There’s a surprising blocker for US cities tapping into state or federal funding: grant writing. As Bloomberg has reported, local governments who lack the capacity or bandwidth to undergo lengthy and complex grant application processes could be left out of historic investments in local economies, infrastructure, and environmental justice.
The Biden administration’s landmark legislation — the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and CHIPS Act — has opened up trillions of dollars, yet many of the 90,000 municipalities and tribal governments in the United States are struggling to complete the required paperwork to access these funds.
Historically, larger cities with dedicated resources have dominated these opportunities, leaving smaller cities at a disadvantage. With transit projects, this disparity worsens an existing inequality: large cities are more likely to already have a functioning transit system, while smaller cities struggle to get the start-up funds they need to launch new and much-needed mobility projects.
“We really, really needed the funds, but we didn’t have the competency, we didn’t have the capacity to be able to apply for it.”
— Robert Blaine, former chief administrative officer in Jackson, Mississippi, now at the National League of Cities
The untapped potential.
The most common challenges cities face are time and lack of expertise. Many municipalities do not have dedicated staff with grant-writing experience. Smaller cities in particular operate under tight budget constraints, making it difficult to justify hiring full-time grant writers or consultants. The preparation, which often involves extensive paperwork, could overwhelm city officials who may already be juggling multiple responsibilities. Competing for these funds is another hurdle, as larger cities with more resources tend to submit multiple applications to various grant programs, leaving smaller cities with fewer chances of success.That’s why Via’s in-house grants team, staffed by a dozen of former municipal workers and transit experts, has made it their mission to help cities fit together all the pieces of this vast funding puzzle. Over the years, we have helped our partners in more than 40 US cities win up to $65 million in grants for transit projects, ensuring that even smaller municipalities can access the resources they need for development and growth.
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Ready, set, apply: your choice of support levels.
The Via grants team can provide you with full support throughout the entire application process: from finding the right funding program to finally winning that money, so you can put your mind at peace. We built a comprehensive database where we monitor and track the latest funding programs of all kinds, including formula funds and competitive funds at the local, state, and federal levels. After evaluating your specific needs, we’ll provide a list of funding opportunities for you to pursue.
And when you want to apply for one? We understand that each city has different resources, so their need for application support is different, too. That’s why we offer three levels of assistance for grant applications: full support, partial support, and editing services. At every level, cities benefit from Via’s success writing grant-winning materials.
- Full support: We can take the lead on the entire proposal writing process for those who need end-to-end assistance. This includes creating detailed graphics, writing the application narrative, drafting template letters of support, and other collateral. We develop a timeline for compiling all documents, data collection, outlining roles and responsibilities, drafting, review, and submission.
- Partial support: For cities that prefer to take control of proposal writing but still need some professional guidance when needed, Via offers partial support and final reviews. We help edit and review the proposal, and provide narratives and graphics to enhance, ensuring the city's unique voice and vision are well-represented.
- Editing support: For those needing a final polish, Via provides editing support. Cities lead the proposal writing, and Via offers basic consulting sessions to brainstorm ideas and provides language and graphics to enhance the proposal.
To get started, it's as simple as assigning a point person. We will provide you with a list of necessary documents to start gathering, such as old grant applications, planning studies, rider surveys, and community engagement results. And the rest? We’ll take care of it. Weekly or bi-weekly updates will be scheduled to ensure smooth progress until the application is submitted.
Future-proof funding.
Securing the cash for your new transit or infrastructure programs is a huge win, congratulations! But we are also aware that start-up funds are half the battle — we need to make sure your projects not only get off the ground, but thrive for years to come.
Beyond immediate application support, we also help cities plan out long-term funding strategies that ensure sustainability and growth. Our team will help you explore diversified funding sources, including formula funds, public-private partnerships, local funding initiatives, and tax credits programs. Together, we can create a robust financial plan for your continued success.
Ready to start your grant application with our on-demand grant experts and win the much-needed cash for your community? We’d love to help!
