Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs

 

Awards made under this NOFO will seek to strengthen U.S. economic and national security through place-based investments in regions with the assets, resources, capacity, and potential to become globally competitive Tech Hubs, within approximately ten years, in the technologies and industries of the future, and for those industries, companies, and the good jobs they create to start, grow, and remain in the United States.

Active 11.039 Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce B - Project Grants Not applicable. Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, Part 15 U.S.C. § 3722a, Section 28 Only consortia are eligible to investment assistance under this NOFO. Each consortium must include at least one each of the following as a member, one of whom should serve as the lead institution to receive an award under this NOFO: (1) Institutions of higher education, which may include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions; (2) State, territorial, local, or Tribal governments or other political subdivisions of a State, including State and local agencies, or a consortium thereof; (3) Industry or firms in relevant technology, innovation, or manufacturing sectors; (4) Economic development organizations or similar entities that are focused primarily on improving science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, or access to capital; and (5) Labor organizations or workforce training organizations, which may include State and local workforce development boards as established under 29 U.S.C. ?? 3111 and 3122. Consortia may also include one or more of: (1) Economic development entities with relevant expertise, including a district organization (as defined in section 300.3 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation); (2) Organizations that contribute to increasing the participation of underserved populations in science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship; (3) Venture development organizations (as defined in 15 U.S.C. ? 3722(a)); (4) Organizations that promote local economic stability, high-wage domestic jobs, and broad-based economic opportunities, such as employee ownership membership associations and State or local employee ownerships and cooperative development centers, financial institutions and investment funds, including community development financial institutions (see 12 U.S.C. ? 4702(5)) and minority depository institutions (see 12 U.S.C. ? 1463 note or considered a minority depository institution by the appropriate Federal banking agency or the National Credit Union Administration); (5) Elementary schools and secondary schools, including area career and technical education schools (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (29 2 U.S.C. ? 2302)); (6) National Laboratories (as defined in 42 U.S.C. ? 15801); (7) Federal laboratories; (8) Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers; (9) Manufacturing USA Institutes; (10) Transportation planning organizations; (11) A cooperative extension services (as defined in 7 U.S.C. ? 3103(6)); (12) Organizations that represent the perspectives of underserved communities in economic development initiatives; and (13) Institutions receiving an award under the National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines program (42 U.S.C. ? 19108). Only consortia are eligible to investment assistance under this NOFO. Each consortium must include at least one each of the following as a member, one of whom should serve as the lead institution to receive an award under this NOFO: (1) Institutions of higher education, which may include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions; (2) State, territorial, local, or Tribal governments or other political subdivisions of a State, including State and local agencies, or a consortium thereof; (3) Industry or firms in relevant technology, innovation, or manufacturing sectors; (4) Economic development organizations or similar entities that are focused primarily on improving science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, or access to capital; and (5) Labor organizations or workforce training organizations, which may include State and local workforce development boards as established under 29 U.S.C. ?? 3111 and 3122. Consortia may also include one or more of: (1) Economic development entities with relevant expertise, including a district organization (as defined in section 300.3 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation); (2) Organizations that contribute to increasing the participation of underserved populations in science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship; (3) Venture development organizations (as defined in 15 U.S.C. ? 3722(a)); (4) Organizations that promote local economic stability, high-wage domestic jobs, and broad-based economic opportunities, such as employee ownership membership associations and State or local employee ownerships and cooperative development centers, financial institutions and investment funds, including community development financial institutions (see 12 U.S.C. ? 4702(5)) and minority depository institutions (see 12 U.S.C. ? 1463 note or considered a minority d A consortium must select and its application must clearly identify a selected core technology area within or at the intersection of one or more of the key technology focus areas (KTFAs) listed below that the Tech Hub, if Designated, will focus on. The key technology focus areas under this NOFO are: (1) Artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, and related advances; (2) High performance computing, semiconductors, and advanced computer hardware and software; (3) Quantum information science and technology; (4) Robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing; (5) Natural and anthropogenic disaster prevention or mitigation; (6) Advanced communications technology and immersive technology; (7) Biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, and synthetic biology; (8) Data storage, data management, distributed ledger technologies, and cybersecurity, including biometrics; (9) Advanced energy and industrial efficiency technologies, such as batteries and advanced nuclear technologies, including but not limited to for the purposes of electric generation (consistent with 42 U.S.C. ? 1874); and (10) Advanced materials science, including composites 2D materials, other next-generation materials, and related manufacturing technologies. This list is drawn from 42 U.S.C. ? 19107, as directed by the Tech Hubs statute. The Tech Hub may select a core technology area that falls within a single KTFA or crosses multiple KTFAs where the Hub has the potential to become within a reasonable time a self-sustaining, globally competitive leader in that selected core technology area's market. EDA encourages each consortium to identify a selected core technology area with a defined market opportunity and for which the consortium has a clearly articulable competitive advantage. EDA will seek to Designate regions that have chosen their most significant technological strength from the above list as opposed to more nascent or less resourced technology areas. Note that the Tech Hubs program is not intended to fund basic and fundamental research nor activities intended to increase capacity to conduct such research; the National Science Foundation and other agencies fund such activities. Instead, the Tech Hubs program is intended to advance the capacities of places to commercialize, deploy, and domestically manufacture and deliver these technologies. All projects funded under both phases of the Tech Hubs Program should increase the speed and effectiveness with which industry and other organizations transition technologies upward from Technology Readiness Levels six through nine. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is 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. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov (opens in new window) There are separate application requirements for applying for a Strategy Development Grant and applying for Designation. An applicant seeking both a Strategy Development Grant and Designation must complete both sets of application requirements. For any element of this Tech Hubs Phase 1 NOFO that an applicant is pursuing (i.e., Strategy Development Grant or Designation or both), an applicant must submit a complete application, as detailed in Section D.2. of this NOFO, to be considered for funding. EDA intends to review each application expeditiously upon receipt of the complete application. EDA may request additional documentation or information from the applicant to make an eligibility determination. EDA also may, in its sole discretion, continue review of any application with minor defects or errors, while the applicant supplies the missing information. EDA will reject any documentation of eligibility that the agency determines is inaccurate or incomplete, which may cause the application to be rejected. An applicant must obtain, complete, and submit an application electronically through the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE) at sfgrants.eda.gov. EDA will not accept paper, facsimile, or email transmissions of applications except as provided below. In order to obtain and submit an application through EDGE, an applicant must register for an EDGE account at sfgrants.eda.gov. As part of the registration process, you will register one Authorized Representative for your organization, however, multiple points of contact may be registered or added by the applicant to the application workspace to view or work on completing the application. The Authorized Representative will be the only official with the authority to submit applications. i. "The extent to which the application meets the overall objectives of section 28 of Stevenson-Wydler (15 U.S.C. ? 3722a); ii. The applicant's performance under previous Federal financial assistance awards, including whether the grantee submitted required performance reports and data; iii. The availability of program funding; iv. The extent to which the application includes a feasible plan that accounts for the specific needs of historically underserved areas and populations with a high likelihood that those populations will realize an equitable share of the project's benefits; v. To achieve balance in the portfolio across geographies and technologies; vi. The extent to which the Designated region reduces its environmental impact and accounts for current and future weather- and climate-related risks; vii. The extent to which the Designated region will significantly benefit a small and rural community; viii. The extent to which the Designated region includes a member that is a State or territory that is eligible to receive funding from NSF's EPSCoR; ix. The extent to which the consortium is headquartered in a low population State that is eligible to receive funding from NSF's EPSCoR; x. The extent to which the Designated Tech Hub leverages institutions of higher education serving populations historically underrepresented in STEM, including historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions; and xi. The extent to which the Designated Tech Hub would significantly benefit a region whose economy significantly relies on or has recently relied on coal, oil, or natural gas production or development. This is a two-phase competition. The deadline for Phase 1 applications is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June XXX, 2023. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Only those that are Designated as Technology Hubs in Phase 1 will be permitted to apply to Phase 2. It is anticipated that the Notice of Funding Opportunity for Phase 2 will be made available in July 2023. From 60 to 90 days. Not applicable. Not applicable. Criteria, Review, and Selection Process. All complete applications for Strategy Development Grants will undergo a two-step review. First, they will be reviewed by at least three individuals and scored against the below criteria. Five points can be earned for each criteria listed below; applications can earn a maximum of 15 points: (1) The extent to which the project will strengthen engagement of and collaboration among regional stakeholders (private, public, and non-profit entities, etc.), whether or not members of the consortium; (2) The consortium's organizational and leadership capacity, including its financial and management capacity; and (3) The project's potential to increase the capacity of the region to achieve the Designation criteria (as described in section A.1.d. of this NOFO). EDA will sort the resultant scores into tiers of similarly scored applications, and top tiers will advance to a second level review by an investment review committee (IRC) of at least three reviewers who did not participate in the initial scoring. The IRC will review the applications collectively using the same criteria listed above as well as relevant selection criteria. Based on this group evaluation, the IRC will recommend to the Grants Officer which applications to fund and how to apply the selection factors. Designation Review. All complete Designation applications will undergo a two-step review. First, they will be evaluated by at least three reviewers and scored against the below criteria. Points can be earned for each criteria listed below; applications can earn a maximum of 17 points: (1) Technology-based potential of the region for global competitiveness (5 points); (2) Role of the private sector (2 points); (3) Regional coordination & partnerships (2 points); (4) Equity & diversity (2 points); (5) Composition and capacity of the regional workforce (2 points); (6) Innovative "lab to market" approaches (2 points); and (7) Impact on economic and national security of the entire United States (2 points). EDA will sort the resultant scores into tiers of similarly scored applications, and top tiers will advance to a second level review by an IRC of at least three reviewers who did not participate in the initial scoring. The IRC will review the applications collectively using the same criteria listed above and relevant selection criteria. Based on this group evaluation, the IRC will recommend a list for the Grants Officer of recommended applications and how to apply the selection factors. Only applicants Designated as Tech Hubs will be permitted to apply for Implementation funding under the forthcoming Tech Hubs Phase 2 NOFO. EDA's final decision on whether to fund a project in Phase 2 or Designate a Tech Hub is dependent upon the ability of the applicant to provide sufficient documentation of the project's compliance with applicable rules and regulations Like a previous EDA competition, the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (see https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/american-rescue-plan/build-back-better), the Tech Hubs Program seeks to invest in multiple, simultaneous, interconnected projects that accelerate regional economic development. The Tech Hubs Program is aggressively focused on investing in activities that will enable a region that already has R&D assets in a manner that catalyzes their emergence over the next decade as self-sustainably, globally economically competitive in its selected core technology area. For example, such an investment might be highly targeted within several interrelated projects that will leverage existing technical expertise to accelerate both the regional economy and American competitiveness, such as the following: • a “first of its kind”, world-class demonstration facility or testbed that provides startups access to shared facilities to bring products and services in a consortium’s selected core technology area to market faster; • a strategy to bring entrepreneurship- and industry-focused faculty researchers and innovators to the university and national lab that have a proven track record of creating new startups in a consortium’s selected core technology area (researchers would have joint appointments at the lab, university, and private sector companies); • a program that ensures workers collaborate directly in the demonstration of new technologies to inform the design of those technologies—as well as their deployment, production, and delivery—with the perspective, experience, and input of workers; • the re-purposing of an existing site or facility (such as a former auto or coal plant or other brownfield) to promote the advance of the core technology; • a network of industry-focused workforce training programs via which workers would be trained on cutting edge technologies on the job or at the demonstration facility; • partnerships with organizations that support employer adoption of hiring and employment practices that tap into the talents of existing workers and remove barriers to good jobs, such as skills-based recruitment and hiring practices; • a technology supply chain program that helps existing small manufacturers throughout the region purchase the necessary equipment and hire workers that allow it to transition into domestic manufacturing in the supply chains of the consortium’s selected core technology area (small businesses would have access to the demonstration facility to try out new machinery); • an “Office of Regional Innovation” led by the new RIO to spearhead the entire industry transition strategy, ensure common industry engagement between the labs and universities and oversee industry partnerships at the new demonstration facility and ensure they are well-staffed with industry-focused economic development and technology practitioners; • a region-wide strategy, specific to the consortium-selected core technology area, to blend and braid multiple funding sources and programs around industry’s needs related to the consortium’s selected core technology area; and • a capital networks strategy that crowds in and syndicates significant follow-on funding. Performance Reports: Performance Reports: EDA reserves the right to conduct site visits on an as-needed basis. Single or program-specific audits shall be performed in accordance with the requirements contained in the Uniform Guidance (see 2 C.F.R. part 200, Subpart F, "Audit Requirements"). The Uniform Guidance requires any non-Federal entity (i.e., non-profit organizations, including non-profit institutions of higher education and hospitals, States, local governments, and Indian Tribes) that expends Federal awards of $750,000 or more in the recipient's fiscal year to conduct a single or program-specific audit in accordance with the requirements set out in the OMB Uniform Guidance. All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports and other records of recipients and sub-recipients are required to be maintained by the terms of the agreement. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 80%. In general, Phase 1 Strategy Development grants may be awarded with a maximum 80% federal grant rate. With $500,000 in total funding this means the federal amount is $400,000 and the local match requirement is $100,000. If the consortium represents all or part of a small and rural or other underserved community, the federal share may be awarded at a maximum 90% rate (e.g., $450,000 federal share, $50,000 local match). If the eligible consortium lead is a Tribal government or the Tech Hub primarily benefits Tribal areas, the federal share may be awarded at a maximum 100% rate. Applicants will be expected to discuss their maximum federal match rate and the sources of local match in the application materials. As there is no funding associated with Designation, there is no relevant federal grant rate or local matching requirement.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Period of Performance: The period of performance for a given Phase 1 Strategy Development project may vary depending on the scope of work. EDA expects that most projects will range from 18 to 36 months. EDA expects that all projects will proceed efficiently and expeditiously. Reimbursement None/Not specified. Tech Hubs Program
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 71014
Washington, DC 20230 USA
techhubs@eda.gov
Phone: 1 (202) 482-5081 https://www.eda.gov/ 13-2050-0-1-452 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22 Estimate Not Available FY 23 est $500,000,000.00; FY 24 est $4,000,000,000.00; - The 2024 President's Budget has requested $4 billion in mandatory funding from 2024-2026, including $1.5 billion to be appropriated in 2024. Should funding be enacted to this effect, EDA will notify applicants through subsequent communication. Across the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 and the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (both enacted in Public Law 117-328), Congress appropriated EDA $500,000,000 to remain available until expended to implement the Tech Hubs Program. Applicants to the Phase 1 NOFO must choose whether they are pursuing a Strategy Development Grant, a Tech Hub Designation, or both. EDA anticipates approximately $15,000,000 in total being awarded in Phase 1 as Strategy Development Grants. Such grants will at maximum be awarded between approximately $400,000 and $500,000 in federal funds each depending on the level of local match for which they qualify. Designation itself does not come with any funding, although EDA may award a Strategy Development Grant to a Designated Tech Hub. Designation also serves as a prerequisite to applying to the Tech Hubs Phase 2 NOFO, through which Implementation Grants will be awarded. EDA expects to Designate at least 20 Tech Hubs during Phase 1. Under Phase 2, EDA anticipates funding 5-10 Tech Hub Implementation Grants between $50,000,000-75,000,000 (an average rate of $65,000,000) each, though the amounts will vary depending on the constituent projects, location of the Tech Hub, and the consortium's selected core technology area. The individual award amount will vary by Tech Hub cluster and will depend on the nature and cost of the proposed component projects. EDA may publish any applications it receives, including any supporting documentation, on its website or through other means. Applicants are advised that any confidential commercial information that should not be disclosed must be identified, bracketed, and marked as Privileged, Confidential, Commercial or Financial Information. In addition, Department of Commerce regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. ? 552, are found at 15 C.F.R. part 4, Public Information. These regulations set forth rules for the Department regarding making requested materials, information, and records publicly available under the FOIA. Applications submitted in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity may be subject to requests for release under the Act. In the event that an application contains information or data that the applicant deems to be confidential commercial information that should be exempt from disclosure under FOIA, that information should be identified, bracketed, and marked as Privileged, Confidential, Commercial or Financial Information. In accordance with 15 C.F.R. ? 4.9, the Department of Commerce will protect from disclosure of confidential business information contained in financial assistance applications and other documentation provided by applicants to the extent permitted by law.