November 19, 2024
Economic Development
Port Division
DATE: November 19, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Nannette Beacham, Economic Development Director
Charles Gerard, Port Director
Lizeht Zepeda, Senior Business Assistance Officer
Subject:
Authorization to Apply for Rebuilding American
Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)
Grant
FINANCIAL IMPACT: If grant funds are awarded, it would positively affect the Port Fund. There is no fiscal impact related to the
adoption of the Resolution.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Port is seeking City Council authorization to submit grant applications to the United States Department of
Transportation (DOT) – for any and all grants for which the Port of Richmond is eligible through Fiscal Year
2029-2030.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution authorizing the city manager or their designee to submit grant applications for any and all
United States Department of Transportation (DOT)
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability
and Equity (RAISE) Grants for which the Port of
Richmond is eligible through Fiscal Year 2029-2030;
EXECUTE all necessary and related agreements –
Economic Development Department (Charles Gerard
510-620-6792/Nannette Beacham 510 621-1306/Lizeht
Zepeda/510-620- 6653).
AGENDA
REPORT
November 19, 2024
DISCUSSION:
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) under the Biden-Harris Administration provided a funding opportunity of $1.8 billion in infrastructure grants from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program.
On June 26, 2024, DOT announced the competitive RAISE program, which authorized $1.8 billion in funding. The RAISE program is one of several competitive grant programs providing funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that supports diverse communities with projects of local and regional focus. A large percentage of grants support regions defined as historically disadvantaged or areas of persistent poverty.
The eligibility requirements of RAISE allow project sponsors, including state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities, like the Port of Richmond to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs.
Brookfield, the Port’s tenant at Terminal 3, will directly fund the grant writing and application cost for this current Fiscal Year (FY) of 2024-2025 in collaboration with the Port. Any funding received from this current FY grant opportunity would be used to fund wharf rehabilitation of the Terminal 3 and for undergrounding of electrical power lines on Harbour Way South from the Terminal 3 facility to the end of Harbour Way South next to the Ferry parking lot.
The RAISE notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) was released date is October 15, 2024, with deadline of January 13, 2025. DOT anticipates notifying selectees by late 2025.
RAISE has an emphasis on safety and having port facilities in a state of good repair, as well as a strong direct air capture (DAC) and climate resilience component. Brookfield has identified a consultant, GNA (a TRC Company), who is a clean transportation and energy consultant to assist in identifying, applying, and producing the materials needed to submit a fully completed grant package to DOT at no cost to the Port of Richmond.
Authorizing the Port to apply for the RAISE grant will benefit Terminal 3, its surrounding areas, and the Port. The Port will have the opportunity to apply to future DOT grants with the authorizations in effect for City of Richmond Fiscal Years’ 2024-2025 through 2029-2030.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
City Council Goals and Priorities in alignment with Economic Development and Port of Richmond including but not limited to:
2.1 Create new opportunities for workforce development in Richmond 2.3 Create and or re-envision infrastructure to attract new business and retail,
November 19, 2024
manufacturing infill developments, and new customers for existing Richmond businesses
2.5 Revitalization of Port
3.2 Create new infrastructure
4.4 Add and improve emergency preparedness
6.2 Reduce local hazards
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – RAISE Resolution to Apply for Grants
Attachment 2 - Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024