Planning grant for the eastgate regional council of governments under the reconnecting communities pilot (RCP) program

The Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration awarded Eastgate Regional Council of Governments a planning grant of $640,000 under the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program (CFDA 20.940) on August 26, 2026.

Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, a local government entity serving Ashtabula, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties in northeastern Ohio, will conduct planning activities to address infrastructure barriers and reconnect communities in the region. The grant supports development of strategies to remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation facilities that obstruct connectivity, mobility, access, or economic development. Performance extends through December 31, 2028, with work conducted in Youngstown, Ohio.

The RCP Program provides technical assistance and federal financial support for planning and capital construction grants addressing community connectivity. Planning grant applicants—including states, local government units, federally recognized tribal governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and nonprofits—are evaluated against merit criteria encompassing equity and justice, access, community engagement, equitable development, climate resilience, workforce development, and planning integration. Recipients must verify expenditures at project closeout and maintain receipts and outcomes documentation for three years. Funding is available for obligation for up to four years beyond the authorized year of availability.