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The IIJA, signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021, made <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>$711.8 billion available<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> to states, cities and territories to support transportation, clean energy, broadband and other infrastructure projects.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The IIJA <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>expires in September 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. In January, President Donald Trump attempted to pause disbursement of IIJA funds intended to help cities improve air quality, safe water systems and resilience to natural disasters and cyberattacks, but a U.S. District judge ordered the administration to <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>unfreeze those funds<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> in April.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Carolyn Berndt, legislative director and interim director, sustainability and infrastructure, for NLC, said \u201cthere\u2019s still plenty of opportunity\u201d for cities to apply for IIJA funds that have yet to be allocated.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re encouraging local governments to maximize this moment and apply to their state agencies for this funding,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n NLC has been helping communities access IIJA funding through the Local Infrastructure Hub, a program that helps small and midsize cities develop competitive infrastructure grant applications, Berndt said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Berndt said NLC is also encouraging local leaders to talk with their congressional representatives about their infrastructure and resilience needs as Congress begins to discuss replacement legislation for the IIJA.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Cities can\u2019t rely on federal funding alone, especially when it comes to climate and resilience projects, Berndt said. But \u201cmany local governments and local leaders are committed to doing this work, and they\u2019ll find new partnerships and opportunities to get it done,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Municipal Infrastructure Report shows how cities, towns and villages of all sizes are innovating in the face of rising costs and complex permitting processes to deliver the infrastructure residents depend on for a thriving community,\u201d NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony said in a statement.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n