All Funding Opportunities

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has published the FY 2022 CARES Act Economic Recovery Corps and Equity Impact Investments Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This NOFO funds two distinct programs that are designed to provide support to underserved communities across the country in their efforts to develop successful economic development plans and projects. The first program (NOFO pages 4-8) is a network of Economic Recovery Corps fellows to add human capital to local organizations focused on improving economic resilience and competitiveness in distressed regions across the country. The second program (NOFO pages 8-11) is Equity Impact Investments that provides technical assistance to enable organizations serving underserved populations and communities to participate in economic development planning and projects.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration has published the FY22 Build to Scale (B2S) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity making $45 million in federal funds available to build regional economies through scalable startups. The program continues to further technology-based economic development initiatives that accelerate high quality job growth, create more economic opportunities, and support the next generation of industry leading companies. Under the FY22 B2S program, EDA is soliciting applications for two separate Challenges – the Venture Challenge and Capital Challenge. The Venture Challenge seeks to support entrepreneurship and accelerate scalable companies’ growth in communities that are challenging the status quo of markets, commercializing technology, and furthering job creation. The Capital Challenge seeks to increase access to capital in communities, sectors, or regions where risk capital is in short supply. This includes accelerators, educational institutions, angel networks, and investment funds (B2S does not directly fund individuals or individual startups). For full program details, please visit the Build to Scale website.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration has published the FY 2022 University Center Economic Development Program Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF), making $8.4 million in federal funds available to accredited institutions of higher education or a consortium of accredited institutions of higher education in EDA’s Atlanta and Seattle regions. A combined total of $2.4 million is available for the first year of awards under this competition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.