Before kicking off our Mission Critical: The Co‑op Role in National Defense pre‑conference on March 8, we sat down with Daniel Glasson, Deputy Director for Community Investment at the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC).  

He shared a first look at the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 cycle. With roughly $230 million anticipated, this is a major opportunity for cooperatives and local communities to fund critical infrastructure.  

Thanks to recent updates in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the program will now be divided into three distinct funding categories, each expected to receive about $75 million.  

Let’s break down what that means for applicants.  

1. Quality of Life Projects (Repeat Proposals): One‑third of the DCIP funding (roughly $75 million) is dedicated to projects that make life better for military families and their surrounding communities. These projects don’t have to be “mission‑essential” but they should focus on building resilience and/or community well‑being.
   
   What kind of projects fit here?
   • Redundant wastewater systems or utility infrastructure supporting off-installation housing
   • Childcare access
   • Health services
   • Improved recreation facilities
2. The upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will define who qualifies as a repeat proposer. Those who do will receive a significant scoring advantage, 55 out of 100 points automatically.
   
   
3. Military Readiness and Mission Assurance: Another third of the DCIP funding is dedicated to projects that directly support military readiness or mission assurance. Applicants in this category must include a letter of support from the installation, signed by the mission commander or the Assistant Secretary of War for Defense Continuity and Mission Assurance.
   
   For cooperatives and utilities, this is often the most relevant category. It provides an opportunity for infrastructure upgrades that clearly support mission needs.
   
   
4. Other Enhancement Projects: The final third of funding will be open to any other eligible enhancement projects. Repeat proposers will still be recognized here, but applicants who aren’t repeat proposers should be ready to clearly articulate how their project strengthens mission assurance or readiness.

Eligibility, Scoring, and What’s Next
The OLDCC expects to release the FY26 NOFO later this year. Applicants should be prepared to:  

• Clearly define the specific enhancements their project provides to both the installation and the local community
• Understand how their project fits within the new scoring structure and how it will be evaluated
• Identify the most appropriate category for their proposal

While repeat proposers have their own funding pool, applicants in the other categories are not at a disadvantage; each category will have its own competitive environment.  

DCIP projects must meet a minimum project size of $250,000. The program continues to emphasize infrastructure improvements that benefit both military installations and the surrounding communities.  

OLDCC encourages early conversations between local stakeholders and installations, without assumptions about what those discussions should produce. Potential projects could include:  

• Utility hookups supporting off‑installation housing developments
• Power system upgrades that directly bolster mission operations
• Infrastructure improvements that enhance resilience or community services

Stay Connected
Don’t miss out on the latest updates for the FY26 cycle. You can sign up for the DCIP grant updates or attend an OLDCC informational webinar.