Ready to Rebuild: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Webinar Series

Past Events

View recordings for all past events here.

Ready to Rebuild: Clean Energy Project Eligibility for Local Governments in the Inflation Reduction Act

December 8, 2022, 12:00-1:00 PM ET (US and Canada)

The Inflation Reduction Act provides a variety of clean energy tax credits and for the first time local governments are positioned to take advantage of these types of tax credits directly. With investments in clean commercial vehicles and renewable energy projects at municipal utilities, local governments have the option for a direct payment in lieu of tax credit. Participants will hear from legal experts and others on how local governments can take advantage of this new opportunity to help meet their clean energy goals.

Speakers:

Mary Burke Baker, Government Affairs Counselor, K&L Gate

Jennifer Burke, Director, Santa Rosa Water, California

Mayor Victoria Woodards, Tacoma, WA, NLC President

Ready to Rebuild: Rolling Out Electric Vehicle Charging in Your Community

September 29, 2022, 1:00-2:00 PM PM ET (US and Canada)

Right now, a national network of electric vehicle (EV) chargers is being planned on major roads throughout the country, and cities and towns preparing to apply for new federal EV charging grants coming soon. The EV charging network will be one of the most transformational and visible investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, so now is the time for communities to get ready and ensure they are not left out of this significant economic driver. This webinar will focus on cities’ EV questions – where to start, what grants are available, what coordination is needed, and what to plan for as EVs continue to be integrated into the transportation system.

Speakers:

• City-Parish of Baton Rouge, LA
• Stantec Consulting Services
• Joint Department of Energy and Transportation Office (invited)

Ready to Rebuild: Investing in Clean Energy and Improving Energy Efficiency in Your Community

September 15, 2022, 1:00-2:00 PM ET (US and Canada)

Join NLC and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to learn how your community can access and best use funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), with a special focus on small- and mid-sized cities. Come hear more about climate-related programs like the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), the Justice40 (J40) Initiative and other DOE funding opportunities put forth to improve energy efficiency, invest in renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in your community. 

Speakers:

• Mayor Emily Larson, Mayor, City of Duluth, Minnesota and Chair, NLC Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee 
• Michael Forrester, Acting Principal Deputy Director, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy
• Carolyn Berndt, Legislative Director for Sustainability, Federal Advocacy, NLC

Navigating “Buy America” for New Federal Infrastructure Grants and Latest Grant Updates

July 21, 2022, 2:00-3:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Congress began a new phase of “Buy America” policy with a new office in the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to coordinate a broad federal effort to ensure federal funds are buying products made in the U.S. Each federal Administration department, such as USDOT and EPA, have jurisdiction on appropriate waivers for their federal grants. For any local government applying for current or future federal funds, “Buy America” is important to understand as it factors into project estimates and plans. Join NLC as we hear from the new OMB Made in America Office and get the latest updates from NLC on available federal grants to go after.

Speaker:

• Celeste Drake, Made in America Director, White House Office of Management and Budget

Advancing Infrastructure Jobs in Federally Funded Transportation Projects

April 14, 2022, 12:00–1:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provides a historic investment in our nation’s physical infrastructure, but we know that roads and bridges won’t build themselves. The U.S. Departments of Labor and Transportation recognize this unique opportunity to promote the creation of good infrastructure and transportation jobs with a focus on equitable workforce development to ensure that the residents of cities, towns and villages have access to the good-paying jobs that will result from these infrastructure projects. Join experts from the Departments of Labor and Transportation to learn about their recently announced partnership on forthcoming funding opportunities from the Department of Transportation that include requirements and allowances for focuses on job quality and equitable workforce development. Receive guidance on tools and checklists to help guide your city, town or village in its application process.

SPEAKERS:

• Katelyn Walker Mooney, Policy Advisor, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor
• Paige Shevlin, Strategic Advisor for Infrastructure Workforce Development, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation
• Michael Ramsey, Executive Director for Workforce Development, City of San Antonio, TX
• Mayor Vince Williams, NLC President, Mayor of Union City, GA

Broadband Help for Your Community

March 31, 2022, 2:30–3:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) included more than $65 billion in new funding for broadband infrastructure and digital equity. This historic investment provides for capacity-building, construction of new broadband infrastructure, broadband affordability assistance, and digital equity programming support. Join NLC and federal agency staff to learn more about the different infrastructure, planning, and digital equity programs included in the BIL, including which programs are directly available to cities, towns and villages, and how your community can best position itself to take advantage of the new resources.

SPEAKERS:

• Angelina Panettieri, Legislative Director, Information Technology and Communications, National League of Cities
• Julia Pulidindi, Broadband Program Specialist, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

Federal Support for Fixing Community Rail Crossings and Starting New Rail Service

February 17, 2022, 2:30–3:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Join experts from the Federal Railroad Administration for an overview of rail programs the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including the new Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program that will allow for communities to build grade separations as well as FRA’s establishment of the new intercity passenger rail Corridor Identification and Development Program established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

SPEAKERS:

• Ryan Arbuckle, Senior Industry Economist, Federal Railroad Administration
• Deborah Kobrin, Transportation Industry Analyst, Federal Railroad Administration

Competing for Federal Transportation Opportunities

January 28, 2022, 2:30–3:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Congress is investing $210 billion over the five-year bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) in competitive federal transportation programs. America’s cities, towns and villages take care of a significant portion of our nation’s expansive transportation network, and the new BIL provides communities more opportunities than ever before to apply directly for federal funds, work with regional partners and states, and continue bringing new mobility options to their cities. The U.S. Department of Transportation will have more than $124 billion in competitive funding to distribute to applicants for roads, bridges, trails, rail, transit and more. Learn how the transportation application process works and how to prepare your city.

SPEAKERS:

• Christopher Coes, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy. Christopher Coes serves as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy. Coes previously served as Vice President for Land Use and Development at Smart Growth America (SGA), Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute, Professor at George Washington University, and Deputy Director and Senior Advisor for the Transportation for America campaign.

• Robert A. Mariner, has over 20 years of experience in the transportation industry, including the development of USDOT’s signature competitive RAISE (previously TIGER and BUILD) grant program, and has extensive insight into the competitive program suite at USDOT which includes programs like INFRA (formerly FASTLANE), CRISI and TIFIA. Working with three secretaries of transportation in both Republican and Democratic administrations, Mr. Mariner led a more than 75-person, multi-modal team responsible for the implementation, administration and delivery of over 420 surface transportation projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

Get Ready for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rollout

January 20, 2022, 2:30–3:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)  

With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) programs rolling out from Washington, all cities, towns and villages are invited to join White House Senior Advisor and former Mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu who is leading the President’s Infrastructure Taskforce for the first NLC “Ready to Rebuild” webinar in an ongoing series built to support cities who want to leverage federal infrastructure. Join NLC as we begin to unpack all the programs in the BIL and all the ways cities and towns can strategize to use them to invest in their communities.

SPEAKERS:

• Mitch Landrieu, Former New Orleans Mayor, White House Senior Advisor to the President for Infrastructure Coordination
• Ryan Berni, White House Senior Advisor for Infrastructure Implementation