Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) Challenge Grants
RFP Summary provided by the agency
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $11 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 research funds for AIM Challenge Grants. FTA is seeking to fund development and demonstration projects that can accelerate the development, implementation and adoption of innovative technologies, practices, and service models to improve mobility and enhance the rider experience. AIM Challenge Grant recipients selected through this NOFO will be designated as the inaugural class of AIM Incubators, a national network of innovative transit agencies that test new mobility solutions and broadly share the results with industry.
AIM Challenge Grants are part of FTA’s new AIM Initiative to foster innovative transit technologies, practices and solutions that incentivize travelers to choose public transportation, promote economic development in communities, and enhance public/private partnerships to improve personal mobility.
The FTA provides this funding opportunity based on the traditional challenge grant concept of achieving specific innovation goals and using that achievement to spotlight a grantee (i.e., AIM Incubators) and disseminate proven innovative mobility practices in the public transportation industry. The primary objectives of the AIM Challenge Grants are to:
Explore and validate forward-thinking approaches to improve transit system design, service, and financing.
Provide funding to transit agencies in all types of communities—urban, suburban, rural— to identify, test, and prove out new approaches, technologies and service models.
Establish a national network of public transportation stakeholders that are incorporating innovative approaches and business models to improve mobility and that will share their project results.
Identify and promote the most promising and effective innovations that can be implemented more broadly through FTA’s capital programs.
What is the mission and focus of the program: research, social, economic or others?
Public Transport Innovation
How do you submit to this opportunity?
Apply through grants.gov
You must download FTA’s supplemental form to apply for this grant opportunity: https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/applying/notices-funding/accelerating-innovative-mobility-aim-challenge-grants-2020-notice-0
Who are the target applicants: cities, universities, companies, small business, nonprofits, or others?
State governments
City or township governments
County governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Special district governments
Eligible applicants under this notice are providers of public transportation, including public transportation agencies, state/local government DOTs, and federally recognized Indian tribes. Eligible applicants may identify one or more project partner(s) with a substantial interest and involvement in the project. Applicants can also designate any partner as a key partner that shares the costs, risks, and rewards of early deployment, demonstration, and operation of innovative projects. Applications must clearly identify the eligible applicant and all project partners on the project team and indicate any key partners.
