Economic Development Support for Planning Organizations

 

Through the Planning program, EDA provides assistance to eligible recipients to create regional economic development plans in order to stimulate and guide the economic development efforts of a community or region. As part of this program, EDA supports Partnership Planning investments to facilitate the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), which leverage the unique assets of their respective regions to help create and retain higher-skill, higher-wage jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the Nations most economically distressed regions. To facilitate CEDS, EDA provides Partnership Planning grants to the designated planning organization (e.g., District Organization) serving EDA-designated Economic Development Districts (EDDs) throughout the Nation. These planning organizations are typically recognized by the State in which they reside as multi-jurisdictional councils of governments, regional commissions, or planning and development centers. Partnership Planning grants enable planning organizations to manage and coordinate the development and implementation of CEDS. In addition, EDA provides Partnership Planning grants to Indian Tribes to help organize and assist with the implementation of economic development activities within their areas. The majority of funding under the Planning program is for Partnership Planning grants for Indian Tribes and EDA-designated EDDs. The Planning program also helps support planning organizations and other eligible recipients, including District Organizations and Indian Tribes, with Short-Term and State Planning efforts in order to stimulate and guide the creation and/or retention of higher-skill, higher-wage jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the Nations most economically distressed regions. For example, EDA might provide Short-Term Planning funding to a coalition of Tribal and regional organizations to plan a coordinated response to the sudden loss of a major employer in the affected area(s).

Active 11.302 Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce B - Project Grants Not applicable. Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (PWEDA) (42 U.S.C. § 3121 et seq.) Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for and recipients of EDA investment assistance include a(n): (a) District Organization (as defined in 13 CFR 304.2); (b) Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; (c) State, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions; (d) institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or (e) public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State. See section 3 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. ? 3122) and 13 CFR ? 300.3. As used in this paragraph, State includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. See 13 CFR ? 300.3 and 301.2. EDA Planning investments provide support to Planning Organizations for the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of a CEDS. They also may provide support for related short-term planning investments and State plans designed to create and retain higher-skill, higher-wage jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the nation's most economically distressed regions. To be considered for EDA assistance, applicants must first submit a complete EDA application package. The applicant must provide a list of its proposed Strategy Committee members. The Committee must represent the main economic interests of the Region and must include Private Sector Representatives as a majority of its membership. The applicant should ensure that the Strategy Committee includes public officials, community leaders, representatives of workforce development boards, institutions of higher education, minority and labor groups, and private individuals. The Strategy Committee representing Indian Tribes or States may vary. Applicants must also submit documentation of matching fund availability. Finally, non-profit applicants will be asked to provide additional documentation. Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. An environmental impact assessment is not required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Preapplication coordination is not required, but EDA offers applicants assistance in developing applications through its network of field-based Economic Development Representatives (EDRs). 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. For information on the application process you may access the applicable federal funding opportunity (FFO) announcement for Planning investment assistance at www.grants.gov and at www.eda.gov. EDA will review each application for Planning investment assistance in accordance with the evaluation criteria, funding priorities, and selection procedures set forth in the applicable FFO. Staff in the applicable EDA regional office review applications for eligibility and compatibility with EDA's mission and funding priorities. Applications deemed eligible and at least minimally consistent with EDA's mission and funding priorities are referred to an Investment Review Committee, which recommends applications for funding to the Regional Director. The Regional Director makes a funding determination and sends a recommendation to EDA Headquarters for concurrence. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Not applicable. Not applicable. For continuation awards, regional offices may impose their own deadline for submission based on the previous award's period of performance. In addition to evaluating applications based on EDA's mission, funding priorities, and the evaluation criteria laid out in the applicable FFO, EDA also considers: (1) The proposed scope of work for the development, implementation, revision or replacement of the CEDS, or the relation of the CEDS to the proposed short-term planning activities or the State plan; (2) The qualifications of the applicant to implement the goals and objectives resulting from the CEDS, short-term planning activities or the State plan; (3) The involvement of the Region's business leadership at each stage of the preparation of the CEDS, short-term planning activities or State plan; (4) The extent of broad-based representation and involvement of the Region's civic, business, labor, minority and other interests in the proposed economic development activities; and (5) The feasibility of the proposed scope of work to create and retain higher-skill, higher-wage jobs through implementation of the CEDS. In addition, for continuation awards, funded recipients are evaluated on the basis of the extent of continuing economic distress within the Region, their past performance, and the overall effectiveness of their CEDS. For Planning Investment awards to a State, EDA will also consider the extent to which the State will integrate and coordinate its CEDS with local and Economic Development District plans. EDA Planning investments support the preparation of CEDS that guide EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance implementation investments, including Revolving Loan Funds. Sound local planning also attracts other Federal, state, and local funds plus private sector investments to implement long term development strategies. In this way, EDA’s Planning program plays a foundational role in helping communities develop important strategies that inform future economic development decisions. Comprehensive, market-based, local and regional planning is an essential component of successful economic development. Effective planning creates a road map for community growth and development with a focused approach towards creating higher-skill, higher-wage jobs. The Planning Program provides a foundation for EDA’s infrastructure investments, which are designed to stimulate economic growth in distressed regions. The planning process supports an assessment of the region’s economic conditions and the development of a CEDS to guide resource allocation and project development. The key value of this process is that it is locally determined and involves participation from all the diverse interests in the community. Performance Reports: EDA may elect to conduct site visits. Not applicable. All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of recipients and sub-recipients must be maintained according to the terms of the investment award. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. The minimum EDA investment rate for planning projects is 50 percent, and the maximum allowable EDA investment rate may generally not exceed 80 percent.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Most grants are for 36-month periods. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Quarterly. None/Not specified. Planning Program
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Room 71030
Washington, DC 20230 US
programs@eda.gov
Phone: 202-482-2900 http://www.eda.gov 13-2050-0-1-452 (Project Grants) FY 22$34,500,000.00; FY 23 est $36,000,000.00; FY 24 est $36,000,000.00; FY 21$33,500,000.00; FY 20$33,000,000.00; FY 19$33,000,000.00; FY 18$33,000,000.00; FY 17$30,000,000.00; FY 16$29,955,674.00; - The average size of a Planning investment has been approximately $70,000, and investments generally range from $40,000 to $200,000. 13 CFR Parts 300-303.