In This Issue

• Spotlight: Applications Open for $1.5 Billion in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance
• Success Story: EDA University Center Participates in Cross-Campus Collaboration to Respond to Aid COVID-19 Pandemic
• Highlight: Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Welding Expansion Project Adds 35,000 Square-Feet of Learning Space for Students

Spotlight: Applications Open for $1.5 Billion in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance

EDA is now accepting applications from eligible grantees for $1.5 billion in economic assistance to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic using funds authorized by under the CARES Act that was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on March 27.

An Addendum to our Fiscal Year 2020 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity (FY20 PWEAA NOFO) has been published, making the funds available. Under this announcement, EDA will make CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants under the authority of its Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, which is our most flexible and responsive program to help meet the economic development needs and priorities of local and regional stakeholders.

EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance investments will support a wide range of planning and technical assistance, construction and non-construction activities, and support for Revolving Loan Funds in communities across the country experiencing severe economic dislocations brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

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Success Story: EDA University Center Participates in Cross-Campus Collaboration to Respond to Aid COVID-19 Pandemic

An EDA University Center partner, the Tom Love Innovation Hub at the University of Oklahoma (OU), is participating in a cross-campus effort to create and validate essential medical equipment in support of our healthcare heroes.

Led by Innovation Hub Executive Director Tom Wavering and Dr. Yacoub Al Sakka, director of digital technologies in the OU College of Dentistry, OU's For Oklahoma Covid-19 Task Force is comprised of more than 40 individuals. Together across three campuses, they are combining their expertise to develop, prototype, validate and offer recommended essential equipment designs.

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Highlight: Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Welding Expansion Project Adds 35,000 Square-Feet of Learning Space for Students

Last month was National Welding Month and in light of that, we wanted to highlight Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Welding Expansion Project.

The Project, funded in part by a $2 million EDA investment, includes an additional 35,000 square feet of hands-on learning space for the Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center to allow up to 300 welding students to enroll per year.

The expanded center is coming online at a critical time, as the industry predicts a shortage of more than 200,000 skilled welding professionals this year.

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