September 04, 2026
The federal government just released the PROTECT grant opportunity! $787 million is available and applications are due October 9, 2026. Communities across the county will be vying for grants and MIO TAC wants to help Michigan communities win them.
The PROTECT Competitive Grant Program provides funding to plan for and make surface transportation more resilient to current and future weather events, natural disasters, and changing conditions, such as severe storms, flooding, drought, levee and dam failures, wildfire, rockslides, mudslides, sea level rise, extreme weather, including extreme temperatures, and earthquakes.
PROTECT has two categories of funding:
Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grants, and At Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants. This includes funding for construction to improve the ability of an existing surface transportation asset to withstand a weather event or natural disaster.
MIO TAC is opening an expedited technical assistance opportunity for the PROTECT grant starting today for a fast-approaching deadline of October 9, 2026, 11:59pm. The USDOT Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation Program grant (PROTECT) was just released for local governments, tribal governments, or planning organizations needing funds for planning or failing surface transportation assets to make them more resilient to extreme weather, and natural disasters. PROTECT’s available funding includes $79 million for planning grants and & $708 million for resilience grants. To learn more about PROTECT, see the 2026 PROTECT Fact Sheet at MIO Technical Assistance Center and click HERE for the USDOT Notice of Funding Opportunity. To apply for MIO TAC grant assistance, click 2026 Application. For questions regarding your project and PROTECT, contact Brady4@michigan.gov.
We know the funding process can be daunting. MIO TAC can help streamline that process with our complimentary grant writing and technical assistance teams. MIO TAC looks forward to hearing from you!
There is a very short time to apply for MIO TAC PROTECT grant writing assistance so don’t miss out on this opportunity. The deadline for MIO TAC grant assistance for the PROTECT grant is Monday, September 14, 2026, 11:59pm.
The TAC team is looking forward to working with communities to continue building and improving Michigan’s infrastructure!
Thank you for your partnership.
Kris Brady
Director
Technical Assistance Center
Michigan Infrastructure Office
Email: BradyK4@michigan.gov
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