U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) providing $1.5 billion in FY 2026 BUILD Grant funding for infrastructure projects across the United States. The announcement, made on December 15, 2025, signals continued federal commitment to infrastructure investment while establishing new merit criteria that reflect the current administration's priorities. The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grants program represents a significant opportunity for states, municipalities, and transportation agencies to secure federal funding for eligible infrastructure projects.
The $1.5 billion available through FY 2026 BUILD Grants builds on a program history extending back to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As of July 2025, the BUILD program has awarded over $18 billion across 18 rounds of funding, demonstrating sustained federal commitment to infrastructure modernization and development throughout the nation.
Under Secretary Duffy's leadership, the BUILD Grant program has established refined merit criteria reflecting administration priorities. The program will prioritize projects that increase safety measures, expand transportation options, beautify infrastructure, improve roadway capacity and affordability, improve travel experience through accessibility features, facilitate tourism, and support U.S. energy dominance. These criteria represent both continuity with established infrastructure investment principles and evolution toward contemporary priorities.
The emphasis on safety aligns with longstanding infrastructure policy objectives of reducing accidents, injuries, and fatalities through improved infrastructure design and maintenance. Roadway capacity improvements address congestion and transportation efficiency. Accessibility features ensure infrastructure serves all users regardless of mobility or other constraints. Beautification initiatives recognize that well-maintained infrastructure contributes to community character and economic vitality. Tourism support acknowledges that transportation infrastructure facilitates economic activity in communities dependent on visitor spending. Energy dominance reflects administration energy policy priorities.
BUILD Grants support transportation infrastructure across multiple categories. Eligible projects include highway infrastructure, rail systems, port facilities, and truck parking infrastructure. This diverse range of eligible project types recognizes that effective transportation systems require investment across multiple modes and infrastructure types. Highway improvements support automobile and commercial truck transportation. Rail infrastructure supports freight and passenger movement. Port facilities enable maritime commerce. Truck parking addresses specific needs of commercial transportation operations.
The breadth of eligible project categories allows diverse regions and communities to compete effectively for funding. Rural communities may emphasize highway improvements. Urban centers may prioritize rail or port infrastructure. Regions with significant commercial transportation may focus on truck parking and logistics infrastructure. This flexibility ensures that BUILD Grants can support regionally appropriate infrastructure investments aligned with local transportation needs and economic priorities.
Applications for FY 2026 BUILD Grants are due February 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. This February deadline provides approximately two months from the December announcement for applicants to prepare comprehensive applications. Applicants must develop detailed project proposals demonstrating alignment with program merit criteria, technical feasibility, financial viability, and anticipated project impacts.
Successful BUILD Grant applications typically include detailed project descriptions, engineering assessments, environmental analysis, financial feasibility demonstrations, and community benefit articulations. Applicants compete nationally, requiring applications to demonstrate compelling advantages compared to other proposed projects across the country. The competitive process encourages rigorous project development and substantive demonstration of project merit.
The BUILD Grant program's history provides context for understanding the program's significance and reach. Established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the program began as part of the federal government's response to the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The program successfully distributed federal infrastructure funding to projects across diverse regions and sectors, demonstrating that competitive grant processes can effectively allocate federal resources to merit-based infrastructure investments.
The program's evolution from 2009 through 2025—18 rounds of funding distributing over $18 billion—demonstrates sustained political support and program effectiveness. Projects funded through previous BUILD rounds have contributed to infrastructure modernization, transportation capacity enhancement, and regional economic development throughout the United States. The program's continued operation across multiple administrations reflects bipartisan recognition of its value as an infrastructure funding mechanism.
Secretary Duffy's announcement emphasized the administration's focus on "safe and innovative projects that lower costs." This statement reflects administration priorities emphasizing infrastructure safety, technological innovation, and cost-effectiveness. By prioritizing projects that reduce accidents and enhance user safety, the administration recognizes that infrastructure safety represents a fundamental public good. Emphasis on innovation acknowledges that new technologies and approaches can enhance infrastructure performance. Cost reduction priorities acknowledge that efficient infrastructure development maximizes public resources' impact.
The merit criteria established for FY 2026 BUILD Grants reflect these philosophical priorities. Projects demonstrating how improved infrastructure enhances safety, incorporates innovative approaches, and controls costs will likely score well in competitive evaluations. Applicants should emphasize project safety benefits, technological innovation, and cost management strategies in their applications.
The $1.5 billion in FY 2026 BUILD Grant funding represents significant opportunity for state departments of transportation, municipal governments, and transportation authorities to secure federal support for priority infrastructure projects. State and local transportation agencies currently managing unfunded capital improvement backlogs should examine whether priority projects align with BUILD Grant merit criteria and constitute competitive applications.
Regions facing infrastructure capacity constraints, safety concerns, or aging infrastructure should evaluate whether FY 2026 BUILD Grants provide funding mechanisms to address these needs. The application deadline of February 24, 2026, provides sufficient time for applicants to develop thorough applications if project planning begins promptly. Agencies beginning application preparation immediately can benefit from extended development timelines and thorough merit demonstration.
The $1.5 billion FY 2026 BUILD Grant funding contributes to broader federal infrastructure investment efforts. Combined with other federal programs—including highway funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, grant programs through the Federal Transit Administration, and port and waterway programs—BUILD Grants represent one component of federal infrastructure funding. The competitive process ensures that available federal resources support projects with demonstrated merit and regional or national significance.
As infrastructure nationwide continues aging and capacity constraints emerge in many regions, federal programs like BUILD Grants provide essential mechanisms for deploying federal resources to infrastructure priorities. The $1.5 billion available through FY 2026 BUILD Grants, combined with enhanced merit criteria emphasizing safety and innovation, represents significant opportunity for transportation infrastructure modernization. Interested applicants should begin application preparation immediately to meet the February 24, 2026, deadline.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, December 15, 2025
Developer Norm Swanson proposes an 88-unit studio apartment building on Syracuse's University Hill near Syracuse University campus, with related historic home renovation for tenant events.
KeyBank planning a new 3,500-square-foot freestanding branch with drive-thru services at 1765 East Ridge Road in Irondequoit, NY, seeking approval in February 2026.
Governor Hochul announced $10 million in awards to 35 commercial and mixed-use projects on Buffalo's East Side, supporting affordable housing development and business renovations.
.svg)
