BUILD grants are to be awarded on a competitive basis for surface transportation infrastructure projects with a significant local or regional impact.Program statute, 49 USC Sec 6702, specifies that not more than 50 percent of funds shall be awarded to projects in rural areas with a population equal to or less than 200,000 and directs that not more than 50 percent of the funds shall be awarded to projects located in urban areas with a population of more than 200,000. Per statute, DOT is also required to award at least 5 percent for eligible planning, preparation, or design of projects eligible for BUILD Grants that do not result in construction. Statue also directs that at least 1 percent be awarded to projects located in historically disadvantaged communities or areas of persistent poverty.BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grants may not be less than $5 million and not greater than $25 million, except that for projects located in rural areas the minimum BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant size is $1 million. There is no minimum award size for planning projects.
