Federal grants have helped maintain a quality standard of living for communities across the country for over a century. There are over a thousand federal grant programs that transfer funds to state and local governments in support of a multitude of policy issues. State and local governments rely on the funds from federal grants to assist in providing what the citizens of their localities need. Over the years, the federal grant system has grown and changed to accommodate the constantly shifting priorities of American communities. Transportation, healthcare and education initiatives are all supported in some way by federal grants. Today, federal and local lawmakers meet the challenges of updating and enhancing our nation’s infrastructure through collaborative efforts; underlining the importance of federal transfers to state and local governments.

This report provides information on trends, key issues, and case studies related to infrastructure funding.