MI Funding Hub Glossary
Allocation
A distribution of funds or an expenditure limit established for an organizational unit or function.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
Signed into law on March 11, 2021, to provide funding for state, local, and tribal governments. The United States Department of Treasury is responsible for dispersing the funds.
Appropriation
The designation of money for a government expenditure; the amount designated for a particular purpose.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, authorizes up to $108 billion for public transportation—the largest federal investment in public transportation in United States history. See also Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
CIP stands for capital improvement plan—also called a capital plan—which lays out the financing, location, and timing for capital improvement projects over several years. A capital improvement plan typically consists of one or more capital improvement projects, which are financed through a capital budget. CIPs are important tools for local governments, allowing them to plan strategically for community growth and transformation.
Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM)
A nonprofit trade association serving the community economic development (CED) industry in Michigan.
Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
A strategy-driven plan for regional economic development. A CEDS is the result of a “regionally owned” planning process designed to guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. It provides a coordinating mechanism for individuals, organizations, local governments, and private industry to engage in a meaningful conversation and debate about the economic direction of their region.
Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST)
The CEJST is a geospatial mapping tool designed to identify disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. The CEJST features a user-friendly, searchable map that identifies disadvantaged communities across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories, to the extent data are available for the U.S. territories.
Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG)
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Authorized under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, this two-phase program provides $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants. Each metropolitan statistical area (MSA) receives its own allocation of funding, in addition to the state funding allocation. In Michigan, the two MSAs with their own funding allocation for planning from CPRG are the Detroit Metropolitan Region and the Grand Rapids Metropolitan Region.
Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP)
As part of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program (CPRG), the state, the Detroit Metropolitan Region, and the Grand Rapids Metropolitan Region are required to complete a CCAP to be eligible for funding from the CPRG program.
DUNS Number
The Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S® Number is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses. It is associated with a business’s Live Business Identity, which may help evaluate potential partners, seek new contracts, apply for loans, etc.
Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs)
Environmental finance centers help communities across the country access federal funding for infrastructure projects that improve public health and environmental protection. EFCs deliver targeted technical assistance to local governments, states, tribes, territories, and non-governmental organizations to protect public health, safeguard the environment, and advance environmental justice.
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
A federal tax ID number is your employer identification number (EIN). It is issued by the IRS and used for tax identification purposes.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
A government document that evaluates and outlines the impact of a proposed project on its surrounding environment. These statements are required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 and are meant to inform the work of policymakers.
Environmental Justice (EJ)
The just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, tribal affiliation, or disability in agency decision-making and other state and federal activities that affect human health and the environment.
Environmental Protection Network (EPN)
The Environmental Protection Network harnesses the expertise of more than 550 former EPA career staff and political appointees from across the country to serve as a trusted resource, answering calls for objective analysis, scientific rigor, and a vision for a transformed 21st century EPA.
Expenditure
The execution of a previously approved or passed allocation in which government funds are spent on goods and services or distributed to programs and entities.
Final Rule
As ARPA was being developed, there was interim guidance on what the funds could or could not be used for. On January 6, 2022, the Department of the Treasury released the Final Rule for ARPA with guidance on what the funds can and cannot be used for. The funds can be used for response to the public health emergency; provide premium pay to essential workers; replace revenue lost due to the pandemic; and invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. Click here for a link to the final rule.
Fiscal Year (FY)
A one-year period used by the government for financial reporting and budgeting that may not coincide with the calendar year.
Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF)
Section 3206 of the American Rescue Plan Act established the HAF. The United States Department of the Treasury released guidance regarding this fund. It indicated it was established to “mitigate financial hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing funds to eligible entities to prevent homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020, through qualified expenses related to mortgages and housing.”
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022
A landmark United States federal law that aims to curb inflation by possibly reducing the federal government budget deficit, lowering prescription drug prices, and investing in domestic energy production while promoting clean energy.
Intent to Apply (ITA)
Intent to apply (ITA) is a document designed to generate interest from a grant provider. It is a request for materials for a grant and it typically outlines the primary activities and projects of the organization that is applying for the grant. The ITA is usually written either by the organization’s director or the operations coordinator. It also helps grantors gauge interest in funding opportunities and better prepare for application reviews. See also Letter of Intent (LOI).
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the IIJA was passed in 2021. The IIJA authorizes $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending (including energy and power infrastructure, access to broadband internet, water infrastructure, and more) with $550 billion of that figure going toward “new” investments and programs. See also Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
Justice40 Community
The federal government has made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are “marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.” Such communities are known as “Justice40” or “J40” communities.
Letter of Intent (LOI)
A letter of intent (LOI) is a document designed to generate interest from a grant provider. It is a request for materials for a grant and it typically outlines the primary activities and projects of the organization that is applying for the grant. The LOI is usually written either by the organization’s director or the operations coordinator. It also helps grantors gauge interest in funding opportunities and better prepare for application reviews. See also Intent to Apply (ITA).
Line Item
A line item is a unique number identifying a specific use for funds at the state level across state budgets, state legislation, and Controlling Board allocations. Line items can be used to search for allocations at the state level and to search for expenditures within a specific line item.
Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (LFRF)
Part of the American Rescue Plan Act delivering money to local governments nationwide to aid recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
A 20-year planning horizon vision document that reflects the application of programmatic transportation goals across a particular geography. Federal land and transportation management agencies use LRTPs to make funding decisions.
Median Annual Household Income (MAHI)
For households and families, the median income is based on the distribution of the total number of households and families including those with no income. The median income for individuals is based on individuals 15 years old and over with income.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The state agency focused on economic development in Michigan. In collaboration with more than 100 economic development partners, MEDC markets Michigan as the place to do business, assists businesses in their growth strategies, and fosters the growth of vibrant communities across the state.
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
The policy board of an organization created and designated to carry out the metropolitan transportation planning process.
Michigan Association of Counties (MAC)
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advances education, communication, and cooperation among county government officials in Michigan.
Michigan Municipal League (MML)
The Michigan Municipal League is the premier statewide association representing more than 500 full-service cities, villages, and urban townships.
Michigan Municipal League Foundation (MMLF)
The Michigan Municipal League Foundation supports innovative work through partnerships, grants, and programming that creatively and intentionally bring people together and build equitable community wealth. The MML Foundation also provides fiscal sponsorship and project support in Michigan Municipal League member communities.
Michigan Townships Association (MTA)
The MTA advances local democracy by fostering township leadership and public policy essential for a strong and vibrant Michigan.
National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA)
Signed into law on January 1, 1970, NEPA requires federal agencies—and their designated organizations and/or grantees—to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions.
Non-entitlement units (NEU)
Local governments typically serving populations of fewer than 50,000.
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) / Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
The NOFA, or Notice of Funding Availability, is published yearly in the Federal Register for some Housing and Community Facilities Program (HCFP) multi-family housing programs. It is also known as a NOFO, or Notice of Funding Opportunity, in some federal agencies.
Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP)
A requirement of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program for the state, the Detroit Metropolitan Region, and the Grand Rapids Metropolitan Region. PCAPs are due March 1, 2024. The PCAPs should include the priority projects that the state and the metro regions would like to seek funding for through the CPRG program.
Request for Proposals (RFP) / Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
A document that a business, nonprofit, or government agency creates to outline the requirements for a specific project. It may also be called an RFQ or request for qualifications.
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)
Pools of capital available for lending. As loans are repaid, the capital is returned to the fund and then reloaned to another project. RLFs are evergreen sources of funding that can be continuously recycled to support different projects in perpetuity. They are often managed by governments and nonprofit organizations to ensure that small businesses and enterprises in sectors not typically eligible for commercial lending can obtain access to working capital for expansion and growth.
State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF)
Part of the American Rescue Plan Act providing state governments with resources to aid recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
A list of upcoming transportation projects covering a period of at least four years. The TIP should include capital and non-capital surface transportation projects, bicycle and pedestrian facilities and other transportation enhancements, Federal Lands Highway projects, and safety projects included in the State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
For more detailed information about federal grants terminology, visit: https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-terminology.html.