Selected Federal Agency Announcements and Related for the Week of February 27, 2018

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 developmentSpecial thanks to ETA and other federal partners for sharing content included below.

To see more resources, visit EDA’s EDI webpages at www.eda.gov\edi

Click here to view all weekly federal announcement posts.


Funding & Resource Announcements

Announcements of Federal Funding & Assistance Available:

 

CDFI Fund Announced $3.5B in NMTC Allocations to 73 Community Development Entities

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) awarded 73 Community Development Entities (CDEs) $3.5 billion in New Markets Tax Credits last week. The tax credit allocation awards, made through the calendar year (CY) 2017 round of the New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC Program), will help stimulate investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities nationwide. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin noted: “Today’s awards will finance projects ranging from manufacturing plants that create jobs to critically needed infrastructure,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “I want to congratulate today’s award recipients for their outstanding work in improving distressed communities.”  More at https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-release/sm0288.

Allocation recipients by city can be found in the award book here.

 

DOE Announces $3M for High Performance Computing Collaborations for U.S. Manufacturers. Concept Papers due Mar 15.

View the solicitation and submission instructions for details. Concept paper applications for demonstration projects and follow-on projects are due by March 15, 2018.

 

DOE Prize Competition to Spur Onshore Manufacturing of Energy Technologies. Register by April 3

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the opening of the American Inventions Made Onshore (AIM Onshore) prize competition and the availability of DOE’s Build4Scale manufacturing training. To learn more about the AIM Onshore prize competition rules, eligibility, and deadlines, go to Build4Scale.org. Ask any questions by emailing [email protected]

 

ARC Invites Proposals for FY18 POWER Grants. Apply by May 1.

The Appalachian Regional Commission has issued an RFP for its Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative, for communities affected by job loss in the coal mining industry. The POWER FY18 grant competition will be structured in two cycles: Cycle 1 deadline: May 1, 2018.; Cycle 2 deadline: July 27, 2018. Up to 70% of available POWER FY18 funds will be awarded in Cycle 1. For more information visit: https://www.arc.gov/images/grantsandfunding/POWER2018/RFP/POWER-RFP-2018.pdf

 

Reminder of Federal Funding Opportunities Closing Soon:  

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 areas not listed below.

 

Opportunity Number Opportunity Title Agency Posted Date Close Date
 

CDFI-2018-NACA

Fiscal Year 2018 NACA (Native American CDFI and TA) Program USDOT-CDFI 01/31/2018 03/02/2018
CDFI-2018-FATA Fiscal Year 2018 CDFI Program USDOT-CDFI 01/30/2018 03/02/2018
USDA-NIFA-SBIR-006428 Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase II USDA-NIFA 12/22/2017 03/08/201
A-EE-18-04 Environmental Education Local Grants Program for Region 4 EPA 01/12/2018 03/15/2018
EPA-OCFO-OEE-18-02 Tribal Support for E-Enterprise for the Environment EPA 01/31/2018 03/16/2018
DE-FOA-0001841 Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program DOE-NNSA 02/06/2018 03/19/2018
2018-NIST-SBIR-01 FY 2018 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program DOC-NIST 01/18/2018 04/04/2018
USDA-NIFA-EF47-006508 1890 Facilities Grants Program USDA-NIFA 02/06/2018 04/06/2018
2018NEA01CA NEA Challenge America, FY2019 NEA 12/05/2017 04/12/2018
NOAA-NMFS-HCOP-2018-2005502 NOAA Coastal Resilience Grants Program (FY 2018) DOC 01/24/2018 05/07/2018
N00014-18-S-F005 FY 2018 FOA for DOD’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) Manufacturing Engineering Education Program DOD-ONR 01/12/2018 05/16/201
NNH18ZDA001N-DISASTERS ROSES 2018: Earth Science Applications: Disaster Risk Reduction and Response NASA-HQ 02/15/2018 06/14/2018

Public Meetings, Events and Training

Begins Feb 26 – Four-part Webinar Series on Strengthening Partnerships for the Manufacturing Workforce

The Dept. of Education’s OCTAE and Safal Partners are hosting a series of conversations on improving the education-to-workforce pipeline with leaders in manufacturing partnerships. Conversations begin at 12:15 PM ET on the following dates:

  • February 26, 2018 – Vertical Integration in Your Manufacturing Partnership. Register Here
  • March 5, 2018 – Telling Your Partnership’s Story. Register Here
  • March 12, 2018 – Managing Your Partnership Tensions.  Register Here
  • March 19, 2018 – Keeping Your Partners Engaged. Register Here

 

Feb 28 – Webinar On Career Pathways Resources Avail at SkillsCommons.org

The webinar is offered through SkillsCommons.org – a free and open digital library of workforce training resources, produced by grantees of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program, a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education. This webinar series begins with the topic: Explore The Industry Expert to Expert Instructor IMPACTcommunity. Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2018. Time: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

Visit www.SkillsCommons.org for details on joining this webinar.

 

Mar 1 – ARC Webinar on Match Requirements for FY18 POWER Grants

The Appalachian Regional Commission is offering a webinar to help applicants understand requirements for its current FY18 POWER Grants program. Every funding proposal submitted to ARC, including those made through the POWER Initiative, requires a financial match. This webinar will discuss ARC’s match requisites and how to meet them.

  • Finding the Right Match to Meet the 2018 POWER RFP Match Requirements

Thursday, March 1, 11:00 a.m. ET
Register at: https://www.arc.gov/funding/2018POWERWebinarSeries.asp

 

March 7 SBA Webinar – How HUBZones Are Designated

On February 7, SBA began a series of webinars on its Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone program, which helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to government contracting opportunities. Next topic is:

  • Understanding How HUBZones are Designated
    March 7 | 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

Register for webinars and find more information on SBA’s HUBZone website.  All webinars will be archived on SBA’s YouTube channel.

 

SBA Begins 2018 SBIR Road Tour on April 16

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced its 2018 road tour connecting entrepreneurs with next generation R&D ideas to early stage funding led by the SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Each stop in the 18-state road tour will be hosted by a local organization, and program managers from the 11 participating federal agencies will conduct one-on-one meetings with attendees, take part in targeted panels, and share insights into how their agencies make funding decisions. The SBIR/STTR programs provide $2.5 billion in early stage funding to small businesses each year in a wide variety of technology areas such as unmanned systems, advanced materials, health, cybersecurity and defense.  The SBIR/STTR programs execute over 4,000 new awards annually.

The national road tour schedule for 2018:

  • The Southern Tour will run from April 16-20, with stops in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Huntsville, Alabama; Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson, Mississippi; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
  • The Eastern Tour will run from June 18-22, with stops in Rochester, New York; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Ohio; Charleston, West Virginia; and Durham, North Carolina.
  • The Pacific Northwest Tour will run from July 17-19, with stops in Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Anchorage, Alaska.
  • Finally, the New England Tour will run from August 20-24, with stops in Wilmington, Delaware; New Haven, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Portland, Maine.

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.

 

 

Other Conferences and Events of Note:

·         DOE Hosts 2018 ARPA-E Summit, Mar 13-15 (National Harbor MD)

Register here.

·         National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference – Mar 18-21 (Miami, FL)

Learn more and register here

·         NADO Training Workshop on CEDS – March 21 (Arlington VA)

Please e-mail Program Manager Brett Schwartz at [email protected] with any questions.

·         UEDA Announces October 21 – 24 Annual Summit: “Disruptive Economic Development – Higher Education Ecosystems”

Click here to learn More …


Reports, Tools and Data

Grants.gov Newsletter Provides Advice for Users

Earlier this month, Grants.gov launched a brand-new email newsletter for applicants and grantors alike. The newsletter will go out near the beginning of each month and contain news and links relevant to Grants.gov users across the federal grants community. This month’s topics touched on Grants.gov’s upcoming release, previewed enhancements coming later this year, and highlighted our events page as well as a blog article about subawards. Applicants and grantors can sign up for the newsletter by creating a Grants.gov account and opting in for the monthly email.

If you missed the February edition of the newsletter, click here to view the Web version.

 

Treasury, IRS Guidance on Designating Opportunity Zones

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established Opportunity Zones to spur private investment in distressed communities throughout the country. On February 8, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provided guidance to states, the District of Columbia, and any possession of the United States, on designating Opportunity Zones. Governors and chief executive officers must make nominations by March 21st or request a single 30-day extension. Click here for Full guidance.

 


Disaster Recovery Resources & Info

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

Funding Assistance for Recovery Efforts:

NIH RFA: Research on Health Risk and Resilience after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Applications Due April 16

RFA-MD-18-006 The purpose of this initiative is to support time-sensitive research on risk and resilience factors related to short and long-term health outcomes following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Applicant organizations must be U.S. organizations physically located in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. This initiative will use a shortened submission timeline with expedited peer review, council concurrence and award issuance. The entire cycle, from submission to award, is expected to be within 3-4 months. Application deadline is April 16. Following this link for more info: Apply Now

Funding Opportunity for Gulf Coast States Recovering from Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (AL, FL, LA, MS, TX). Deadline April 30.

Member agencies and states of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) may submit applications under the RESTORE ACT, to fund activities to enhance collaboration, coordination, public engagement, and use of best available science. Details are available at: https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/GO-RES_20180124_NOFA_CPS.pdf. Applications for project funding will be accepted until April 30, 2018

 

Updates on FEMA Response in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

 

Where to Find Federal Disaster Declarations

  • Is your home, business or community included in a federally declared emergency or disaster area? 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.

These are posted in the Federal Register here: https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-emergency-management-agency#documents

Economic Recovery Support

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *