SOI - Rural Transportation Match and Gap Funding Assistance Program | 26 DC MG SOI TRX

Opportunity Information: Apply for 26 DC MG SOI TRX

The Denali Commission is seeking Statements of Interest (SOIs) for its Rural Transportation Match and Gap Funding Assistance Program, a discretionary grant opportunity designed to help rural Alaska transportation projects move forward when they are otherwise stalled by missing money. In many small or remote communities, the main barrier to completing a transportation project is not a lack of planning or need, but the inability to come up with required local cost share (match) or to close a remaining funding shortfall after other sources have been lined up. This program is meant to remove that bottleneck by providing funds specifically to cover local match obligations or fill project funding gaps so that construction-ready transportation improvements can be completed and deliver public benefit in Alaska.

The Commission is committing up to $5,000,000 total to this effort, using funds appropriated under Public Law 117-328. A key feature of this opportunity is that Denali Commission funds may be used to meet non-federal match requirements for certain federal-aid transportation projects. The announcement cites Section 309(h) of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121; Public Law 105-277), which allows Commission funds to be applied toward the non-federal share of project costs under Title 23 of the United States Code. Practically speaking, this is important for communities pursuing highway and surface transportation-related projects that typically require a local match they may not be able to raise on their own.

Projects must be rural transportation improvement projects that are construction-ready and provide a public benefit in Alaska. While the notice does not list specific project types in the excerpt provided, the framing is clearly aimed at transportation infrastructure that is ready to proceed but needs the final match or gap dollars to reach a complete, buildable funding package. The Commission also notes it may choose to partially fund projects, depending on the strength of requests received and other considerations, which signals that applicants should be prepared to explain exactly what amount is needed, what it unlocks, and how it fits into the larger financing plan.

Eligible applicants include a range of Alaska public and nonprofit entities: municipal and borough governments, tribal governments (Indian Tribes as defined under Title 25 U.S.C. 5304), regional tribal nonprofit organizations, and other nonprofit organizations. The source data also lists common applicant categories such as county governments, city or township governments, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). A notable program priority is that entities without an active or pending Denali Commission transportation program award will receive priority consideration, which appears intended to broaden access and distribute funding to communities and organizations that are not already in the Commission's current transportation award pipeline.

The process starts with a Statement of Interest rather than a full proposal. The SOI closing date is February 13, 2026. After the window closes, Denali Commission staff and subject matter experts will conduct an initial conformance review and evaluate submissions. Successful respondents are expected to begin receiving invitations around February 20 to submit full proposals, and invitees will have about 30 days to prepare and submit those full applications. Full proposals will then be reviewed by the Transportation Advisory Committee along with Commission staff and subject matter experts. The Commission anticipates making awards in late spring 2026.

In terms of funding scale, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award and anticipates making about 8 awards. The funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is transportation, and the CFDA (assistance listing) number provided is 90.100. One practical submission instruction is emphasized: applicants must email the completed Statement of Interest form to projects@denali.gov, and should not upload materials to Grants.gov for this SOI stage. The full announcement and the fillable SOI form are available in the opportunity's related documents, and applicants are expected to use that form for submission.

• The Denali Commission in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SOI - Rural Transportation Match and Gap Funding Assistance Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 90.100.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-01-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-02-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for 26 DC MG SOI TRX

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