Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete Pilot Program)

The Recompete Program will invest in economically distressed communities to create and connect people to good jobs. This program will create renewed economic opportunity in communities that have for too long been forgotten. To do so, the program targets areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment significantly trails the national average, with the goal to close this gap through large, flexible investments.

Authorized for up to $1 billion in the CHIPS and Science Act, the Recompete Program received $200 million in initial appropriations for the 2023 competition. The program saw an unprecedented 565 applications, requesting more than $6 billion in funding. 

On December 20, 2023, the Department of Commerce announced Phase 1 Finalists, as well as recipients of Recompete Strategy Development Grants.

Recompete Phase 1 Finalists and Strategy Development Grant Recipients

Fact Sheet: Phase 1 Portfolio (PDF) Finalist Resources: Phase 2 Application Materials

Phase 2 Finalist Summit – Recordings and Materials

EDA selected Recompete Finalists from over 200 applications for Recompete Plan Approval; the 22 Finalists represent less than the top 10% of those that applied. Becoming a Recompete Finalist provides an invitation to apply for the Phase 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF), as well as access to a suite of technical assistance to help strengthen each Finalist’s Recompete Plan. In Phase 2, EDA will make approximately 4-8 implementation investments, with awarded regions receiving between $20 to $50 million on average. To read the Phase 2 NOFO, click here (PDF).

A Strategy Development Grant (SDG) enables communities to significantly increase local coordination and planning activities. This funding represents an investment in readiness and local capacity-building. 15 of the Recompete Finalists received SDGs, and 9 other applicants received SDGs.

Phase 2 Resources

• Applicant Essentials

  • Phase 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (PDF)
  • Phase 2 FAQs
  • Phase 2 NOFO Cheat Sheet and Application Checklist (PDF)
  • Recompete Eligibility Mapping Tool
  • Recompete Census Tract Viewer

• Optional Templates

  • Recompete Phase 2 Eligible Service Area Template (only if changing service area) (XLSX)
  • Phase 2 Recompete Community Commitments Guidance (PDF) - Updated 03/18/2024
  • Optional Community Commitments Index Template (XLSX) - Updated 3/18/2024
  • Optional Budget Narrative Template for Non-Construction (XLSX)
  • Preliminary Engineering Report Template (DOCX)
  • Environmental Narrative and Application Certification Clause Template (DOCX)
  • Example – Anytown Environmental Narrative (PDF)
  • Procurement Guidance for EDA Awards (PDF)
  • Phase 2 Recompete RLF Template (DOCX)

• Additional Resources

  • Menu of Community Commitments (PDF)
  • Phase 1 Finalists Service Area (XLSX)
  • Phase 2 Finalist Summit – Recordings and Materials
  • Phase 2 Finalist Summit Agenda (PDF)

Press Releases

• Biden-Harris Administration Announces 22 Recompete Pilot Program Finalists

• Administración Biden-Harris Anuncia 22 finalistas del Programa Piloto Recompete (Volver a Competir)

• Applications for Biden-Harris Administration’s Recompete Pilot Program Highlight Opportunities to Boost American Communities
• Solicitudes para el Programa Piloto Recompete (Volver a Competir) de la administración Biden-Harris Destaca Oportunidades para Impulsar las Comunidades Estadounidenses
• Biden-Harris Administration Launches Recompete Pilot Program Funding Opportunity
• Lanzamiento de la administración Biden-Harris Oportunidad de Financiamiento del Programa Piloto Recompete (Volver a Competir)
• U.S. Department of Commerce Seeks Public Input on New Recompete Pilot Program That Supercharges Communities with High Unemployment

Blog Posts 

• Recompete Pilot Program is Critical to U.S. Economic Policy

• Summary of Recompete Request for Information (RFI) Responses 

• Summary of Tribal Consultation Responses 

Phase 1 Resources

• Recompete Phase 1 Applicant List (PDF) 

• Phase 1 Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF) 

• Fact Sheet: Recompete Pilot Program (PDF) - (As of 6/29/2023) 

• Fact Sheet (Spanish): Recompete Pilot Program (PDF) 

• VIDEO (July 7, 2023): Recompete Webinar - Program Overview 

• SLIDES (July 7, 2023): Recompete Webinar – Program Overview (PDF) 

• VIDEO (January 8, 2024): Recompete Phase 1 Applicant Feedback Debrief

• SLIDES (January 8, 2024): Recompete Phase 1 Applicant Feedback Debrief (PDF)

• Additional Phase 1 Resources

About the Recompete Pilot Program 

The Recompete Program was enacted as part of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (as the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program). The statute authorized $1 billion for the program over 5 years. As part of the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress appropriated EDA $200 million to launch the program. This program provides grants to eligible recipients representing eligible areas to alleviate persistent economic distress and support long-term comprehensive economic development and job creation in eligible areas outlined in the statute.