.png){kind=logo}
%20(1)_edite.jpg)
Grants
On-Site
About the Call for Grant
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) "Propose a Project" program is a major infrastructure development facility designed to advance high-priority infrastructure projects in emerging markets. USTDA funds critical upfront technical assistance, pilot projects, and comprehensive Feasibility Studies (FS). The program's mission is to make massive infrastructure initiatives bankable, helping them attract international financing while promoting the integration of trusted technology and commercial solutions.
Eligibility
The program supports structural partnerships between public/private sectors:
- Overseas Project Sponsors: Sovereign governments, state-owned enterprises, or private companies based in eligible emerging markets (including Kazakhstan and Central Asia) that own/develop large infrastructure assets.
- U.S. Technology Partners: American firms specialized in engineering, technology, or consulting, acting as the primary contractors.
Proposals can follow two pathways:
1. Sole-Source: An overseas sponsor already has a preferred U.S. supplier/partner who co-submits the technical proposal and shares costs.
2. Competed: If the overseas sponsor does not have a U.S. partner yet, USTDA can fund the project and help facilitate a competitive selection process to find a qualified U.S. firm.
Format:
Funding Capabilities & Project Intake Framework
💰 Funding Amount:
USTDA grants for project preparation work (Feasibility Studies or Pilots) typically range from several hundred thousand dollars to over $1,000,000 per project. The funding operates as a direct grant to the overseas project sponsor, which is then used exclusively to pay the U.S. firm performing the technical work.
📈 Scale Requirements:
The underlying infrastructure project must be a large-scale deployment with significant capital requirements, viable financing options, and high potential to yield actionable socio-economic outcomes for the host country.
🎯 Priority Sectors:
- Digital Infrastructure (Broadband, 5G, Data Centers, Cybersecurity)
- Energy (Renewable Energy, Grid Modernization, Smart Power Systems)
- Transportation (Aviation, Rail, Ports, Smart Mobility Infrastructure)
- Critical Minerals (Processing, Sustainable Mining Supply Chains)
⏰ Deadline & Cycle:
No fixed closing dates (Open on a rolling basis). Initial project ideas are submitted via a continuous intake form, after which USTDA regional managers follow up for detailed evaluation.