Previous Funding Opportunities

FY 2020 Scaling Pandemic Resilience Through Innovation and Technology (SPRINT) Challenge

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has published the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 SPRINT Challenge Notice of Funding Opportunity. This $25 million is available to eligible entities to enable regional innovation economies to rapidly address the economic, health, and safety risks caused by the coronavirus pandemic through entrepreneurship and innovation. The SPRINT Challenge will fund organizations that support the development, creation, or expansion of programs that accelerate technology-based economic development in pursuit of vibrant, innovative economies and economic growth, and respond to the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The SPRINT Challenge is powered by the CARES Act.

Current Closing Date for Applications: December 3, 2020

STEM Talent Challenge

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has published the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 STEM Talent Challenge Notice of Funding Opportunity making $2 million available to eligible entities to create and implement innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) apprenticeship models that complement their respective region’s innovation economy. The STEM Talent Challenge seeks to develop or expand regional workforce capacity to support high-growth, high-wage entrepreneurial ventures, industries of the future (which usually includes industries that leverage emerging technologies), and other innovation driven businesses that have a high likelihood of accelerating economic competitiveness and job creation in their respective regions and in the United States.

Current Closing Date for Applications: October 14, 2020

Fiscal Year 2020 Regional Innovation Program: Build to Scale Program (Formerly Known as Regional Innovation Strategies)

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has published the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Build to Scale Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) making $35 million available to eligible entities to build regional economies through scalable startups. This year's Build to Scale Program includes three competitions supporting entrepreneurship, acceleration of company growth and increased access to risk capital across regional economies.

Current Closing Date for Applications: Concept Proposals are due March 24th and are required to submit a Full Application.

Fiscal Year 2019 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program

The Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program is now known as the Build to Scale (B2S) Program with a relevant 2020 Funding Opportunity. Please keep an eye on EDA.gov and sign up for our newsletter for the latest information.

FY 2018 Economic Development Assistance Programs Application submission and program requirements for EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs

The Economic Development Administration's (EDA's) mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for economic growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA fulfills this mission through strategic investments and partnerships that create the regional economic ecosystems required to foster globally competitive regions throughout the United States. EDA’s Public Works and EAA programs provide economically distressed communities and regions with comprehensive and flexible resources to address a wide variety of economic needs. Projects funded by these programs will support the DOC Strategic Plan (2018-2022) by, among other things, leading to the creation and retention of jobs and increased private investment, advancing innovation, enhancing the manufacturing capacities of regions, providing workforce development opportunities and growing ecosystems that attract foreign direct investment. Through these programs, EDA supports bottom-up strategies that build on regional assets to spur economic growth and resiliency. EDA encourages its grantees throughout the country to develop initiatives that present new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities.

Under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), EDA solicits applications from applicants in order to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, planning, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects under EDA’s Public Works program and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) programs (which includes Assistance to Coal Communities). Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities, including those negatively impacted by changes to the coal economy.

Please access this opportunity, “EDAP2018”, on Grants.gov that supersedes the previously published “EDAP-2017” opportunity.

Current Closing Date for Applications: There are no submission deadlines under this opportunity. Proposals and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new EDAP NOFO.

Fiscal Year 2018 EDA University Center Economic Development Program (UC) Notice of Funding Opportunity

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has published the Fiscal Year 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the University Center Economic Development Program Competition for EDA’s Austin and Denver Regional Offices. This NOFO makes approximately $7.4 million available for the program ($2.5 million for the first year of awards under this competition).

The purpose of EDA’s University Center Economic Development Program (also referred to in this announcement as the University Center program) is to enable institutions of higher education and consortia of institutions of higher education to establish and operate University Centers specifically focused on using university assets to build regional economic ecosystems that support innovation and high-growth entrepreneurship. University Centers collaborate with other EDA partners by providing expertise and technical assistance to develop, implement, and support regional strategies that result in job creation, high-skilled regional talent pools, and business expansion in a region’s innovation clusters. Expertise and technical assistance may address, for example, workforce training programs, applied research centers, technology commercialization, feasibility studies, market research, economic impact analyses training, and other technical assistance to help communities foster vibrant economic ecosystems.

Since FY 2004, EDA has administered the University Center program as a competitive multi-year program, holding competitions in two of its six regional offices on a rotating basis. EDA encourages the submission of applications that will create and nurture regional economic ecosystems through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skill development, workforce training opportunities, applied research and development, technology commercialization, and targeted activities that cultivate entrepreneurship and improve regional economic development.

AURO and DRO will each be holding informational webinars on this NOFO. More details to follow.

Current Closing Date for Applications: July 15, 2018

FY 2017 Economic Development Assistance Programs Application submission and program requirements for EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs

Please note the update to this opportunity and the new Grants.Gov link: effective June 19, 2017

The Economic Development Administration's (EDA's) mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for economic growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA fulfills this mission through strategic investments and partnerships that create the regional economic ecosystems required to foster globally competitive regions throughout the United States. EDA supports development in economically distressed areas of the United States by fostering job creation and attracting private investment. Specifically, under the Economic Development Assistance programs (EDAP) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), EDA will make construction, non-construction, and revolving loan fund investments under the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Programs. Through this NOFA, EDA will also designate a portion of its EAA funding to support communities and regions that have been negatively impacted by changes in the coal economy (Assistance to Coal Communities, or ACC 2017). Grants made under these programs will leverage regional assets to support the implementation of regional economic development strategies designed to create jobs, leverage private capital, encourage economic development, and strengthen America's ability to compete in the global marketplace. Through the EDAP NOFA, EDA solicits applications from rural and urban communities to develop initiatives that advance new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic conditions.

Please access this opportunity, “EDAP-2017”, on Grants.gov that supersedes the previously published “EDAP2017” opportunity.

Closing Date for Applications: There are no submission deadlines under this opportunity. Proposals and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new EDAP NOFA. (New EDAP NOFO published July 2, 2018)

FDI and Trade: International Engagement Ready Communities

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced the availability of funding for the FY 2017 International Engagement Ready Communities Competition. This $600,000 program seeks to help drive foreign direct investment (FDI) in U.S. communities with diverse economic development needs by enhancing their FDI attraction and export promotion efforts. Through this program, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), SelectUSA, and the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) will support empirical research on successful international engagement strategies and develop best practice reports and a competitiveness assessment tool. These elements will be incorporated into a user-friendly economic development organization (EDO) toolkit and training guide to help local communities assess and increase their ability to become globally competitive while enhancing their trade and FDI promotion activities. Eligibility is open to organizations engaged in economic or infrastructure development opportunities, including state and local governments, Tribal organizations, institutions of higher learning, and other related public or private organizations or associations.

Grant applications are due by June 12. For more information about how to apply, visit: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=293705, or contact: RNTA@eda.gov.

Closing Date for Applications: June 12, 2017

Regional Innovation Strategies Program Competition

EDA's Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) webpage

EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) leads the Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program. Under the RIS Program, the centerpiece of the Regional Innovation Program authorized under Section 27 of Stevenson-Wydler (15 U.S.C. § 3722), EDA currently awards grants that build regional capacity to translate innovations into jobs (1) through proof-of-concept and commercialization assistance to innovators and entrepreneurs and (2) through operational support for organizations that provide essential early-stage risk capital to innovators and entrepreneurs. The RIS Program consists of two separate competitions: the i6 Challenge and Seed Fund Support (SFS) Grants competition. The i6 Challenge is a leading national initiative designed to support the creation of centers for innovation and entrepreneurship that increase the rate at which innovations, ideas, intellectual property, and research are translated into products, services, viable companies, and, ultimately, jobs. Through the SFS Grants competition, EDA provides funding for technical assistance to support the creation, launch, or expansion of equity-based, cluster-focused seed funds that invest regionally-managed risk capital in regionally-based startups with a potential for high growth.

Closing Date for Applications: The 2017 RIS Program’s application period closed on June 23, 2017. EDA expects to announce awardees later this year.

FY 2017 EDA University Center Economic Development Program Competition

FY 2017 EDA University Center Economic Development Program Competition (Seattle Region)
FY 2017 EDA University Center Economic Development Program Competition (Atlanta Region)

This FFO announces the availability of funding for EDA’s FY 2017 University Center Economic Development Program Competition. This program funds technical assistance provided by an accredited institution of higher education that is focused on advancing regional commercialization efforts, entrepreneurship, innovation, business expansion in a region’s innovation cluster(s), and a high-skilled regional workforce. EDA solicits competitive applications from accredited institutions of higher education and from consortia of accredited institutions of higher education that are located in and have programs targeting only geographic areas served by EDA’s Atlanta and Seattle Regional Offices.

Closing Date for Applications: March 20, 2017

FY 2016 Economic Development Assistance Programs Application submission and program requirements for EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs

Under this FFO, EDA solicits applications from applicants in rural and urban areas to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects under EDA’s Public Works and EAA programs. Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities. EDA provides strategic investments on a competitive- merit-basis to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas of the United States.

Closing Date for Applications: There are no submission deadlines under this opportunity. Proposals and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new EDAP FFO.

FY 2016 EDA University Center Economic Development Program Competition (Closed)

FY 2016 EDA University Center Economic Development Program Competition (CHICAGO REGION)
FY 2016 EDA University Center Economic Development Program Competition (PHILADELPHIA REGION)

This FFO announces the availability of funding for EDA’s FY 2016 University Center Economic Development Program Competition. This program funds initiatives that are focused on advancing regional commercialization efforts, entrepreneurship, innovation, business expansion in a region’s innovation cluster, and a high-skilled regional workforce. EDA solicits competitive applications from accredited institutions of higher education and from consortia of accredited institutions of higher education that are located in and have programs targeting only geographic areas served by EDA’s Chicago and Philadelphia Regional Offices.

Closing Date for Applications: May 31, 2016

Integrating Economic Development Across the Federal Government (Closed)

EDA is seeking applications for a one (1) year cooperative agreement to conduct research and analysis that results in tools for better aligning and integrating federal economic development programs. A core piece of this work will involve the creation and delivery of comprehensive, useable economic development program content that will facilitate access to and maximize the efficiency of such programs. Ultimately, such tools will permit communities seeking federal and other assistance to achieve their economic development objectives. Applicants should describe how they would develop and deliver comprehensive information, including an inventory of federal economic development programs and related content that identifies and clearly delineates the parameters for all economic development programs administered by all federal agencies. At a minimum, parameters for each program must include eligibility, typical uses, complementary uses, target applicant type, the types of activities supported by the program, other funding requirements or constraints and the outputs and outcomes expected by the programs. The ideal inventory would use the lens of EDA's logic model to identify how four key areas of economic development capacity are advanced through the identified federal economic development programs. Additionally, research and analysis will be conducted to explore the extent to which EDA's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) process could fulfill or better align with the economic/community/workforce development planning requirements of other Federal economic development programs. See section I.C of this FFO. Recommendations are sought for improved alignment of planning requirements across such programs.

Closing Date for Applications: Jan 13, 2016

Innovative Metrics for Economic Development – Proof of Concept Study (Closed)

EDA seeks applications to develop and test measures, metrics, indicators, and methodologies to help the agency more effectively assess, evaluate, and report on the full impact of its economic development investments on regional economies across the Nation. Proposals must discuss how robust indicators and metrics will be identified; establish appropriate program metrics for EDA investments and validate the statistical relationship between grant outputs and outcomes (capacity building) and realized (economic growth, competitiveness and sustainability) outcomes. EDA is particularly interested in appropriate program metrics for non-construction, innovation-supporting programs. Models must include testing on EDA grantees, an impact analysis design and how a valid statistical methodology will corroborate that the proposed metric model works. All metrics should be consistent with EDA’s logic model. Deliverables will include an implementation toolkit accessible to EDA staff with operational recommendations in addition to reports establishing proven metrics, supporting analysis and statistical corroboration.

Closing Date for Applications: Aug 21, 2015

Funding Opportunities

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