denali Commission, an independent federal agency created to address the unique infrastructure and economic development needs of rural Alaska, has announced its Rural Transportation Match and Gap Funding Assistance Program. This initiative is part of the Commission’s commitment to assisting communities that face difficulty meeting cost-sharing requirements tied to federally funded transportation infrastructure projects. The program is designed specifically to provide supplemental financial support for rural transportation projects that either require a local match or exhibit funding gaps impeding project completion. Through this opportunity, the Commission will make available up to $5,000,000 in funding sourced from Public Law 117-328. The program permits use of funds under Section 309(h) of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 to meet non-federal match obligations for projects governed under Title 23 of the U.S. Code. Applicants may request up to $1,000,000 per community per application. This funding can be applied to transportation infrastructure projects that are construction-ready and demonstrate either a requirement for local match funding or a funding shortfall of up to 30% of the total project cost. Eligible applicants include municipal, borough, and tribal governments, Indian Tribes as defined by Title 25 US Code § 5304, regional tribal nonprofit organizations, and other nonprofit organizations operating in Alaska. Priority consideration will be given to applicants without an active or pending award under the Denali Commission’s transportation programs. Projects must demonstrably serve the public and be located within Alaska. Qualified activities include capital improvements, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of transportation infrastructure. Specific allowable project types encompass road resurfacing, dust control, signage, harbor improvements, port infrastructure, board roads, rural transit support, and enhancements to multimodal connectivity. To apply, interested entities must submit a Statement of Interest form by email to the Commission at [email protected]. Submissions must be received no later than 5:00 PM AKST on February 13, 2026. Uploading to Grants.gov is not permitted. The application form requires detailed responses about the project’s scope, construction readiness, current funding sources, funding shortfalls, and anticipated project timelines. Applicants must also specify the federal funding agency related to the project and the percent or amount of match needed. Following the deadline, the Commission will begin a multi-stage evaluation process. A committee composed of Commission staff and subject matter experts will review and rank Statements of Interest based on alignment with program priorities, including project readiness and regional impact. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals around February 20, 2026, with approximately 30 days to respond. Final funding decisions and award notifications are expected in late spring 2026. All project agreements are anticipated to be executed during summer or fall of 2026. While the Commission reserves the right to partially fund projects, its goal is to bridge funding gaps and enable the advancement of strategic transportation projects in underserved communities. The funding structure is reimbursement-based, aligned with federal regulations under 2 CFR 200.305, and reimbursements will be processed through Standard Form 270. For further inquiries, applicants may contact Christian Diamond, Grants Management Specialist, at [email protected] or 907-271-1440, or Nikki Navio, Transportation Program Manager, at [email protected].

Entities with no current Denali transportation awards receive priority.