Selected Federal Agency Announcements and Related for the Week of August 12, 2019

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

CAPACITY BUILDING

NEW: EPA Announces Availability of TA through the “Local Foods, Local Places” Program. Apply by Sep 30

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an opportunity to apply for technical assistance for communities interested in revitalizing neighborhoods through development of local food systems. The assistance will be provided through the Local Foods, Local Places (LFLP) program.  Deadline for applications is September 30, 2019.

LFLP partner communities work with a team of agricultural, environmental, public health and regional economic development experts to set goals and identify local assets that can support the local food economy. Communities also develop an action plan and identify potential resources from the participating federal agencies to support implementation. Communities with projects located in federal designated Opportunity Zones will receive special consideration.

To apply for LFLP assistance: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/local-foods-local-places-2019-2020-application

 

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENUERSHIP

NEW: SBA Announces FY20 Funding and Service Priorities for SBDCs – Includes OZ Outreach

Small Business Administration has announced the availability of $101,000,000 for investment in SBDCs serving the 50 states and US Territories.  Existing recipient organizations must submit their renewal applications by September 3.   SBA has established these important priorities for SBDC Recipients in FY/CY 2020, including:

  • Promoting an inclusive vision of entrepreneurship, one that draws entrepreneurs of all demographics, backgrounds and locations into the SBDC for business assistance;
  • Providing both new to export and ready to export training and assistance;
  • Providing contracting and procurement assistance, e.g., 8(a);
  • Providing guidance and training to small business on cyber security;
  • Providing counseling and training to rural entrepreneurs and small business owners;
  • Providing assistance to veterans; and
  • Assisting small businesses to prepare business continuity/disaster readiness plans.

The solicitation also addresses Rural Assistance and Opportunity Zones.

  • Rural Assistance: Assisting small businesses in rural areas in an effort to increase their participation in exporting, government procurement, tourism, access to credit, incubators, innovation and technology and other small business programs, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and other relevant Federal Agencies.
  • Opportunity Zones SBDCs, in conjunction with the SBA Regional Administrator and SBA District Office, will coordinate with their state, local and tribal economic development officials, chambers of commerce, lenders and other public and private entities to maximize business development in their respective Opportunity Zones. Each SBDC is required to develop an annual strategic plan, to craft programs and outreach in their respective Opportunity Zones, and to report on the results of plan implementation to SBA

 

USDA FY20 and FY21 SBIR Opportunities. Apply by Oct 23 for FY20 Funds

The Department of Agriculture announced the opening of the solicitation process for the FY 2020 and FY 2021 for its SBIR program.  Funds may be awarded up to $100,000 for a Phase I project. Projects dealing with agriculturally related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies are encouraged. Click here for the solicitation

DOE FY20 SBIR/STTR Phase I Opportunities Available. Webinar Aug 16

Department of Energy topics for FY 2020 SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 1 Funding Opportunity Announcement are now available at: https://science.osti.gov/sbir/Funding-Opportunities.  Letters of Interest are due September 3; Full Applications will be due October 15.

WEBINARS:  DOE will hold a webinar to discuss the Funding Opportunity and application process on Friday, August 16, 2019. Click the link above for registration instructions.

 

DOE Wave Energy Prize Competition. Apply by Sept 6.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) opened the first stage of the Waves to Water Prize, which seeks to accelerate the development of wave energy-powered desalination systems and launch novel technologies to address critical water security challenges. The prize is divided into four stages, and the first concept stage is now open for applications through September 6, 2019.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

NEW: FTA Soliciting Proposals to Administer “National Rural Transit Assistance Program”

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is soliciting proposals under the agency’s Formula Grants to Rural Areas Program to select an entity to administer a National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP).  The National RTAP will carry out activities to design and implement training and technical assistance projects and other support services tailored to meet the specific needs of transit operators in rural areas, including Indian Country.  Primary activities will include the development of information and materials for use by local operators and State administering agencies, and supporting research and technical assistance projects of national interest.

FTA intends to fund the National RTAP with $1,936,904 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 funds for the first year. Eligible proposers are non-profit organizations with rural and tribal transportation experience that have the capacity to provide public transportation-related technical assistance and the ability to deliver a national technical assistance and training program. There is no local match or cost sharing requirement for this program.

See https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-07-31/pdf/2019-16301.pdf

DOT Funding Available for Port Infrastructure. Apply by Sep 16

The Department of Transportation has announced the availability of funding for grants under its Port Infrastructure Development Program. this program and establishes selection criteria and application requirements. A total of over $292M will be available, with $92.7M directed for grants to the 15 coastal seaports that handled the greatest number of loaded foreign and domestic twenty-foot equivalent units of containerized cargo in 2016. Applications must be submitted September 16, 2019.

 

WORKFORCE

DOL RESTORE Grants Available to Assist Women Impacted by Opioid Crisis. Apply by Aug 23

The U.S. Department of Labor announced a new grant program to help women affected by the opioid crisis re-enter the workforce. The Re-Employment, Support, and Training for the Opioid Related Epidemic (RESTORE) grant will award $2.5 million to organizations that assist in providing coordinated, employment-focused services to women. Approximately 4 to 8 grant awards are anticipated.

The Department’s Women’s Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration will administer these grants. Organizations must apply at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=318777 by August 23, 2019. For further information about this opportunity, see the FAQs or contact Grants Management Specialist Marc Purvis at 202-693-3204 or [email protected].

 

DOL Funding for Apprenticeships. Apply by Sept 24.

The Employment Training Administration (ETA) has announced up to $100 million in grant funding available for the Apprenticeships: Closing the Skills Gap grant program. The Department intends to fund up to 30 apprenticeship grants, with awards ranging from $500,000 to $6 million. Grants may be local/regional, statewide, or national in scale, and funding will depend on the proposed geographic scope of the apprenticeship project.  View the announcement on Grants.gov here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=317245

 

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
OPPE-013 Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers USDA-DMOAO 07/17/2019 08/15/2019
2019-NIST-TPO-02 Enabling Federal Technology Transfer Program (EFTT) DOC-NIST 06/17/2019 08/16/2019
2019-NIST-TPO-02

 

Enabling Federal Technology Transfer Program (EFTT) DOC-NIST 06/17/2019 08/16/2019
FOA-WB-19-02

 

Re-Employment Support and Training for the Opioid Related Epidemic, RESTORE Grant Program DOL-ETA 07/24/2019 08/23/2019
 

DE-FOA-0001980

FY19 Advanced Manufacturing Office Multi-Topic FOA DOE-GFO 05/07/2019 08/29/2019
EPA-OLEM-OBLR-19-03 FY19 BROWNFIELDS TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT EPA 07/09/2019 09/20/2019
2019-NIST-SBIR-03 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) DOC-NIST 07/19/2019 09/20/2019
FOA-ETA-19-09

 

Apprenticeships: Closing the Skills Gap DOL-ETA 06/24/2019 09/24/2019
USDA-NIFA-SBIR-006790 FY 20 and FY21 SBIR Phase I RFA USDA-NIFA 07/25/2019 10/23/2019
EDAP2018 FY18 Economic Development Assistance Programs: Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance DOC-EDA 07/02/2018 Open
693JJ319NF-NSFLTP Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) DOT-FHWA 10/04/2018 Open

Notable Recent Funding Awards

NEW: USDA Announces Investment in Rural Water Infrastructure

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service announced investments of $135 million in 49 projects to improve rural water infrastructure in 24 states .

Through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program, rural cities and towns, water districts and other eligible entities can use USDA funds for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. View the interactive RD Apply tool or contact one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices for application or eligibility information.

 

 NEW: Department of Transportation Announces Major Infrastructure Investments (INFRA)

The U.S. Department of Transportation last week announced $855,950,000 in proposed grants through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program.

INFRA advances a grant program established in the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and utilizes updated criteria for evaluating projects to align them with national and regional economic vitality goals.  The program increases the impact of projects by leveraging federal grant funding and incentivizing project sponsors to pursue innovative strategies, including public-private partnerships.

NEW: HUD Awards $6M to LISC for TA to Distressed Communities, including OZ and Disaster Impacted Areas.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it is awarding $6 million to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to provide critically needed technical assistance to distressed communities with populations under 40,000, including those located in Opportunity Zones and communities struggling to recover from natural disasters.  Read more about HUD’s Distressed Cities Technical Assistance.

 

NEW HHS Awards Nearly $400 Million to Combat the Opioid Crisis

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded nearly $400 million to combat the nation’s opioid crisis. The investments will enable HRSA-funded community health centers, rural organizations and academic institutions to establish and expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services.

In addition to HRSA’s investments in community health centers and response programs under the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) initiative, HRSA is also awarding nearly $70 million to Opioid Workforce Expansion Programs (OWEP) for Professionals and Paraprofessionals. OWEP awards support training across the behavioral health provider spectrum including community health workers, social workers, psychology interns and post-doctoral residents. These programs encourage an integrated approach to training through academic and community partnerships. These workforce investments help clinicians to provide integrated behavioral health care and treatment services in underserved communities. Download grantee information and service areas

To learn more about HRSA’s work combatting the opioid crisis, visit HRSA’s Opioid Crisis page.

NEW: The Rockefeller Foundation Designates Atlanta as Newest City in Opportunity Zones Initiative

Atlanta will become the second city to participate in The Rockefeller Foundation’s Opportunity Zone Community Capacity Building Initiative. The initiative, which launched in May 2019, aims to help U.S. cities attract responsible private investment in economically-distressed communities through Opportunity Zones created in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Atlanta, which has more than 82,000 residents living in 26 designated Opportunity Zones, will receive $920,000 in grants and supportive services, including a $400,000 grant to establish and fund a Chief Opportunity Zone Officer embedded in Invest Atlanta, the City of Atlanta’s economic development authority. Funding will also support the placement of two AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) members who will facilitate community involvement in proposed Opportunity Zone projects and businesses; and technical assistance to help develop

Cities of Service

The Rockefeller Foundation also announced it will award a $600,000 grant to Cities of Service, an independent nonprofit organization that helps mayors build stronger, more vibrant cities by changing the way local government and citizens work together. Cities of Service will provide Atlanta and five other cities participating in the Foundation’s Opportunity Zones initiative with technical assistance and two AmeriCorps VISTA members who will lead and manage community engagement efforts in each city. Through this effort, Cites of Service will help selected cities achieve positive economic and social outcomes for their communities through community-informed Opportunity Zone efforts. Information about Opportunity Zones in the City of Atlanta, including development projects seeking investment, can be found at www.atlopportunityzones.com.

Public Meetings, Events and Training

Aug 14 – Designing for Resilience –  Smart Growth Information Clearinghouse Webinar

Featured in  EPA’s State and Local Energy and Environment Program Newsletter:   

August 14, 1 PM (ET) – Designing for Resilience Across Scales and Systems

From climate change to rapid urbanization, social inequity to failing infrastructure, there are a wide variety of risks that can compromise a city’s ability to be competitive while also supporting the well-being of its residents. This webinar that looks at these challenges and identifies opportunities to design resilient and adaptable cities in the face of these growing threats.This session will examine resilience across scales, systems and sectors, review resilience concepts and look at what resilience means in the built environment.

Register

 

HBCU Conference Scheduled for September 8 -12 in Washington D.C.

The Department of Education reports that registration is now open for the 2019 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week Conference, September 8-12 in Washington, D.C. Presidents and other representatives from HBCUs, federal agencies, corporations, and foundations will participate in discussions on significant issues of interest to the HBCU community.

SBA’s SBIR Road Tour: Final Stops on the East Coast (Sept 16-20) and Caribbean (Nov 13-15)

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is continuing its 16-stop road tour connecting entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early stage funding – the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Remaining stops include:

  • The Eastern Tour will run from September 16-20, with stops in Burlington, Vermont; Albany, New York; New Brunswick, New Jersey; State College, Pennsylvania; and College Park, Maryland.
  • Caribbean: the SBIR Road Tour will stop in Miami, Florida on November 13 and in Puerto Rico on November 15.

Small technology firms, innovators, scientists or researchers seeking more information on the SBIR Road Tour, including a schedule of stops and participating agencies should visit: www.sbirroadtour.com.

For more information about SBIR/STTR programs, please visit www.sbir.gov.

 

SBA Announces National Veterans Small Business Week (November 4 – 8)

The Small Business Administration has announced a celebration veteran-owned small businesses during the sixth annual National Veterans Small Business Week (November 4 – 8). This year’s theme will highlight the veteran entrepreneurship journey and the many resources available to support their mission to successful business ownership. Learn more

Reports, Tools and Data

NEW: DOL Launches Online Help Desk to Provide Compliance Assistance to Federal Contractors and Stakeholders

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) launched the Contractor Assistance Portal, an online help desk to provide enhanced compliance assistance to federal contractors and stakeholders. The virtual online helpdesk is part of a broad push by the U.S. Department of Labor to provide innovative compliance assistance to job creators. For more information, please call OFCCP’s toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.

NEW: HHS/ACF Launches Website to Help Families Find Child Care Resources

HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has recently announced the public launch of a new website to assist parents and caregivers in finding child care. “While child care is a work support for parents, it is also a place where young children spend a lot of time. The resources put forth by states on the site will help parents better understand what to look for and what to ask so healthy and informed choices can be made for their families” said Shannon Christian, director of the Office of Child Care at ACF.  ChildCare.gov includes links to state child care search engines and financial assistance available within states to help families find child care, as well as child development and early learning resources.

 

NEW: NREL Releases “The Wind Energy Workforce in the United States: Training, Hiring, and Future Needs”

A report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) assesses the national wind energy workforce and the hiring needs of the industry. Entitled, “The Wind Energy Workforce in the United States: Training, Hiring, and Future Needs,” the report reviews the educational programs that are preparing students for work.

According to the NREL, the researchers interviewed educational institutions offering wind programs, as well as industry representatives, to identify gaps in the workforce and path to employment.

 

 NEW: Pew Charitable Trusts New Tool Permits Browsing through State Broadband Policies and Funding

The Pew Charitable Trusts has launched a new initiative which has introduced a new tool to permit the browsing through State broadband policies and funding.  View the tool here:   https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/data-visualizations/2019/state-broadband-policy-explorer

 

EDA 2018 Annual Report Available

Last month, EDA released its Annual Report of the agency’s activities during Fiscal Year 2018.

  • Between FY 2012 and FY 2017, EDA invested over $1.6 billion in 4,058 projects to help communities and regions build the capacity for economic development. Clear here to view these past awards: (Underlying Data(XLSX))

 

Opportunity Zones: Report Lists Federal Programs that Target OZs

The White House Opportunity Council issued a Report that Lists Federal Programs That Support Opportunity Zones Click here to see a list of over 50 programs that federal agencies have already taken action to better target resources to Opportunity Zones. This list will continue to be updated and augmented as additional resources become available, including the new  Investment Priority that EDA recently added for projects based in or benefitting Opportunity Zones. See EDA’s June 12, 2019 press release for more information.

EDA’s Economic Development Integration pages (https://www.eda.gov/edi/) feature additional federal resources that can support strategies to increase access to capital, workforce skills, infrastructure other capability building resources that can benefit OZs and other low income areas. Download this sortable excel file for quick access to over 130 federal programs.

Download the file here:

The EDI team welcomes your updates or additions to this beta version of the matrix. Send us your feedback at [email protected]

 

Disaster Recovery Resources & Info

Primary site for Disaster Recovery Assistance: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

Where to Find Federal Disaster Declarations

  • You can find the latest federal emergency and disaster declarations, as well as prior declarations for other areas, on FEMA’s disaster declarations webpage.
  • Amended Declarations: Existing Declarations may be subsequently amended to expand covered areas, provide notification that an incident has been closed, or make other necessary changes.

Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-emergency-management-agency#documents

Funding and other Assistance Available for Economic Recovery:

NEW: HUD TO RELEASE MITIGATION FUNDS IN TWO TRANCHES

HUD announced on August 2, that a Federal Register notice will soon be published that releases disaster mitigation funds in two tranches to areas impacted by recent storms.

One tranche will include funds for Texas, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, California, Missouri, and Georgia; and the second tranche will include funds for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Once the Federal Register Notice is published, the jurisdictions in the first tranche can start designing their plans for how they will use their mitigation funds.

EDA Disaster Supplemental Funding for Areas Impacted by 2017 Disasters

In 2018, EDA received supplemental funding to provide Economic Adjustment Assistance grants to support economic recovery in federally declared disaster areas impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and wildfires and other 2017 natural disasters. Please contact your EDA regional office for more information about eligibility and availability of these funds. See the following links for details:

Economic Recovery Support & the National Disaster Response Framework