My Five Pillar Blueprint with their top-five priorities—and for each, a concise description of how the federal government can enable, fund, or incentivize action at the local level.
Every thriving community needs a clear, comprehensive framework to translate federal support into tangible results. The Five-Pillar Blueprint unifies essential priorities—Infrastructure, Jobs, Housing, Food, and Fuel—into a strategic model that ensures mayors and local officials focus on the most impactful projects.
Philosophy: Government exists to achieve collectively what individuals cannot. Requiring professional planning and public accountability under this Blueprint, we can eradicate wasteful “pork-barrel” boondoggles and deliver real community benefits.
Clean Drinking Water, Sanitation and Waste Management
Federal Assistance: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loans and principal forgiveness; Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) grants for sewer and stormwater projects; Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants for water-quality improvements.
Access to Primary and Secondary Educational Facilities
Federal Assistance: K–12 Facilities Grants under the Infrastructure Law; Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I funds for school construction; Department of Education competitive grants for rural facility upgrades.
Emergency Services and Communications Systems
Federal Assistance: FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants; Department of Homeland Security grants for 911 and public-safety communications; DHS SAFECOM program support for interoperable radio networks.
Transportation Networks (Roads, Bridges & Transit)
Federal Assistance: Federal Highway Administration formula funding; BUILD Grants; Federal Transit Administration grants for bus and rail improvements.
Energy Grid Modernization & Resilience
Federal Assistance: DOE Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants; FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance; USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants and loans.
Workforce Training & Apprenticeship Programs
Federal Assistance: Department of Labor ApprenticeshipUSA grants; WIOA Title I formula funding for workforce development; Department of Commerce Good Jobs Challenge grants.
Small-Business Support & Entrepreneurship
Federal Assistance: SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs; SBA SHIP and STEP grants; Economic Development Administration (EDA) Regional Innovation grants.
Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Incentives
Federal Assistance: CHIPS Act and Technology and Innovation Hubs funding; Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) cost-share assistance; tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Rural & Regional Economic Development Grants
Federal Assistance: USDA Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants; EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance grants; Appalachian Regional Commission–style models for Northwest.
Veterans & Transitioning-Worker Placement Services
Federal Assistance: DOL Veterans’ Employment and Training Service grants; DoD SkillBridge partnerships; Work Opportunity Tax Credit staffing incentive
Affordable Housing Supply Expansion
Federal Assistance: Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); HOME Investment Partnerships Program; HUD Capital Magnet Fund.
Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing
Federal Assistance: HUD Continuum of Care competitive grants; Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG); VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF).
Rehabilitation of Aging & Substandard Homes
Federal Assistance: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; USDA Single-Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants; Weatherization Assistance Program.
Rural Housing & USDA-Style Support
Federal Assistance: USDA Section 502 direct and guaranteed loans; USDA Multi-Family Housing programs; Rural Development Rental Assistance.
Home-Ownership Assistance & Down-Payment Grants
Federal Assistance: HUD Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee and 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance; National Homebuyers Fund down-payment grants.
Local & Regional Food-System Infrastructure
Federal Assistance: USDA Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP); FSA Storage and Handling Loans; Rural Cooperative Development Grants.
Nutrition Assistance & School Meal Programs
Federal Assistance: USDA SNAP and WIC benefits; National School Lunch and Breakfast Program reimbursements; Summer EBT pilot funding.
Emergency Food Distribution & Food Banks
Federal Assistance: The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); state emergency food assistance supplements; FEMA disaster food distribution support.
Agricultural R&D & Innovation Grants
Federal Assistance: USDA AFRI competitive grants; DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office pilot programs; NSF agricultural innovation funding.
Farm-to-Table Market Development
Federal Assistance: USDA Local Food Marketing Practices grants; Specialty Crop Block Grants; AMS Farmers Market Promotion Program.
Clean-Energy & Renewable-Fuel Incentives
Federal Assistance: Investment and Production Tax Credits (ITC/PTC) for solar, wind, biogas, and biofuels; DOE Loan Programs Office financing support.
Strategic Fuel Reserves & Energy Security
Federal Assistance: DOE strategic petroleum reserve coordination grants; FEMA emergency fuel assistance funds; SPR drawdown planning support.
Fuel-Efficiency Grants for Fleets & Industry
Federal Assistance: EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants; DOT Clean School Bus Program; DOE Clean Cities funding.
Rural Energy Access & Off-Grid Solutions
Federal Assistance: USDA REAP grants and loans for renewable systems; DOE technical assistance for microgrid projects; State Energy Program formula funds.
EV Charging & Alternative-Fuel Infrastructure
Federal Assistance: National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program; DOE Alternative Fuel Infrastructure grants; IRS Alternative Fuel Refueling Property Credit.
Tom Timbrooks for House of Representatives
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