Congresswoman Brown, Mayor Bibb Announce $69 Million in Federal Funding for North Coast Connector

Cleveland, OH – Today, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced that the City of Cleveland has been awarded a federal grant of$69,291,428 for the North Coast Connector Land Bridge and Downtown Boulevard Project. The North Coast Connector is a major infrastructure project transforming sections of State Route 3 into a pedestrian-friendly boulevard, connecting downtown Cleveland to the Lakefront.

The grant comes via the Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot grant program, a program established and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reconnect communities divided by historic transportation and land use decisions. Congresswoman Brown proudly voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021. 

In September, Congresswoman Brown submitted a letter of support for the City’s grant application to US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

“I am proud to join Mayor Bibb in announcing this significant federal funding for our city. The North Coast Connector and the Mayor’s broader Shore-to-Core-to-Shore initiative are transformational initiatives that will help us capitalize on our Lakefront, strengthen our economy, and position Cleveland to thrive for decades to come. We believe in downtown Cleveland. Visionary projects like this are not possible without visionary leaders locally and nationally. The Biden-Harris Administration has believed in Northeast Ohio from the start, and as their administration comes to an end, they have made another investment in our future. Congratulations to everyone with the City who worked on this application, this was a highly competitive grant opportunity and my office was honored to support the bid,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.   

“We are thrilled to receive this transformative investment from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the North Coast Connector Project. This funding represents a pivotal step in our mission to reimagine the waterfront and enhance accessibility for all Clevelanders. I am extremely grateful to our dedicated congressional delegation, especially former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Shontel Brown, whose steadfast dedication, support and advocacy have been instrumental in bringing this grant to our city,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. 

This grant marks the second Department of Transportation grant the City of Cleveland has received for the North Coast Connector project. In October, the City of Cleveland was awarded $59 million in federal grants for the North Coast Connector project, funding that was also made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

For more information about the North Coast Connector project and the impact it will have, visit Home - Cleveland North Coast and Shore-to-Core-to-Shore | City of Cleveland Ohio. 

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