FY 2020 Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone Program | FTA 2020 011 TPE HOPE

FY 2020 HOPE Program (FTA) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the FY 2020 Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE) Program?

The FY 2020 Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA). It is designed to invest in transportation-related projects that benefit communities experiencing persistent poverty.

2) What is the main purpose of the HOPE Program?

The program aims to improve economic opportunity and overall well-being by funding transit and transportation initiatives in places where long-term poverty has limited access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential services.

3) Who is the federal agency administering this grant?

The grant is administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation.

4) Is this a formula grant or a competitive/discretionary grant?

This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant opportunity, meaning funding is competitively awarded based on the criteria in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) rather than distributed by formula.

5) What is the total funding amount available under this FY 2020 round?

The program set aside a total of $8.5 million for this round.

6) What is the maximum award amount per project?

The anticipated award ceiling was $850,000 per project.

7) How many awards did FTA expect to make?

FTA anticipated making about 20 awards.

8) When was this funding opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?

The creation/posting date was March 3, 2020. The original application deadline was May 4, 2020.

9) Where was the opportunity published?

The opportunity was published on Grants.gov under listing FTA-2020-011-TPE-HOPE (Funding Opportunity Number: FTA 2020 011 TPE HOPE).

10) What is the CFDA number and funding activity category?

The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 20.505, and it falls under the Transportation funding activity category.

11) What type of funding instrument is used?

Funding is provided through a grant instrument, meaning recipients are awarded federal funds to carry out an approved project consistent with program goals and federal requirements.

12) What kinds of projects does the HOPE Program support?

The HOPE Program supports transportation-related projects and transit/transportation initiatives intended to benefit communities experiencing persistent poverty, with a central focus on improving access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other essentials.

13) What does it mean that a project must serve an area experiencing "persistent poverty"?

Projects needed to serve areas identified as experiencing persistent poverty, consistent with the definitions and criteria provided in the official NOFO. The specific definition used for eligibility is contained in the full announcement materials on Grants.gov.

14) Which types of organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants included state governments, county governments, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. Nonprofit organizations were eligible both with and without 501(c)(3) status, provided they met the other eligibility rules. The program also allowed additional applicant types under an "Others" category as clarified in the eligibility section of the full announcement.

15) Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to apply?

No. The opportunity stated that nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status were eligible, as long as they met the other eligibility rules described in the announcement.

16) Can tribal governments apply?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments were listed among the eligible applicants.

17) Can universities or colleges apply?

Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education were included as eligible applicants.

18) Can local governments apply?

Yes. County governments and city or township governments were included as eligible applicants, along with state governments.

19) Will every award be the same size?

No. While the award ceiling was $850,000 per project, individual project awards could vary based on merit, need, and alignment with the program objectives and evaluation criteria described in the NOFO.

20) What factors determine whether a project is selected for funding?

Selection is based on the program's objectives and the evaluation and selection criteria described in the NOFO, along with considerations such as merit and need as noted in the opportunity description.

21) Where can applicants find the official eligibility rules, definitions, and required application components?

The government directed applicants and stakeholders to the synopsis and the full announcement posted on Grants.gov. The full package typically includes the definition of persistent poverty used for eligibility, required application components, project eligibility details, cost-share or match expectations (if any), evaluation criteria, and administrative obligations tied to federal transit funding.

22) Does the opportunity mention whether cost share or matching funds are required?

The provided information indicates the full announcement typically includes federal cost-share and match expectations (if any). The specific requirements, if applicable, would be found in the NOFO on Grants.gov.

23) What federal requirements apply to recipients?

Recipients must carry out an approved project consistent with the program goals and applicable federal requirements. The detailed administrative obligations tied to federal transit funding are typically described in the full announcement on Grants.gov.

24) What law created or funded this program?

The program was created through the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, which set aside $8.5 million for eligible applicants working in qualifying high-need areas.