Video not working? Click here to view the webinar on YouTube.
The Local Infrastructure Hub hosted a session on October 29 to discuss how the updated Uniform Grants Guidance can help cities leverage federal funding to plan and implement impactful infrastructure and climate projects. The revised Uniform Grants Guidance from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) helps cities maximize their use of federal grants, ensuring that investments in data and evidence contribute effectively to program improvements and community outcomes. This updated guidance is effective for all new federal awards entered into on or after October 1, 2024 and provides clarity around eligible expenses – for example, cities can use federal funding to implement evidence-based practices, improve data systems, conduct evaluations, and provide compensation for participating in community engagement activities. Featured speakers included Deidre Harrison, Deputy Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, U.S. OMB; Rhea Hubbard, Director of Office of Grants and Financial Assistance, U.S. DOT; Dr. Stephanie Deitrick, Chief Data Analytics Officer of Tempe, Arizona; Kat Hartman, Chief Data Officer of Detroit, Michigan, and Maia Jachimowicz, Senior Advisor, Equity Centered Program Design, Results for America.
Key insights shared:
The revised Uniform Guidance is a clarification of existing policy.
Deidre Harrison discussed that OMB does not believe the revised Uniform Guidance is fundamentally changing what is allowable, it is instead to provide clarity. She highlighted key updates to the uniform grants guidance, such as simplified funding announcements, increased single audit thresholds, and clearer language to reduce administrative burdens, enhance accessibility, and promote better engagement with communities and auditors.
Engage early with relevant federal agencies to clarify allowable costs and leverage evidence for stronger grant applications.
Rhea Hubbard from DOT discussed her office’s role in supporting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by promoting consistent implementation of the uniform guidance across DOT programs. She emphasized the importance of engaging with the department to clarify allowable costs for grants, such as determining direct or indirect costs, and highlighted DOT’s focus on evidence and data in evaluating applications.
The revised Uniform Guidance presents an opportunity to invest in strategic data infrastructure and prioritize equity while strengthening grant applications.
Dr. Stephanie Deitrick described how Tempe expanded its data team to meet the rising demand for strategic data use. With new grant management resources and an emphasis on equity-focused initiatives, Tempe plans to leverage the updated guidance to better structure grant applications and integrate community engagement. She highlighted that the guidance’s clear allowance for engagement expenses, such as stipends and translation services, supports the city’s ongoing efforts to prioritize equity.
Integrating data governance and performance tracking across departments prepares cities to meet the reporting and transparency expectations of federal grants.
Kat Hartman shared how her team streamlined data operations during COVID-19, integrating data across departments. This is a capability now applied to tracking outcomes and financials for ARPA projects. With the revised guidance, Detroit is exploring how these systems can further leverage federal funding by formalizing data governance and reporting structures. She also highlighted Detroit’s involvement in initiatives like What Works Cities Certification and the City Data Alliance which reflects the city’s proactive approach to data management.
Resources Shared During the Webinar and in Discussion:
- Maximize Federal Grants with Data and Evidence
- Council on Federal Financial Assistance
- Uniform Grants Guidance 2024 Revision
- What Works Cities
Local Infrastructure Hub Bootcamp Materials
The Local Infrastructure Hub is here to support cities in accessing Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding and communicating the success of BIL-funded projects through a mix of webinars, practical tools and templates. Our webinars and Grant Application Bootcamps can guide you through different application processes and actionable steps to submit a strong application.
Register for our Local Infrastructure Hub Bootcamps now to receive technical assistance for city staff on relevant tools and templates that can be applied to grant applications; learn how to build community engagement plans and leverage community assets; understand how to effectively incorporate data into the grant application process; and construct a strong budget and grant narrative.