Miovision is committed to helping local governments and municipalities overcome the challenge of securing transportation funding. With our expertise and resources, we can provide the guidance and support needed to identify suitable funding opportunities, navigate complex application processes, and ultimately achieve your project goals. By partnering with Miovision, you can rest assured that you have a dedicated team working alongside you to unlock the potential of your community through effective transportation solutions.
Join us as Miovision sits down with Jason Pavluchuk, founder of Pavluchuk and Associates, a boutique government relations firm. Jason has over 25 years of experience in the transportation policy and advocacy space and has recently partnered with Miovision to provide information to our customers who are looking for ways to fund their transportation projects. We are delighted to introduce him and showcase his expertise through this post.
Our discussion with Jason explored the strategies customers should consider when looking for funding opportunities. We’ll discuss how to prioritize different considerations and reconcile competing needs to maximize the impact of these grants and your chance of success.
Q: Jason, can you give us a 10,000 foot view of how grant funding is organized?
A: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the infrastructure package, has opened up federal funding to new stakeholders, including municipal governments. Traditionally, federal infrastructure funds went directly to state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), but now local governments have more direct access. The IIJA introduced around 50 new funding programs. This program can be overwhelming due to their complexity and overlapping interests. However, it is important to stress that the money is there. There is plenty of funding available, and Miovision is prepared to help customers access it. To get started, local governments should prioritize their needs, identify specific projects, and then pursue federal funding.
Five years ago, local governments had to rely heavily on state DOTs for funding. Now, there are multiple funding options available, making it easier to access resources. Local governments should take a deep breath, set their priorities, and then go after the appropriate funding sources. Despite the challenges, this new access to federal dollars presents significant opportunities for local infrastructure improvements.
Q: In what capacity would you recommend that customers reach out to Miovision when they think they may need support in securing funding for the project?
A: Generally, most cities and agencies are looking to solve specific issues like gridlock, preemption, or priority control with their transit systems, rather than starting out with funding in mind. From what I understand, Miovision sees a lot of RFPs based on existing or potential funding. This is the right approach. That means that customers have considered the problems they want to solve and applied for funding that helps them fulfill their goals.
I encourage public agencies to think about the outcomes they need, which can open up a broader range of technology solutions. Too often agencies limit themselves by focusing on specific technologies rather than the outcomes they want to achieve. This restrains customers with limited funds to a smaller subset of funding opportunities to apply for.
Q: Why do the same agencies seem to get grant funding repeatedly, and how can other agencies improve their chances of success?
A: It is definitely the case that some agencies – both local and state agencies – are consistently successful in applying for funding. The agencies that secure funding repeatedly are successful because they have developed robust grant application structures with dedicated resources and personnel. These agencies understand the nuances of each grant, including what the responses need to look like, how to focus on ROI, and how to tailor their language to fit specific grants.
This level of commitment to grant applications may seem insurmountable to some of our customers, which is of course unfortunate. Miovision has set out to democratize grant applications, making them less scary and more accessible for customers. The goal is to help agencies understand which grants are suitable for their desired outcomes, how to write effective applications, and how to articulate the return on investment. By doing so, we hope to increase customers’ success rates and build their confidence in pursuing grants.
Q: How can smaller public agencies become more self-sufficient in securing grants?
A: Confidence is key, and Miovision hopes to increase confidence through support and guidance in grant applications. An agency doesn’t need to win 50 grants in a row to become self-sufficient. they just need to win one or two. This initial success can help them supplement their operational and maintenance funding, as well as other revenue streams like federal gas tax dollars, with successful grant applications.
I also like to think of successful grant applications as a stepping stone towards much bigger development within an agency. As their success with grant applications increases, so does their exposure to talent. As an agency implements funding towards innovative projects and improvements in their district, they become a more attractive employer to engineering talent within traffic and safety, who are interested in being part of successful projects. Success breeds success.
Q: Jason, what are some key skills or competencies you want to emphasize for Miovision customers in coaching them on grant applications?
A: When coaching local agencies on grant applications, we emphasize several key skills and competencies. Problem-solving is crucial. Many small cities have found great success in securing grants once they understand the process. For instance, during our calls with cities like Lansing, the focus often shifts to tackling large projects, such as upgrading 250 intersections. We guided them through the options, helping them determine the best solutions for their specific needs.
A key piece of advice is to articulate the problem in simple terms, avoiding overly technical engineering narratives. For example, instead of detailing technical specifications, focus on how you can make 150 intersections safer for your community. This approach helps align your needs with the available programs. Cities like Normal, Illinois, succeed because they build their grants around their mission and desired community outcomes.
When communicating, it’s important to talk about your goals in plain language, as if explaining to someone outside the transportation field. This simplifies your application and clarifies the path forward.
And lastly – and most importantly – reach out to your partners at Miovision. This team is delighted to help you better frame your project, better explain the problems you’re trying to solve and help you create a narrative that can strengthen your chances of success.
Q: Is there an element to funding applications that you find many customers do not consider at all?
A: While some grant programs are a fantastic resource for larger projects, I’d argue that some Miovision customers would be well suited to consider the Carbon Reduction Program for some of their smaller initiatives. Not all of the funding allocated by the DOT initially for this program has been spent. Think about where carbon reduction initiatives could be applied! So much of what Miovision does would fit under the carbon reduction umbrella. And alongside your Miovision contact I’d be delighted to help you understand if your current project would be compatible with this type of funding source.
Additionally we encourage customers to consider reaching out to their Metropolitan Planning Organization to see if they are eligible for any Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, also referred to as CMAQ, or congestion reduction funds already allocated to them?
Q: Can you provide more information about the CMAQ funding?
A: CMAQ funding has been around for a while. Each state gets a percentage of funding based on a formula developed in the early 2000s. Their focus on signal optimization aligns well with common transportation problems and projects. Additionally, for CMAQ funding agencies do not need to come up with the often required 20% matching of the total project cost, which is of course very attractive to some agencies. CMAQ is also one of the few programs where the MPO controls project selection, and the application process is not nearly as labor intensive as some federal grants. I encourage anyone to consider CMAQ as a potential source of funding for their work.
Q: How do you see Miovision’s involvement in customer grant applications?
A: The Miovision folks I’ve worked with to date give me a strong impression of being interested in selling solutions, and not gadgets. They have a vision in mind. They’re looking to implement systems and think at that scale, rather than individual projects.
They’re happy to get on a call to meet with their customers and better understand their needs, and I’d be delighted to join that call as well as see if I can be of assistance.
I think the content part of Miovision’s grants landing page is a great start. It will give you a fantastic overview of the opportunities out there.
Additionally the Miovision team is happy to provide personalized guidance. Your Miovision contact is available for one-on-one consultations to discuss specific needs and identify suitable funding opportunities.
Miovision is happy to start right at the bottom or meet their customer wherever they may be with respect to their grant familiarity. This includes anything from grant awareness to a direct call where the nuances of individual applications can be discussed. By providing these services, Miovision aims to empower their customers to navigate the complex landscape of transportation funding and secure the necessary resources to improve infrastructure and services.
Ultimately I cannot overstress, that a lack of funding shouldn’t hold an agency back anymore. Obtaining funding was once a wall you had to overcome. Now it is a hurdle. The money is out there and if you’re struggling to find it, we will help you not just find it but obtain it.