Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) | RBCS 22 01 HBIIP

Opportunity Information: Apply for RBCS 22 01 HBIIP

The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Its core aim is to boost the sale and everyday use of higher-blend renewable fuels, specifically higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel, by helping expand and modernize the fueling infrastructure needed to store, dispense, and market these fuels. In practical terms, the program is designed to reduce the upfront cost barriers that prevent many retailers, fleets, and fuel distribution stakeholders from offering higher-blend options, which in turn supports demand for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products.

A key theme of HBIIP is cost sharing and market development. Rather than treating infrastructure upgrades as purely private investments, the program encourages applicants to take a more comprehensive approach to building local and regional markets for higher blends by sharing eligible costs associated with biofuel-related infrastructure. The intent is not just to install equipment, but to make higher blends more available and convenient for consumers and fleet operators, which is often the deciding factor in whether these fuels gain traction in a given area.

This opportunity was released under Funding Opportunity Number "RBCS 22 01 HBIIP" and is categorized as a grant within the discretionary opportunity category. The funding aligns with a wide range of public interest areas, including Business and Commerce, Community Development, Education, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources, and Transportation, reflecting that renewable fuel infrastructure sits at the intersection of economic development, energy diversification, and emissions-related goals. The associated CFDA number is 10.754, which is the federal program identifier used for tracking and compliance.

Eligibility is notably broad, which signals an effort to reach many different types of communities and market actors. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments and independent school districts. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are also eligible, as are federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations. The program allows applications from nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), individuals, for-profit organizations that are not small businesses, and small businesses. This wide eligibility pool suggests USDA anticipated projects ranging from public-sector fueling upgrades and community-based initiatives to private retail and fleet infrastructure investments.

From a funding scale perspective, the listed maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $5,000,000 per award, and the opportunity projected approximately 200 awards. That combination implies the program is structured to fund a substantial number of projects, potentially ranging from smaller, localized upgrades to larger multi-site or higher-cost infrastructure buildouts, depending on applicant scope and the program's cost-share requirements and priorities.

Timing details in the posting indicate the opportunity was created on August 8, 2022, with an original application closing date of November 7, 2022. While those dates reflect the specific application window for that particular notice, the program summary and objectives remain useful for understanding what USDA was seeking to fund: tangible, on-the-ground infrastructure that directly enables higher-blend ethanol and biodiesel sales and use, paired with a broader push to strengthen renewable fuel markets by reducing financial and logistical hurdles to adoption.

• The Department of Agriculture, Rural Business-Cooperative Service in the business and commerce, community development, education, energy, environment, natural resources, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.754.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 08, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 07, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for RBCS 22 01 HBIIP

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