Selected Federal Agency Announcements and Related for the Week of March 11, 2019

NEW resources highlighted this week include:

PLANNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

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.

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

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

NEW: REDI Program – TA for Rural Economic Development Plans. Apply by Apr 5

The Rural Economic Development Innovation (REDI) initiative application is now available for rural communities and regions to apply for free technical assistance to develop, and implement, economic development plans. Download the application or request it here at [email protected]

This assistance is designed to assist communities to develop evidence-based assessments; quantifiable goals; plans to improve the local and regional economy; and metrics to track implementation and progress. Application Deadline: April 5, 2019. Letters of Interest Due (Optional): March 8, 2019.

 

NEW: FY19 AmeriCorps VISTA Request for Concept Papers and Timeline
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) seeks Concept Papers for the AmeriCorps VISTA program from outcome-driven organizations that share the AmeriCorps VISTA mission of providing long term solutions to poverty. Organizations interested in hosting AmeriCorps VISTA members are required to submit a concept paper via eGrants to the CNCS State Office. If the concept paper is accepted the organization will be invited to submit a full AmeriCorps VISTA project application to the State Office for review. AmeriCorps NCCC Project Application Organizations interested in applying to sponsor an NCCC team are invited to complete a Project Concept Form. To learn more about sponsoring an NCCC team, including contact information for NCCC regional campuses, visit our Sponsor an AmeriCorps NCCC Team page.

 

INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Closing Soon: Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program
USDA Rural Development’s RBDG Program offers a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas which will employ 50 or fewer new employees and has less than $1 million in gross revenue. Specific requirements apply. Application Deadline: March 29, 2019.

NEW:  NSF Adds “Project Pitch” Requirement to SBIR Phase 1 Process.

 

The National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program- also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF – provides small businesses with equity-free funding to conduct research and development (R&D) work that will lead to the commercialization of innovative new products and services. NSF SBIR and STTR Program Phase I proposers are now REQUIRED to submit a three-page “Project Pitch” that outlines the project objectives, technical innovation and associated technical risks. Submit a Project Pitch at any time.

Small businesses that have been invited to submit a full proposal can do so in one of the following a submission windows:

  • now – June 13, 2019
  • June 14, 2019 – December 12, 2019

For full details see: Program Solicitation NSF 19-554.

 

EDA 2019 Regional Innovation Strategies Program. Apply by April 4.

EDA is now accepting applications for the 2019 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program funding. The RIS Program, operated by EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE), again offers funding through two competitions: FY19 i6 Challenge and FY19 Seed Fund Support (SFS) Grant Competition. All applications must be submitted no later than 11:59pm ET on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

For information on eligibility and how to apply, interested organizations are encouraged to visit EDA’s Regional Innovation Strategies webpage for more info.

 

PLACEMAKING

NEA Challenge America Grants for Arts in Underserved Communities. Due Apr 11.
Grants to support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Matching grants are for $10,000. Application deadline: April 11, 2019. Click here for  APPLICATION GUIDELINES

 

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

NEW: HHS Webinar on Grants for Opioid Impacted Communities. March 27.

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a new Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) initiative called RCORP-Implementation (HRSA-19-082). HRSA plans to award approximately 75 grants to rural communities as part of this funding opportunity. Award recipients are encouraged to leverage workforce recruitment and retention programs like the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).

 

  • FORHP will hold a webinar for applicants on Wednesday, March 27 from 11:30-1 p.m., EDT.

Reference page ii in the NOFO for the dial-in and playback information for the webinar. For more information about this funding opportunity, please contact Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. To learn more about how HRSA is addressing the opioid epidemic, visit https://www.hrsa.gov/opioids.

 

2019 POWER Initiative for Appalachian Coal Communities. Apply by April 10.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is accepting applications for the FY 2019 POWER (Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. ARC’s POWER Initiative will continue focusing on regional investments that maximize economic revitalization in the Appalachian region’s coal-impacted communities.  Access the 2019 Request for Proposals (RFP) here.

 

Capacity Building Grants for Land Grant Universities. Apply by Apr 18

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking FY19 applications for its 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program (USDA-NIFA-CBGP-006696). Applications submitted to CBG must address at least one of the following NIFA strategic goals: sustainable bioenergy; food security; childhood obesity prevention; or food safety. Closing Date: Thursday, April 18, 2019. Click here to Apply for Grant

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

NEW:  Applicant Webinars for ReConnect Rural Broadband Program. Mar 12, 14 & 20.

USDA extended the application deadlines for the Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program: ReConnect. Stakeholders can join these upcoming Technical Assistance Webinars to learn more about the program and application process. Webinars will be held on:

This webinar series will provide a high-level overview of the funding opportunity available under the ReConnect Program. USDA Rural Development staff will discuss engineering requirements, financial requirements, types of funding available, eligibility provisions, notice of proposed service area, and evaluation factors. All webinars will be recorded and made available online for later viewing.

For more information about the ReConnect program, download the  ReConnect Webinar Flyer 190228.pdf or visit the program website at http://reconnect.usda.gov.  Apply by May 31.

 

Rural Broadband: FY19 Community Connect Grants Available. Apply by Apr 15.

RUS is now accepting applications for FY 2019 for the Community Connect Grants program. This program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not yet economically viable for private sector providers to deliver service. The application window closes April 15, 2019. Applications for this program are serviced by RUS national office staff, available at [email protected].  See the Community Connect fact sheet, and the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for details.

 

TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
DOL Issues Initial Allocation of FY19 TAA Training and Other Activities Funds

DOL’s Employment Training Administration has announced the Initial Allocation of FY 2019 Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Training and Other Activities (TaOA) Funds and Process for Requesting TAA Reserve Funds. Information is available in the Training and Employment Guidance Letter 12-18.

Attachment: FY 2019 TAA Training and Other Activities (TaOA) Initial Allocation Amounts, By State

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 programs not listed below.

 

Opportunity Number Opportunity Title Agency Posted Date Close Date
BOR-DO-19-F004 WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2019 DOI-BOR 01/31/2019 03/19/2019
BOR-DO-19-F003 WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2019 DOI-BOR 01/24/2019 03/27/2019
ETA-TEGL-NO-13-18 FY 19 Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Training and Other Activities (TaOA) Grant Management Guidance DOL-ETA 02/28/2019 03/28/2019
EDA-HDQ-OIE-2019-2005942 FY 2019 Regional Innovation Strategies Program DOC 02/01/2019 04/04/2019
HHS-2018-ACF-ANA-NA-1339 Social and Economic Development Strategies –SEDS HHS-ACF-ANA 02/06/2018 04/15/2019
RDRUS-CC-2019 Community Connect Grant Program USDA-RUS 02/12/2019 04/15/2019
 

USDA-NIFA-CBGP-006696

 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program USDA-NIFA 02/14/2019 04/18/2019
 

BOR-DO-19-F007

 WaterSMART: Title XVI Congressionally Authorized Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects DOI-BOR 03/04/2019 04/22/2019
DE-FOA-0001976 FY 2019 SBIR/STTR Phase II Release 2 PAMS-SC 03/04/2019 04/23/2019
BOR-DO-19-F005 WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects for Fiscal Year 2019 DOI-BOR 01/24/2019 04/24/2019
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

 

Recently Announced Awards

 

NEW: FTA Announces 197 Projects Selected for Funding Under 2018 Bus Program

On June 21, 2018, the Federal Transit Administration published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcing the availability of $366,293,150 in competitive funding under the Bus Program. These funds are intended to provide financial assistance to states and eligible public agencies to replace, rehabilitate, purchase, or lease uses, vans, and related equipment, and capital projects to rehabilitate, purchase, construct, or lease bus-related facilities. Recipients selected for competitive funding are required to work with their FTA Regional Office to submit a grant application.  The list of the 197 projects may be found here.

Public Meetings, Events and Training

NEW:  Mar 14 Listening Session on 2018 Farm Bill – Invites Comment on USDA RD Programs

On Thursday, March 14, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. EDT, USDA Rural Development will conduct a listening session webinar to listen to questions and comments from the partners, stakeholders and customers who will be affected by the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill.

Topics will include new tools in the 2018 Farm Bill to increase access to rural broadband e-Connectivity, expanding credit to rural communities, and other key provisions relating to USDA Rural Development programs.

Interested parties unable to participate in the listening session may submit comments on the 2018 Farm Bill to USDA Rural Development through March 30, 2019, via email to [email protected]

 

March 14 Webinar on Integrating Water Quality and Hazard Mitigation Plans

Lessons Learned on Integrating Water Quality and Nature-based Approaches into Hazard Mitigation Plans

EPA is promoting integration of FEMA hazard mitigation plans and water quality plans to support projects that reduce natural hazards while emphasizing water quality benefits. This webcast will look at two completed pilot projects that have successfully integrated watershed planning, green infrastructure practices, and source water protection into FEMA hazard mitigation plans. Learn about community benefits, including the availability of FEMA and other federal funding for water quality projects that also mitigate hazards.

Webinar:  March 14, 1 PM (ET)

Register

Speakers:

  • Myra Schwartz, EPA Region 1
  • Carrie Robinette, FEMA
  • Josh Bruce, Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience

 

April 9 & 30: UEDA Webinars on Innovation and Economic Prosperity:

Established in 1976, the University Economic Development Association (UEDA) is the cornerstone membership organization representing higher education, private sector and community economic development stakeholders. UEDA works to expand economic opportunity in our communities by leveraging research, community resources, campus planning, talent development, and technology commercialization.  The organization has announced a slate of upcoming webinars with an emphasis on innovation and economic resilience

  • April 9 (2:00 p.m. ET)

Leading Strategies: The Best Approaches to Innovation at Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities

Register: https://iep-innovation.eventbrite.com

 

  • April 30 (2:00 p.m. ET)

Leading Strategies: The Best Approaches to Place at Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities

Register: https://iep-place.eventbrite.com

 

  • UEDA Summit: Designing Resilient Regions: The Biggest Little Ideas for ALL Ecosystems

September 29 – October 2 (Reno-Tahoe, Nevada)

Details: http://www.uedaannualsummit.org (registration opening in March)

 

April 16-17: CDFA Federal Policy Conference; EDA, HUD, USDA, DOT, Treasury, EPA and SBA to Present Updates on Federal Financing

On April 16-17 in Washington DC, CDFA will host its 2019 CDFA Federal Policy Conference, featuring development finance experts and practitioners from key federal agencies, congressional offices, and policy organizations. The CDFA Federal Policy Conference will highlight rural and urban financing programs, the Opportunity Zones incentive, programs for supporting small business development, as well as financing programs for infrastructure, energy, brownfields remediation, and water systems financing. The event will be held at the Washington Marriott Georgetown, and space is limited to the first 250 attendees – register early to secure your seat!

Select USA Spin Off Events Encourage Foreign Investors to Visit Locations Across US

SelectUSA is partnering with economic development organizations (EDOs) to plan and promote spinoff events, taking place before and after the June 2019 SelectUSA Investment Summit, in dozens of U.S. locations. View current locations: https://connect.eventtia.com/en/dmz/selectusaspinoffs/website More will be added as they become available.

NIH Online Course for Biomedical Innovators:  Applying for SBIR/STTR Funding

National Institutes of Health recently released a five-module online course for biomedical innovators considering funding through the NIH SBIR/STTR programs. For information on the latest SBIR/STTR Opportunities at NIH, visit https://sbir.nih.gov/ .

 

Reports, Tools and Data

NEW: GAO Report Highlights 15 Federal Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs (EDA, ARC, DOD, DOL)

The Government Accountability Office has released a new report “Economic Adjustment Assistance: Federal Programs Intended to Help Beneficiaries Adjust to Economic Disruption.”  (GAO 19-85R)

Summary: GAO was asked to assess the federal programs specifically targeted toward helping individuals, businesses, and communities adjust to economic disruptions that reduce the demand for certain workers, commonly referred to as programs that provide EAA. The federal government provides EAA through programs and tax expenditures.

GAO identified 15 programs and 1 tax expenditure that met its definition of economic adjustment assistance (EAA), which was developed in consultation with relevant federal agencies and regional commissions. These programs and tax expenditure are administered by one of the following six agencies or commissions: The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Commerce (Commerce), Defense (DOD), Labor (DOL), and the Treasury (Treasury). Programs differed in size. For example, according to agency officials, in fiscal year 2017 a DOL program provided about $974 million in grants to states to assist workers who had lost their jobs become reemployed; whereas a DOD program dispersed about $354,000 for grants designed to conduct research and provide technical assistance to communities affected by defense-related activities.

GAO is not making recommendations in this report. Click here to read the entire report.

 

NEW: Initiative to Align Workforce, Economic and Business Development Assistance Recognized:  MassHire BizWorks

National Association of State Workforce Agencies has recognized the state workforce agency in Massachusetts for its innovative work to integrate federal and state resources to support businesses and workers. The state’s Department of Career Services received the Pinnacle Award for Business Development to for MassHire BizWorks, an integrated initiative geared at enhancing and aligning the resources and services available to businesses in the state through the Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Education agencies. MassHire BizWorks offers a suite of training modules developed to standardize the business service knowledge and competencies of staff across state agencies working with businesses. This initiative is the most sought-after training under the US Department of Labor’s Technical Assistance and Training Grant.  See more here:

Massachusetts Business Engagement Initiative Receives National Innovation Award

 

NEW: ETA Publishes FY 2018 Apprenticeship Data & Map of Active Programs by State

DOL’s  Employment and Training Administration has updated the Registered Apprenticeship data webpage with Fiscal Year 2018 statistics.  Visit the webpage to review the data tables accompanied State-by-State maps for active apprentices, new apprentices, completers, active programs, and new programs.

 

Census Posts Latest American Community Survey Data (2013-2017)

The U.S. Census Bureau released the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates, which features more than 40 social, economic, housing and demographic topics. The 2013-2017 ACS data are available on www.data.census.gov . County-level geography profiles of the 3,142 counties are available in a visual format with maps, charts and graphs. For official ACS statistics, please access American FactFinder at factfinder.census.gov.

Disaster Recovery Resources & Info

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

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.

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

 

Funding and other Assistance Available for Recovery:

EDA Has Supplemental Funding Available for Areas Impacted by 2017 Hurricanes, Wildfires and Other Disasters

These grants will support disaster recovery activities in areas receiving a major disaster designation as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and wildfires and other 2017 natural disasters. EDA plans to accept proposals on a rolling basis until all funds are obligated.  Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. See the following links for details:

 

HUD Announces Action on CDBG DR Funds in PR and TX

HUD announced its approval of Puerto Rico’s latest disaster recovery action plan, making the island eligible for $8.2 billion in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG – DR) funds that were appropriated by Congress in February 2018. HUD has also approved the State of TX Recovery Plan for its third allocation of CDBG DR funds.     Read Texas’ recovery plan.

Learn more about CDBG-DR and the State’s role in long-term disaster recovery (en español).

 

Economic Recovery Support & the National Disaster Response Framework

Read more about the Economic Recovery Support Function and the National Disaster Response Framework here: https://www.eda.gov/programs/disaster-recovery/