U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $5 Million Grant for the University of Maryland to Establish the Build America Center

Friday, April 8, 2022

Center will advance innovative transportation project financing and delivery in partnership with leading academic institutions

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $5 million grant to the University of Maryland (UMD) through a cooperative agreement to establish and manage the “Build America Center.” The Center will offer educational programs, information, and resources for transportation agencies in all areas of alternative and innovative project financing and delivery.

“This new Build America Center will mean more transformative transportation projects across the country,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “By bringing together the public and private sector, we can help bring more good projects to life and improve the lives of Americans.”

The $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes unprecedented funding for infrastructure projects and several grant programs to support project sponsors seeking to explore alternative project delivery. The Center will support the Build America Bureau and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to foster new approaches to financing development and transformation of the nation’s transportation infrastructure into a modern system.

The University of Maryland will serve as the national lead for this new center contributing a 20% match to the grant, with four universities - Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Purdue, and Stanford - serving as regional leads. Through programming, research initiatives and publications, the centers partner with alumni, business leaders and local governments to educate the community and provide students with enrichment experiences that facilitate their professional development.

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To learn more about the Build America Center, visit BAC.umd.edu.