Training

APBP 2025 Webinar - Partnering for Grants Greatness - State-Level Bike-Ped Innovations

Presenters: 

• John Devine, Georgia Bikes
• Laura Cohen, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 

More funding is currently available to plan and build infrastructure for our most vulnerable road users (VRU) than at any point in history, yet local governments and advocates consistently cite lack of capacity as a major roadblock to understanding, applying for, and administering grants. These issues compound in underserved communities, where resources such as matching dollars, planning and grant-writing expertise, and familiarity with opportunities are typically scarcer than they are elsewhere.Our panel discussion begins with a brief overview of technical assistance and education programs that already exist in two very different states: California's established Active Transportation Resource Center and Georgia's nascent Grants Assistance Program (GAP). We'll cover the basics of both programs, including formative history, internal funding and operational practices, services , and focus on underserved communities through Justice 40, the Thriving Communities Program, etc.We then move on to the highlight of the session: a deep-dive discussion of how to set up similar programs in other states, including best practices, successes and challenges, and lessons learned from California and Georgia. We'll engage the audience with questions on existing conditions in their own states, common hurdles to fulfilling local needs, and proven recipes for a winning approach.