Selected Federal Agency Announcements and Related for the Week ending August 21, 2020

The following is a selection of recent announcements gleaned from various federal sources and colleagues and is provided to EDA’s Economic Development Integrators to increase our awareness of complementary resources for economic development.

See more open funding opportunities at federal agencies on the EDI webpage at https://www.eda.gov/edi/assistance/

Also visit the following links on our updated EDI webpages at www.eda.gov/edi for additional information about federal resources that are available to support comprehensive regional economic development strategies, including:

Click here to view all weekly federal announcement posts

Contents

 

Funding & Resource Announcements

Still Available:  EDA CARES Act Funds

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) continues to accept applications from eligible grantees for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) supplemental funds (EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance) intended to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance investments will support a wide range of non-construction and construction activities, including Revolving Loan Funds, in regions across the country experiencing severe economic dislocations brought about by the coronavirus pandemic

Details for applicants are provided in  an Addendum to our Fiscal Year 2020 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity (FY20 PWEAA NOFO) available on Grants.gov. Interested applicants are encouraged to consult with an EDA representative near you, prior to submission. Contact info is available at www.eda.gov/contact.  Also visit these resources on the EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page:

ACCESS TO CAPITAL, BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Apply by Sep 15.  BIA Grants to Tribes for Business Development Feasibility Studies

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs is making grants available for feasibility studies of economic development opportunities located in designated Opportunity Zones.

The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), through its Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI), is soliciting proposals from Tribes for technical assistance funding to hire consultants to perform feasibility studies of economic development opportunities located in designated Opportunity Zones. See IEED webpage for details: https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/ieed/division-economic-development/nabdi

Updates on the Fed’s Main Street Lending Program
From the Boston Federal Reserve Bank’s bulletin:

The goal of the Main Street Lending Program is to keep credit flowing to small and midsized businesses and nonprofit organizations that were in sound financial condition before the coronavirus pandemic but now need financing to maintain operations. In July, the Main Street Lending Program’s forms and agreements were amended to include the Nonprofit Organization New Loan Facility and the Nonprofit Organization Expanded Loan Facility. The documents include technical changes to accommodate multi-borrower loans and to simplify terms. In addition, the Main Street (for-profit) FAQs and Nonprofit Organization FAQs were updated. For more information and updates, visit the Main Street Lending Program web page.

CEDS, REGIONAL PLANNING and CAPACITY BUILDING

Released Aug 10:  U.S. Treasury Issues Updated Guidance on Coronavirus Relief Fund

On August 10, the U.S. Department of the Treasury recently published an updated set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), which was authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Visit this Treasury webpage to read the Updated FAQ.

The $150 billion CRF provides funding to state, county and municipal governments with populations over 500,000 to address necessary expenditures incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

  • Related non-federal resource: National Association of Counties (NACo) has compiled examples showing how some Counties are using their Coronavirus Relief Funds. Visit NACo’s website to read more.

Apply by Aug 24:  USDA Community Prosperity Funding

Community-based and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and tribal entities may compete for Community Prosperity funding on projects that provide outreach, education and training in agriculture, conservation, agribusiness, and forestry, with a focus on economic and workforce development, innovation and technology, and quality of life through food and agriculture

The program is administered by the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE). The deadline for applications is August 24, 2020. See the request for applications for full details.

Apply by Aug 24. USDA Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers, Ranchers, Agricultural Producers, and Communities

USDA has announced it is soliciting applications for grants from community-based and non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and tribal entities to compete for grants to provide technical assistance to persistent poverty communities. Technical assistance should assist socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers to establish a local working leaders group, identify issues, challenges and assets, prepare a plan of action and identify resources and means to address and accomplish results through available programmatic services and opportunities.  Click here for the solicitation.  Proposals are due by August 24.

NEW – Apply by Sept 10. USDA Invites Applications from TA Providers for Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC)

The Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development is seeking applications from organizations to provide planning and/or implementation technical assistance to rural communities to foster placemaking under the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC). This funding opportunity will be administered by the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center and is announcing up to $1,000,000 in competitive cooperative agreement funds in fiscal year (FY) 2020. Funds can be used to help rural communities access planning resources to develop actionable placemaking plans, convene partners, identify community needs, and implement priorities to build rural prosperity. Since broadband access is an essential component to providing this type of assistance, the Agency encourages planning and technical assistance that helps build capacity for rural broadband expansion. Planning must directly benefit cities or towns with 50,000 residents or less. Click here for access to the solicitation.  Applications are due by September 10.  USDA expects a total of five awards. Additional Information:   Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge Web Site

INFRASTRUCTURE.

NEW: Depart of Defense Invites 16 Communities to Apply for $50M Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot (Webinar Aug 20).

On August 10, the Secretary of Defense, instructed the Office of Economic Adjustment to invite grant applications from sixteen communities, based upon their top ranking by the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) Review Panel.  The Defense Community Infrastructure Program, is a pilot program that authorizes the Secretary of Defense to make grants, conclude cooperative agreements, and supplement funds available under other Federal programs to improve community infrastructure supportive of a military installation, where such assistance will enhance the military family quality of life, resilience, or military value.

  • A list of rankings by all applicants can be viewed here:  DCIP Proposal Results. The Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) will host a webinar on August 20th at 3:00pm EDT, to provide information about the competition. Click hereto join.

Apply by Sep 1:  Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) Grant Solicitation

The Secretary of the Interior, through the Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD), Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), is soliciting grant proposals from Federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Federally recognized Tribal entities to build Tribal capacity for energy resource regulation and management. The Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) grant program seeks to develop the Tribal management, organizational and technical capacity needed to maximize the economic impact of energy resource development on American Indian and Native Alaskan land. Please contact DEMD with any questions or inquiries about the TEDC program or submission process: https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/ieed/division-energy-and-mineral-development/tedcp

LOI Due Sept 15 / Oct 15. EPA Water Infrastructure Financing Programs (WIFIA/SWIFIA)

In July, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the 2020 notice of funding availability under its Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, including funding for the new State infrastructure financing authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program. These funding programs accelerate investment in critical water infrastructure through long-term, low cost, supplemental credit assistance under customized terms to creditworthy water and wastewater projects of national and regional significance.

This year’s notice of funding availability prioritizes construction-ready projects in three areas: updating aging infrastructure; reducing exposure to contaminants; and water reuse and recycling. EPA will accept letters of interest from prospective WIFIA borrowers through October 15.  EPA is also, for the first time, providing funds under SWIFIA, a new program to offer low-interest loans to state water infrastructure programs (e.g., the State Revolving Funds) that then help finance needed water infrastructure projects in local communities. Letters of Interest for SWIFIA are due by September 15. For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia.

Opens Sept 30: FEMA’s FY20 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs

On August 4, 2020, FEMA posted the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Notification of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program and the new Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) pre-disaster mitigation grant programs. FEMA’s two competitive mitigation grant programs provide states, local communities, tribes and territories (SLTTs) funding for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future disaster damages. This year there is $160 million available in funding for FMA and $500 million for BRIC. The BRIC priorities are to incentivize: public infrastructure projects; projects that mitigate risk to one or more lifelines;  projects that incorporate nature-based solutions; and adoption and enforcement of modern building codes.

The FY20 BRIC and FMA application period opens on September 30, 2020. Applications must be received in the FEMA GO Portal by January 29, 2021. Note that FEMA will require applicants to have a current FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan at time of application and award. Visit the FY20 HMA NOFO webpage for more information.

MANUFACTURING, INNOVATION and TECHNOLOGY:

Coming Soon:  Energy Department to Issue “Connected Communities” Funding Opportunity for Commercial Building Energy Efficiency.

U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced its intent to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Connected Communities.” EERE anticipates awarding 4-6 projects for up to $7 million each in the form of cooperative agreements, or up to $42 million. EERE’s Building Technologies Office would manage the FOA.

The FOA would support EERE’s Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings research initiative, which explores how smart building technologies and practices will enable American businesses and families to save energy and reduce their utility bills while protecting their comfort, productivity, and quality of life. EERE is working toward a future in which buildings can serve as reliable grid assets that operate dynamically with the grid to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and resilience. The full Notice of Intent can be viewed HERE.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

NEW: Apply by Sep 22.  EPA FY21 Environmental Workforce Training Grant

EPA-OLEM-OBLR-20-03 – Closing Date: September 22, 2020

EPA is soliciting applications to deliver Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training programs that recruit, train, and place local, unemployed and under-employed residents with the skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field. While Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants require training in brownfield assessment and/or cleanup activities, these grants also require that Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training be provided to all individuals being trained. EPA encourages applicants to develop their curricula based on local labor market assessments and employers’ hiring needs, while also delivering comprehensive training that results in graduates securing multiple certifications. Click this link for the full announcement: FY2021 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training (EWDJT) Grants (PDF)

Apply by Sept 24. USDA Agricultural Workforce Training Grants Program.

The Agricultural Workforce Training (AWT) Grants program seeks to develop a technology- and data-savvy workforce, ready for the field and industrial jobs within the food and agricultural sciences. Through the development of new workforce training programs, or the expansion, improvement, or renewal of existing workforce training programs at community, junior, and technical colleges/institutes, this program will expand job-based, experiential learning opportunities for students to enable a work-ready labor force for 21st century agricultural jobs. Visit NIFA’s website for more information: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/agriculture-and-food-research-initiative-education-workforce-development.

NEW: Apply by Oct 8 – DOL $40M Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of $40 million in Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants to expand community colleges’ ability to meet labor market demand for a skilled workforce. The grants also build the capacity of community colleges to address challenges associated with the coronavirus health

Community colleges may apply for funding as a single institution to undertake capacity building at one institution, as a consortium of colleges in one state or across one or more community college districts in a state. The Department expects to fund approximately eight to 16 grants of up to $2 million for single institutions and up to $5 million for consortium applicants. The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is Oct. 8, 2020.

Open Federal Funding Opportunities:  

Below is a list of previously highlighted funding opportunities that are still open. Enter the Opportunity Number in Grants.gov to see announcement details. You can also search Grants.gov for a full list of current federal opportunities, including programs not listed below.

Opportunity Number Opportunity Title AGENCY Posted Date Close Date
ED-GRANTS-062320-001 Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE): FY 2020 Education Stabilization Fund: Reimagine Workforce Preparation (ESF-RWP) Grants Program CFDA Number 84.425G ED 06/23/2020 08/24/20
OPPE-15 Solicitation for Applications to Assist Persistent Poverty Farmers, Ranchers, Agriculture Producers and Communities through Agriculture Resources USDA-DMOAO 07/15/2020 08/24/2020
OPPE-014 Funding Opportunity Announcement: Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers USDA-DMOAO 07/15/2020 08/26/2020
BIA-TEDC-2020 Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) Grant; Solicitation DOI-BIA 06/04/2020 09/01/2020
20-581 Disaster Resilience Research Grants NSF 06/13/2020 09/15/2020
BIA-2020-NABDI Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Grant; Solicitation of Proposals DOI-BIA 06/18/2020 09/15/2020
EPA-OLEM-OBLR-20-03 FY21 ENVIRONMENTAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND JOB TRAINING (EWDJT) GRANTS EPA 07/27/2020 09/22/2020
FOA-ETA-20-07 Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants DOL-ETA 07/08/2020 10/08/2020
DHS-20-MT-047-00-99 FY20 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities DHS-DHS 08/03/2020 01/29/2021
EDA-2019-DISASTER FY 2019 EDA Disaster Supplemental DOC-EDA 08/13/2019 Open
PWEAA2020

 

 FY 2020 EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs (Includes CARES Act Addendum) DOC-EDA 10/18/2019

Updated 05/07/2020

 Open
FR-6400-N-54 HUD’s FY2020 and FY2021 Distressed Cities TA Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) HUD 11/26/2019 Open
2020-NIST-MFGUSA-NEAP-01 NIST Manufacturing USA National Emergency Assistance Program DOC-NIST 03/30/2020 Open

Recently Announced Awards

Education Department Awards STEM-Focused Grants to 17 HBCUs, MSIs
On August 10, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced $3.9 million in new grant awards to 17 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to improve science and engineering education programs for students. The grant is part of the Department of Education’s Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP), which supports expanding the scientific and technological capacity of the United States to build global competitiveness by increasing the number of minority graduates in STEM fields. The press release lists all the grantees and the abstracts are available online.

 DOD Selects Six Defense Manufacturing Communities Support Program Designees

On August 17, the Department of Defense Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment announced the decision selecting six consortia as designees under the new Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP) authorized under Section 846 of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. The DMCSP is designed to support long-term community investments that strengthen national security innovation and expand the capabilities of the defense industrial ecosystem. Designees will be invited to apply for grant funding as authorized by the program, to be administered by the Office of Economic Adjustment. For list of designees, see: https://oea.gov/Defense-Manufacturing-Community-Support-Program

DOL Awards $102M in Trade Adjustment Assistance For Workers Grants

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the award of nearly $102.5 million in grants to 47 states and Puerto Rico through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program. This annual formula grant provides funding to states for Training and Other Activities, including training services, job search and relocation allowances, and employment and case management services to serve eligible workers affected by foreign trade.The Department distributed $266.4 million to states in FY 2020 Training and Other Activities funding in an initial allocation in April 2020. This second distribution of $102.5 million together with the initial allocation represents 90 percent of the amount of Training and Other Activities funds available for the fiscal year. A final distribution of the remaining 10 percent will be made in September. A full list of states receiving funding in this distribution is available

Trade-affected workers experience losses in income when their wages or hours are reduced or jobs lost when their employers send their work to firms overseas. The Department uses the TAA Program to provide training, reemployment services, and income support in the form of Trade Readjustment Assistance to eligible workers and Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance to eligible workers age 50 and older, to help them find new employment. Learn more about on the TAA for Workers Program

Webinars, Tools & Research

August 27 @1pm –Advisory Board to Address Impact of the Pandemic on CDFIs

The CDFI Fund’s Community Development Advisory Board meeting will include two panel discussions and a report from the CDFI Fund Director on the activities of the CDFI Fund since the last Advisory Board meeting. The first panel discussion will focus on the impact of the pandemic and resulting economic distress on CDFIs and the clients and communities they serve, and how they have responded. The second panel will discuss the future needs of CDFIs and the clients and communities they serve and what is needed to address those needs. The link to the registration system can be found at: www.cdfifund.gov/cdab. Registration deadline is Tuesday, August 25, 2020. The full FEDERAL REGISTER August 11 notice about the open meeting is available here

Sep 21-25 Virtual Summit:  National Tribal Broadband Summit
The Department of the Interior, in collaboration with USDA and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, will showcase creative solutions to support tribal broadband development by connecting community leaders with information and resources to help identify opportunities for public and private sector solutions on tribal lands. Register or submit session proposals here: https://www.doi.gov/tribalbroadband

NEW: USDA Recreation Economy Resource Guide

On August 10, USDA launched a resource guide to provide rural community leaders and economic development practitioners a complete list of programs at Rural Development, Forest Service, and National Institute for Food and Agriculture that can be used to support recreational economies in rural America. This guide addresses key factors necessary to build a sustainable recreational economy including natural resource management, conservation activities, infrastructure investment, business development and more. Download the resource guide:Recreation Economy at USDA: Economic Development Resources for Rural Communities

More Resources:  USDA has also compiled federal assistance programs available  for Rural communities in these online guides:

NEW: Federal Advisory Council Releases Study on Women’s Participation in SBIR/STTR

On August 12, the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) released the first comprehensive report and analysis of  Women’s Inclusion in Small Business Innovation Research- (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs. NWBC is a federal advisory committee established to serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, the U.S. Congress, and to the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration on issues of importance to women business owners and entrepreneurs.

SBIR/STTR programs are a key source of financing for early-stage research and development (R&D) that translates discoveries into impactful products, services, and companies. This study found that across the 11 Federal agencies that fund SBIR/STTR programs, only 14.1% of Phase I awards were made to women owned small businesses, and about 13% of principal investigators (PIs) were women. The study also examines potential factors such as the presence of women-owned small businesses in STEM industries; SBIR funding agency outreach and initiatives; and promising practices on engaging women from organizations that support STEM entrepreneurs. Download the pdf HERE

NEW: OMB Issues Final Guidance on Grants and Agreements

The Office of Management and Budget has published “final guidance for grants and agreements” in the  August 13 Federal Register describing revisions of OMB Guidance for Grants and Agreements. This revision reflects the foundational shift outlined in the President’s Management Agenda (PMA) to set the stage for enhanced result-oriented accountability for grants. This guidance reflects the Administration’s focus on improved stewardship and ensuring that the American people are receiving value for funds spent on grant programs. The revisions are limited in scope to support implementation of the President’s Management Agenda, Results-Oriented Accountability for Grants Cross-Agency Priority Goal (Grants CAP Goal) and other Administration priorities; implementation of statutory requirements and alignment of these sections with other authoritative source requirements; and clarifications of existing requirements in particular areas within these sections. 

New Video. US Export Centers – Free Training on Managing Export Shipping Costs and Risks

Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration hosts a wealth of resources for US Exporters, including online tools and training videos.  A new video on Incoterms 2020 has recently been posted to help exporters ensure a smooth export transaction and avoid potentially costly mistakes. Visit the US Commercial Services website Trade.gov/export-solutions to View their free video series or contact your nearest U.S. Commercial Service office.

Request for Information on Federal Coordination to Promote Economic Mobility

 Through a Request for Information (RFI)  in the July 16 FEDERAL REGISTER, HHS and its interagency partners (Agriculture, Education, Labor, HUD, Treasury, SSA, CEA, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Domestic Policy Council) seek to gather feedback from our stakeholders– state and local government agencies, local program operators, and the people that we serve. The information gathered in response to the RFI will be used to better inform the Council’s priorities, working group activities, stakeholder engagement, and federal programs. Council members and the entire U.S. government are committed to a healthy and resilient America. COVID-19 has touched individuals and families in every corner of America–with communities across the country experiencing the pandemic in different ways. Feedback on the specific economic mobility, recovery, and resilience challenges in local communities in the short, medium, and long term is welcome. Comments are due by October 31.

Disaster Recovery Resources & Info

Economic Recovery Support & the National Disaster Response Framework

On behalf of the Department of Commerce, EDA leads the Economic Recovery Support Function (ERSF), under the National Disaster Response Framework (NDRF). Read more about EDA’s role in Disaster Recovery here: https://www.eda.gov/disaster-recovery/

Following are weblinks to federal programs and resources to assist with economic recovery following major disasters:

Federal Disaster Declarations

COVID-19 Disaster Assistance Resources

Department of Commerce (DOC) Resources

Census Bureau Resources

Economic Development Administration (EDA) Resources

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Centers Received CARES Act Funding

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA): Broadband USA

ERSF Partner Agencies (FEMA, Labor, SBA, Treasury, USDA)

Additional Selected Federal Recovery Resources:

Non-Federal Resources

Assistance for Natural Disasters

EDA Disaster Supplemental Funding Available for 2018/19 Natural Disasters

EDA Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), made available $587 million for eligible grantees in communities impacted by presidentially declared natural disasters in 2018, and by floods and tornadoes in 2019. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. View Opportunity Number EDA-2019-DISASTER on Grants.gov,  and contact your EDA Regional Office representative for eligibility information and application assistance.

Congressional Research Service -2020 Hurricane Season FAQ

On July 24, CRS issued a report ahead of the 2020 Hurricane Season to address frequently asked questions regarding Federal Disaster Assistance for Hurricanes During the COVID-19. The report is focused on FEMA and SBA funds available following emergency and major disaster declarations under the Stafford Act. Read the report here: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46385

NIST Funding Available for MEP Disaster Assessment Program

  • NIST MEP Disaster Assessment Program: NIST will accept applications from MEP Centers on a rolling basis based on the date of the subject FEMA Disaster Declaration. See NOFO (2020-NIST-MEP-MDAP-01) for full details.

EPA Toolkit Features Resources to Prepare for Natural Disasters

HUD Technical Assistance (TA) for Disaster Recovery in Small Cities.