2023 Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) Funding: Application Window is Now Open

Township officers:

The 2023 Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) Solicitation process begins today and it is now open for applications. Resources, documents, and online grant applications are available on this website: LRIP - State Aid - MnDOT. The application submittal deadline is Friday, December 8, 2023 at 4 PM. More information on the process is also outlined below.

2023 Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) Solicitation

By Rashmi Brewer, State Aid State Programs Engineer August 30, 2023

The LRIP program provides funding assistance to local agencies and federally recognized Indian Tribes for construction, reconstruction, or reconditioning projects.

LRIP Solicitation and Schedule

From the 2023 legislative session, a combined total appropriation of $102.967 million in Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) funds consisting of general obligation bond funds and general funds are available for this competitive solicitation, at least $6 million of which must be for grants to townships. The solicitation will be released on September 12, 2023, and applications are due on December 8, 2023. We anticipate announcing LRIP selections by the end of March 2024, however, exact dates will depend on the number of applications received. Based on direction from the LRIP Advisory Committee, the maximum grant award has been increased to $1,500,000 for counties, state aid cities, non-state aid cities, townships, and federally recognized Indian Tribes.

Eligibility and Evaluation

Please check out the LRIP Webpage for frequent updates as important documents and information will be available by September 12, 2023. Also, please read the 2023 LRIP Solicitation Guide for details on eligibility and requirements.

• Upcoming 2023 Solicitation and Project Application Webinar to be held on September 6 from 1:30-2:30 PM. For webinar access details, go to LRIP - State Aid - MnDOT.
• Program Guide (read for details on eligibility and requirements) - coming soon
• Solicitation Guide - coming soon
• FAQs - coming soon
• Training presentation
• Below are some important summary points:

• Projects that have received legislatively selected appropriations (“earmarks”) or previous LRIP grants are not eligible for funding under this solicitation.

• Projects that will be awarded and/or under construction before the anticipated LRIP selection notifications in March 2024, are not eligible for funding under this solicitation.
• Projects should be non-controversial and should be construction ready in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
• County applications will be evaluated against other county applications; state aid city
• applications against state aid city applications; and small city/township/federally recognized Indian Tribes applications against small city/township/federally recognized Indian Tribes applications. We anticipate funding projects from all three agency types.
• The expected useful life of improvements must be a minimum of 10 years. Maintenance type activities such as filling potholes, blading gravel roads, and standalone ditch repairs are not eligible for LRIP.
• Items that are eligible for LRIP funds include reasonable elements associated with roadway construction, including basic landscaping and turf establishment. Landscaping planters, benches, bike racks, decorative fences, ornamental lighting, and other aesthetic treatments above the standard are generally not eligible. Other items that are not eligible include engineering, construction administration and inspection, right of way acquisition, and water main, sanitary sewer, or private utility work.
• LRIP funds cannot be used for improvements on the Trunk Highway system, including those costs that might be required from a local agency on a Trunk Highway project as per MnDOT’s Cost Participation Policy.
• County Sponsorship
• Consistent with previous solicitation requirements, State Aid will require counties to sponsor projects on township and non-state aid city roads. See #4 under Project Selection in the LRIP Solicitation Guide for more information on duties associated with this requirement. This is required (1) to provide engineering, plan development, contract administration, and grant agreement expertise to townships and small cities, and (2) to help ensure that the improvements will be constructed on time and within budget. Townships and small cities should be in contact with their county engineer on potential applications.
• Please contact Rashmi Brewer at [email protected] with questions or for more information.