RICHMOND, Va. — Hampton Roads communities are set to receive $16.5 million in federal funding for infrastructure improvements tied to nearby military installations, Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration announced.

The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Community Infrastructure Program, which provides grants for projects intended to support military installation readiness, mission requirements and quality of life for service members and their families.

The federal grants, combined with state and local matching funds, will support an estimated $23.5 million in infrastructure improvements in the region.

“Reliable infrastructure is essential to the quality of life of our military communities,” Spanberger said in a statement. She said the investments will strengthen infrastructure and support military personnel and their families.

The largest award, $13.1 million, will go to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District for a sewer infrastructure improvement project in partnership with Naval Station Norfolk.

The city of Portsmouth will receive $3 million for wastewater infrastructure improvements in partnership with Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads.

York County will receive $313,000 to construct a pedestrian crosswalk in partnership with Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

Virginia helps local governments compete for the federal grants through the Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Program. The state program can provide up to 50% of the federal matching requirement for eligible projects.

“This $16.5 million in funding will result in $23.5 million in Virginia critical infrastructure improvements,” said Timothy P. Williams, Virginia’s secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs.

U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said the federal investment will help address infrastructure needs surrounding military installations in Hampton Roads.

Congress established the Defense Community Infrastructure Program in 2019 to help state and local governments fund infrastructure projects that support communities surrounding military installations, according to the governor’s office.

The announcement comes as Hampton Roads prepares for another expansion of its military role.

The U.S. Navy announced last week that its new unmanned Warfighting Development Center will be located at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. According to the governor’s office, the new mission is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in direct, indirect and induced economic activity for Hampton Roads and Virginia. The release did not provide an underlying economic analysis or methodology for that estimate.

The infrastructure grants are part of broader efforts by state and local governments to support the region’s military installations and the communities surrounding them.