Title VI Issues Cost BART ARRA Funding

Washington, Feb. 26 – Neglecting to follow grantor agency policies for complying with applicable federal laws can derail even the best planned project. Just ask the Bay Area Rapid Transit District in California, which just lost out on $70 million for a project it had been working on for years. Grantees are reminded to stay abreast of any agency policy changes that could affect their program and to respond accordingly.

One such federal law with which grantees must comply is Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Under this law, grantees are prohibited from discriminating in any way on the basis of race, color or national origin in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The compliance standards, however, vary among agencies so grantees need to consult the rules of their individual grantor agency.