Lifting Communities through RAISE Grants
Lifting Communities through RAISE Grants
During this time of federal abundance, Accelerator for America is helping localities best access and invest funding from the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build long-lasting community wealth – and the Biden Administration just announced that our work with the cities of Kansas City (MO) and Louisville helped them secure more than $31 million through RAISE grants!
RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grants were the first discretionary funding program to accept applications as directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and help urban and rural communities move forward on projects that modernize roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, and intermodal transportation and make our transportation systems safer, more accessible, more affordable, and more sustainable. Accelerator thanks WSP USA for their partnership and specific efforts to support these successful city applications.
Kansas City, MO
The city secured grant funding in the amount of $5.6 million for its Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor initiative and $5 million for its US 71 Reconnecting Neighborhoods initiative. The funding will support planning for a high-capacity, zero emissions transit corridor and the removal of a section of US 71 that bisected a thriving Black community to leave behind a legacy of disinvestment.
Louisville, KY
The city secured grant funding in the amount of $15.5 million for its Reimagine 9th Street initiative and $5 million for its Broadway All the Way initiative. The goal is to transform 9th Street from a six-lane thoroughfare into a Complete Street with a large pedestrian zone, with bicycle facilities and bus lanes, green infrastructure, and appealing public spaces. This investment helps eliminate the "9th Street Divide" in Louisville, which for decades has separated Louisville's predominantly Black West End neighborhoods from access to opportunity. On Broadway, the plan is for 5.5 miles of Complete Street improvements, in addition to premium transit on Route 23 and bus rapid transit infrastructure on Baxter Ave. and Bardstown Rd.
We also would like to congratulate two other of our Stimulus Command Center cities, Phoenix and Philadelphia, on their successful RAISE grants.
Phoenix, AZ
The city secured grant funding in the amount of $25 million for its Rio Reimagined initiative. The project will construct a bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the Rio Salado River and add low-emitting solar pedestrian-scale lighting and pathway amenities.
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia was awarded $25 million for their Revitalizing Philadelphia's Local Roadways project, which will make improvements along seven high-crash corridors totaling approximately five miles. Proposed improvements include traffic safety treatments, signal modernization, ADA accessibility improvements, and various roadway upgrades.
Congratulations, as well, to our network cities who also secured RAISE grants; Albuquerque, NM, Atlanta, GA, Boise, ID, Chattanooga, TN, Cincinnati, OH, Detroit, MI, Los Angeles, CA, Tampa, FL, and Waterloo, IA as well as to all the grantee cities announced today.
BIG STEPS FORWARD, BIG SHOES TO FILL
Andi Crawford, Accelerator for America's indefatigable and brilliant Director of Economic Development, has been tapped to join Next Street as a Partner, and will lead its new Revenue Office starting August 29. Given Andi's work with Accelerator over the last two years, we are not surprised that she is in high demand! She steered our work in forming and guiding our Stimulus Command Center model that is helping cities across the country implement the American Rescue Plan, secured additional funding partners for the Accelerator's work and our city partners, expanded our Economic Development team with excellent talent, and helped grow the Accelerator's economic development practice into a recognized center of excellence.
Andi's new adventure, Next Street, designs and implements solutions that connect entrepreneurs and small business owners with the right resources at the right time -- from place-based small business strategies to capital transactions. Next Street is part of the Economic Opportunity Coalition that was newly announced by Vice President Harris, which includes the federal government and a coalition of 24 companies and foundations coming together to align historic investments in underserved communities.
Andi shares that she’s “very proud of the work we've done and will continue to do at Accelerator for America. This is a critical moment in our nation's history, and I was honored to have spent the last couple of years supporting cities in building inclusive economic recoveries and capitalizing on forthcoming federal investments. We have a great team at the Accelerator, and a tremendous network of Mayors, city staff, and economic and community development practitioners across the country who work every day to build an inclusive, resilient and prosperous future for this country. I look forward to continuing to work closely with them in my new role at Next Street."
We wish Andi well, and make no mistake -- there is no moving on for Andi, only an evolution of her continuing friendship with Accelerator for America and all of you!
She leaves big shoes to fill -- so please let us know whom you recommend for this critical position!
As always, thank you for all that you do.
Mary Ellen Wiederwohl
President and CEO | Accelerator for America