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. Special 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 |
| 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
- Click on these links to find up-to-date informationon FEMA’s response to Puerto Rico and the S. Virgin Islands on FEMA’s webpage
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
- Read more about the Economic Recovery Support Function and the National Disaster Response Framework here: https://www.eda.gov/programs/disaster-recovery/