Working on Wellness Environments
Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) is a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension multidisciplinary community development program

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

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Program Overview

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over 5 years, 2022-2026. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Over $3 billion is still available for future funding rounds. 

Funding Opportunities

FY24 NOFO Now Open

The fiscal year (FY) 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Safe Streets and Roads for All grants is open.

The FY 2024 NOFO has multiple deadlines, depending on the grant type

  • April 4, 2024, 5 p.m. (EDT): Deadline #1 for Planning and Demonstration Grants.
  • May 16, 2024, 5 p.m. (EDT): Sole deadline for Implementation Grants. Deadline #2 for Planning and Demonstration Grants.
  • August 29, 2024, 5 p.m. (EDT): Deadline #3 for Planning and Demonstration Grants. NOFO closes.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Eligibility

The following groups of applicants are eligible for the SS4A grant program:

  • Political subdivisions of a State, which includes counties, cities, towns, transit agencies, and other special districts.
  • Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).
  • Federally recognized Tribal governments.

Learn more about eligible applicants for SS4A.

Planning and Demonstration Grants

Planning and Demonstration Grants provide Federal funds to develop, complete, or supplement an Action Plan. The goal of an Action Plan is to develop a holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries in a locality, Tribal area, or region.

Planning and Demonstration Grants also fund supplemental planning activities in support of an Action Plan and demonstration activities in support of an Action Plan.

Implementation Grants 

Implementation Grants provide Federal funds to implement projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan to address a roadway safety problem. Eligible projects and strategies can be infrastructural, behavioral, and/or operational activities.

Implementation Grants may also include supplemental planning and demonstration activities to inform an existing Action Plan, and project-level planning, design, and development activities.

Applicants must have an eligible comprehensive safety action plan (referred to as an “Action Plan”) to apply for an Implementation Grant.  

New in FY24, potential Implementation Grant applicants may submit their Action Plan(s) for pre-application review so that USDOT may affirm their eligibility to apply for an Implementation Grant.

League of American Bicyclists’ Community Spark Grants

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Overview

The League of American Bicyclists is delighted to announce its third year of Community Spark Grants to support the growing number of local grassroots changemakers and organizations across the country working to improve their communities through bicycling. 

In 2024, the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program will award Community Spark Grants, of $1,500 each, to 15 organizations for projects and programs that spark change and catalyze a community’s ability to create places where bicycling is a safe, easy, and more accessible option. Our desire is for organizations to propose projects that help create Bicycle Friendly Communities and build capacity for local leaders and influencers by uplifting the community and creating inclusive coalitions that can shed new light on current issues. 

In 2024, support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will fund 8 awards, as part of the CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Initiative, which aims to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027.  Separately, support from General Motors (GM) will fund 7 awards in 2024. 

Eligible organizations are nonprofits and public or government organizations/agencies. Of the 15 organizations to receive awards, 7 must be in GM home communities. (See the list of eligible GM Communities here.) We are seeking proposals for projects that can be completed by the end of the calendar year (December 31, 2024). 

Funds may support a wide range of bicycling-related projects such as but are not limited to, short-term pop-up events, education campaigns, tactical urbanism demonstrations, educational events or resources, accessibility audits, or street safety improvements. We are especially looking for projects with new perspectives that increase opportunities for healthy and active ways to get around, focus on issues faced by people from underserved or under-resourced populations, and include authentic engagement with the community. 

Priority will be given to projects that have the broadest impact and have an equity lens to the work, such as, but not limited to working with underserved or under-resourced populations, or projects led by or primarily serving people from ethnic or racial minority groups, low-income populations, older populations, youth, and/or people with disabilities. For projects that are combining this funding with other sources, we want to see that this funding will make up a significant portion of the project’s overall budget or will provide “seed” funds that are necessary for the project to get off the ground.

The Community Spark Grant application will open on Monday, November 20, 2023, and the deadline to apply for a 2024 Community Spark Grant is February 1, 2024, at 5:00 pm ET. Applicants will be notified of award decisions in March.

Grant Timeline

  • Application Opens: November 20, 2023
  • Application Closes: February 1, 2024 at 5pm ET
  • Applications Reviewed: February 2024
  • Applicants Selected and Notified: March 2024
  • Project Execution: March-December 2024
  • Final Reports Due: End of December 2024

Eligible Organizations

  • Public or Government Agencies/Organizations (e.g. Library, Parks and Rec Department)
  • Non-Profits – 501(C)(3), 501(C)(4), and 501(c)(6) 
  • Other types of organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • U.S.-based organization
     

Eligible GM Home Communities 

Thanks to the support of General Motors, 17 of the 15 Community Spark Grant awards in 2024 will be available to GM communities or surrounding regions. See the complete list of GM cities here. If you have questions, please contact anna@bikeleague.org. 
 

Project Categories 

Fundable projects should be in one of the following categories: 

  • One Time Event
  • Series of Events
  • Classes/Educational Opportunity
  • Pop-up Infrastructure/Traffic Calming* 
  • Placemaking/Tactical Urbanism*
  • End-of-Trip Facilities (bike parking/fix-it stations, etc.)
  • Giveaways or subsidies for bicycle equipment and/or accessories (e.g. lights, helmets, bells, locks, etc.)
  • Bike audit, count, survey, or other evaluation/assessment effort (must have follow-up/community involvement to be eligible) 
  • Miscellaneous/Other 

*Funding can only support temporary/non-permanent structures and materials such as paint, vertical delineators, bollards, and signage. For questions on if a structure or material is allowable, please email Anna Tang at anna@bikeleague.org 

See here for example projects and links to resources to help you brainstorm project ideas. 
 

What is not eligible for funding: 

  • Most permit-required infrastructure, such as sidewalks or concrete for road widening.
    • Exceptions:
      • Bike racks or bike fix-it stations would be allowable but need to show broader community context and impact. 
      • Temporary structures or demonstration/quick builds including paint, vertical delineators, bollards, and signage would also be allowable.
  • Funding for personal use. 
  • Funds used solely towards covering a staffer’s salary. 
  • Petitions or signature gathering. 
  • Funds only used for advertising or promotional materials.
  • Studies/research. 
     

Technical Note:

This online application system allows multiple users to collaborate on an application together. There is a “manage collaborators” button at the top of the online application where applicants can manage who has access to the form and allow for more than one person to fill out answers. We encourage communities and organizations who are applying for a grant to work with others in their local community to submit one joint application. See our application portal FAQs page for more information about collaborating on the application.


Questions: 

If you have questions, please email Anna Tang at anna@bikeleague.org

Have your say on January 31, 2024! Meet TxDOT’s Statewide Active Transportation Plan Team

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Have your say on January 31, 2024! BikeTexas will be hosting TxDOT for a free zoom meeting on Wednesday, January 31 as they present the Statewide Active Transportation Plan (SATP).

Join other fellow active transportation users, advocates, transportation professionals, and the local community on Wednesday, January 31 from 11am-12:30pm. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you have and offer feedback as TxDOT builds the SATP. Register now!

https://biketexas.formstack.com/forms/biketexas_satp_webinar

Celebrate Your Local Parks and Places!

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By: Valeria Jauregui

How many active parks and places do you think there are in Rio Grande City? Did you know there are at least 17? Did you know the city of Roma has at least three? Parks, schools, plazas and paths can provide most people with a place to be active and spend time with family and friends.

Many people do not know about all the parks in their communities—even in smaller communities. According to Jamie Rae Walker, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension associate professor and urban and municipal park specialist, research says lack of knowledge is one of the barriers people report for why they don’t visit their local parks and active places.

Roma, Rio Grande City, and the city of Eagle Pass are working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) program to tie into the CDC’s Active People Healthy Nation (APHN) campaign. This campaign aims to get 27 million more Americans physically active by 2027. The goal of these local efforts is to make residents “in the know” about parks and active places so more can visit and use them to be active, socialize, and enjoy time outdoors.

The campaign is in full swing; here’s what community members have said about it:

“[The billboard] is going to make people think, ‘I want to go find [the parks!]”

“It’s a great source of information and inspiration because people will want to go and find [the parks] and use them.”

Residents of Roma, Rio Grande City, and Eagle Pass can visit tx.ag/parks to learn about parks and other active places like plazas, walking trails, bike lanes, and schools with after-school amenities. The website also includes information about StoryWalk™, a program that allows children and families to get active together while they read a book that is posted page-by-page along a designated route.

Watch your community for more resources, like billboards, maps, posters, and cues around to help you learn about local active infrastructure. For more information, visit tx.ag/parks.

Note: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) program is funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) High Obesity Program.

Embracing Youth Perspectives for Community Change

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By Anna Stehling

When planning for community change and improvement, it’s easy to overlook a segment of the population that is often underrepresented among community planners and professionals: youth.

Those under 25 have a unique experience and perspective in their community and often aren’t scared to speak the truth about what they see. If you want to make a change in your community that is impactful, meaningful, relevant, and sustainable, engage the community, including the youth.

FACES OF OUR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Changemakers around the world tap into younger generations for their outlook and input. For example, as Kailash Satyarthi campaigned against child labor in India, he made sure to include the children and youth impacted by these situations. For the social reforms he helped bring about, he was co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Malala Yousafzai, in 20141.

His perspective is captured here: “The power of youth is the common wealth for the entire world. The faces of young people are the faces of our past, our present, and our future. No segment in the society can match with the power, idealism, enthusiasm, and courage of the young people.2”

As you look to make a difference in your community, whether large or small, embracing the power of youth perspective can shape your outcomes in positive ways.

MEANINGFUL PERSPECTIVES

Youth participation and engagement are important to a meaningful planning process for myriad reasons. Not only are young people the future of the community, but they are here right now, and their opinions matter. Regardless of age, all people have experiences and opinions that are valid. Youth community members have a right to be included in decisions that will affect them.

Bringing youth to the table and giving them a voice and an opportunity to contribute to change also can foster a sense of ownership and belonging. Young people that are involved in their community change will likely feel a sense of investment in their community and will develop a sense of ownership and pride there as well.

Young people experience and view their community in a way that is unique, which makes them a significant group to tap into. Community leaders should capitalize on the fact that youth have a one-of-a-kind lens through which they view their surroundings.

OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME

Why don’t we embrace the power of the youth perspective more often? Perhaps it’s that community leaders look to professional peers, who are often older. It also takes a concerted effort to engage young people and figure out where to find them. There also might be preconceived ideas about what they care about and how involved they want to be. Keep an open mind–you will probably be surprised.

CONNECTING WITH YOUTH

It can help if you understand a few things about the younger generations by talking to them. Here are some ideas for getting in touch:

· Reach out to current contacts about the young people in their lives.

· Connect with local high school guidance counselors and ask for their recommendations about how to interest students in your goals.

· Utilize social media to reach younger generations (Instagram is a good start).

· Put up flyers at the places where youth gather, like libraries and community sports venues.

Once you have a handful of young people interested, let them plan a fun event and invite their friends. Pizza, anyone?

PLAN TO SUCCEED

Aiming to increase youth engagement and participation can be woven into your efforts as you work to change your community. Participation might start off small, but incorporating youth in your efforts will likely strengthen it for the future. Think long-term, make use of your connections, and stay optimistic: Your community, young and old, will benefit.

Sources

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailash_Satyarthi

2 https://www.forbesindia.com/article/thoughts/thoughts-on-being-young/66673/1