EDA Projects- From Development to Award
- 1. EDA Projects: From Development … to Award April 12, 2023
- 2. ideas on how to make a submission as competitive as possible, and what makes a project strong enough for funding consideration insights into what EDA reviews when making funding decisions highlights from the new PWEAA NOFO Moderated by: Cindy Edwards, Area Director Steve Castaner, Program Manager (Field Team) Ashley Zuelke, Program Manager (Grants Management Team) Session Purpose
- 3. This is going to be interactive with a chance for you to hear from our Economic Development Representatives (EDRs). We’re going to be posing each EDR a question, and they’ll talk through a response and highlight some relevant examples. Each question could be its own session, but we’re aiming to cover a number of topics. Ashley will referee. There will be an eligibility lightning round at the end! Heads up: Balls will be thrown, and we’ll try not to dodge too many questions… Dodgeball Rules
- 4. For Ali DeMersseman, EDR for North Dakota and Western South Dakota Can you talk about EDA’s Investment Priorities, and how an applicant should demonstrate their project’s alignment with our priorities?
- 5. 1. Equity 2. Recovery & Resilience 3. Workforce Development 4. Manufacturing 5. Technology-Based Economic Development 6. Environmentally Sustainable Development 7. Exports & Foreign Direct Investment EDA Investment Priorities
- 6. 1. Equity • The extent to which the application articulates a plan for ensuring that the project’s benefits are shared across all affected communities, with a priority given to historically underserved areas, rural areas, minority populations, and women. 2. Resilience • The extent to which the project incorporates resiliency principles and demonstrates resiliency to future sudden and severe economic dislocations, e.g., closures of major local employers, climate change, etc. * Need to be documented in specific places in the ED-900 “Priority” Priorities
- 7. For Dan Lara, EDR for Kansas Say I intend to submit an application for a construction project in the next few weeks. In addition to consulting with my EDR, what other things should I be starting or be aware of?
- 8. 1. Read the NOFO closely and talk to your EDR early 2. Start engineering and environmental early 3. Think through procurement and scoping issues 4. Think though property issues 5. Match committed, readily available & unencumbered? 6. Jobs, private investment, support letters 7. Structure of grant if have partners (co-apps) Construction application development best practices
- 9. ARPA grant to extend electrical power infrastructure from a substation to an area south in an expanding development Beneficiary was new Urban Outfitters distribution center (largest in North America) 1,300 new jobs; $300 million in PI Company made commitment to hire at least half its employees from Wyandotte County (distressed county) Lots of engineering/scope of work challenges so would have been helpful to address engineering and environmental early Project Example: Kansas City, KS, Board of Public Utilities
- 10. For Chad Eggen, EDR for Missouri EDA has a new grants system! You have worked with the first applicants entering projects into EDGE, can you tell us some more about it? Is everyone required to apply in EDGE?
- 11. Applicant Portal: https://sfgrants.eda.gov Click Learn More (each funding opportunity has the option to learn more) Log In System use agreement. Not A Member? Introducing EDGE: Economic Development Grant Experience
- 12. Introducing the EDA EDGE
- 13. 1. As of April 6, all applicants for PW/EAA, STP and LTA, and RNTA MUST apply in EDGE. Eventually, all programs will use this online process. 2. All applicants are required to use the EDGE portal, be set-up in system, then complete documents and provide attachments in system. NO grants.gov! 3. EDGE will reduce/eliminate tasks done through the mail, email, etc. 4. EDGE will be the access portal for EDA: to add information on applications, submit reports, request reimbursements and amendments 5. Everyone is required to use EDGE to apply and administer awards. There will be no “work-arounds” *except as needed for accessibility reasons. 6. Participate in training, request help as needed from helpdesk, and check out the videos and guides online!!! 7. EDA staff are learning the system too, so we share in this experience with you! New system for grants management
- 14. Helpful guides and videos online at https://sfgrants.eda.gov
- 15. Talk to the help desk when you run into an issue grantshdsupport@eda.gov: * Submit help requests under the support tab if you are an account holder* Create a draft copy on your computer EDGE is constantly improving so tips we have today, like using plain text, may soon be addressed Create zip files or single PDFs instead of multiple files for required documents Don't try to upload the SF-424, the EDGE system will create the document after you enter the data/information online Reduce Frustrations in EDGE
- 16. For Aaron Pratt, EDR for Montana and Wyoming Please talk about EDA’s Assistance to Energy Transition Communities including how eligibility for these programs is determined.
- 17. 1. Program is designed to address "Special Need" criteria, and provide specific assistance to communities experiencing energy transitions away from coal, nuclear, or biomass. 2. Supports communities that have been impacted, or can reasonably demonstrate that they will be impacted by closures of plants or by changes in the economy. 3. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate the manner and extent to which a region has been impacted or will be impacted. Geographic proximity alone is not sufficient. 4. Must provide 3rd party demographic and economic data and cite sources to document the extent to which closures have negatively impacted the region. 5. If no federal data is available, other data such as local/regional economic indicators, labor market analyses, official announcements by industries and firms may be used to demonstrate impacts. 6. Funding can be used for planning or implementation/construction. Assistance to Energy Transition Communities
- 18. Example #1: Western Wyoming Community College - Rock Springs, Wyoming - Renovation and Addition to expand capacity for high-demand healthcare workers (nursing, CNA, EMS graduates) - Create 1,500 jobs over 10 years. Example #2: Southeastern Montana Development Corp. (SEMDC) - Colstrip, Montana - Construction of a Business Innovation Center to support workforce and business development - Training Center, Co-Working & Maker Space to support entrepreneurs and scale local businesses. - Create 71 jobs and generate $11.7M in private investment.
- 19. For Jamie Hackbarth, EDR for Utah The new PWEAA NOFO requires Workforce Development projects to follow Department of Commerce workforce principles. Can you elaborate on those, and provide additional context on how they might be incorporated into an EDA project?
- 20. Projects intended to develop, deploy, expand or initiate workforce training MUST: • Connect trained workers to quality job opportunities through sectoral partnership • Demonstrate Employee leadership (i.e. firm employer hiring commitments) • Include wraparound services to support vulnerable populations • Increase educational and workplace Diversity, Equity, accessibility and Inclusion; including through recruitment & retention efforts focused on underserved populations • Carry out activities in Program Design and/or Program Implementation • Measure & Evaluate outcomes such as workers' employment and earnings New Workforce Development Principles Sectoral Partnership Key Ingredients: • Multiple employers from same industry with other strategic partners to train/place workers into high-quality jobs • Backbone Organization to serve as intermediary across all partners • Include all necessary partners such as: education institutions, government, workforce development orgs, union, industry association, EDOs, CBOs. • Cut across traditional economic development, workforce education and social service system silos
- 21. Snow College Innovative Agriculture Center – Ephraim, UT Constuction of a new facility to meet Central Utah's industry demand for innovative agriculture training and creation. Create 157 jobs to be created across six beneficiary companies and $60 million in private investment USU-Blanding CTE Workforce Equipment & Program Expansion – Blanding, UT Equipment of CDL Simulator & Pogram Expansion of CTE Heavy Trucking/CDL Stackable Certification Program Create 60 jobs with commitments from Utah Trucking Association & Barney Trucking Workforce Development Example Projects
- 22. For Alex Smith, EDR for Eastern South Dakota and Iowa EDA is releasing a new Disaster Notice of Funding. Can you please summarize a few key points for this funding opportunity and who is eligible? What is the timeline for submitting an application?
- 23. 1. Eligibility – 2021 & 2022 Presidentially Declared Disasters 2. DRO Funding - $57 Million across the 10-state region 3. Typical EDA Grant Amount: $1M-$3M approx. 4. Project ideas need to address economic resiliency - https://www.eda.gov/node/10701 5. Funding timeline – next few months – consult EDRs, develop applications before funding is gone! Disaster NOFO
- 25. For Hannah Barnett, EDR - Southeast and South Central Missouri My community is considering an application requesting funding for construction of a business incubator. We are still working though the programming and operational aspects. What guidance can you provide?
- 26. 1. Clear requirements in the NOFO. A feasibility study establishing the market demand for the specific start-up companies proposed for incubator and the presence of necessary resources and community support; Documentation with detailed demonstration that the applicant has the financial capacity to operate the facility (if applicable) and reach a positive cash flow within a reasonable period of time, which EDA general expects to be three years; and A management plan for operation that, at a minimum. Business Incubation and Acceleration: Application Tips
- 27. 2. EDA needs to understand that the applicant has a clear understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. 3. EDA requires due diligence to ensure that the investment is based on sound feasibility and operational support to ensure long term sustainability. A 3rd-party feasibility study can help document all of these details. 4. Keep in mind, that EDA investments are assigned a useful life (typically 20 years) and are intended to be used for the award purposes for that timeframe. Business Incubation and Acceleration: Application Tips (continued)
- 28. For Trent Thompson, EDR for Colorado EDA considers how a project shows support from regional stakeholders and aligns with other investments (ongoing or planned) in the community and region. What tips would you give potential applicants for connecting and coordinating with other entities on a project?
- 29. Trent’s Tips 'Don't panic' - Guidance from a Vogon Tip 1: Know your community Tip 2: Collaboration not competition Tip 3: 'It Takes a Village,' 'Whole of Government,' 'Whole Community,' 'One Team'...pick your own colloquialism; more importantly document this support and these activities in your application -- it is a factor that is evaluated in the IRC Guidance from your (un)friendly Vogon: 'Question ED900 GA B.5 is now question ED900 GA F.1. Thank you'
- 31. True or False: Generally, the EDA investment rate will be 50%, but EDA may fund up to 80% based on the relative needs of the region.
- 32. True! • PCI • Unemployment • Special Need
- 33. True or False: Indian Tribes applying for EDA Funds are only eligible for up to an 80 percent grant rate.
- 34. False! EDA’s regulations allow an investment rate of up to 100 percent for Indian tribes. Under EDA’s regulations, the term “Indian Tribe” includes: • the governing body of an Indian Tribe • a non-profit Indian corporation (restricted to Indians) • an Indian authority • any other non-profit Indian tribal organization or entity; provided that the Indian tribal organization or entity is wholly owned by, and established for the benefit of, the Indian Tribe
- 35. True or False: Grant rates under Per Capita Income or Unemployment Eligibility are determined by level of distress.
- 36. True! Projects located in regions in which: Maximum allowable investment rates (percentage of total project cost) (A) The 24-month unemployment rate is at least 225% of the national average; or 80 (B) The per capita income is not more than 50% of the national average. 80 (C) The 24-month unemployment rate is at least 200% of the national average; or 70 (D) The per capita income is not more than 60% of the national average. 70 (E) The 24-month unemployment rate is at least 175% of the national average; or 60 (F) The per capita income is not more than 65% of the national average. 60 (G) The 24-month unemployment rate is at least 1 percentage point greater than the national average; or 50 (H) The per capita income is not more than 80% of the national average. 50
- 37. True or False: A project that is located within or proximate to a designated “Qualified Opportunity Zone” meets Special Need eligibility criteria in the new NOFO.
- 38. False! Special Need criteria for eligibility in the new PWEAA NOFO no longer includes being located in or benefiting an Opportunity Zone
- 39. True or False: Special Need eligibility is allowed for Persistent Poverty Counties as well as high poverty areas.
- 40. True! Special need eligibility is applicable to high poverty areas. Those include any census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20% as measured by the 2016-2020 5- year data series available from the ACS of the Census Bureau. (Dark orange areas.) Census Poverty Status Viewer: https://mtgis- portal.geo.census.go v/arcgis/apps/webap pviewer/index.html?i d=31e10881bd1040b7 b0ae6855 59917509
- 41. True or False: You may be able to apply for EDA funding based on disaster eligibility even if you are not eligible for the new disaster supplemental NOFO (i.e. 2021/2022 disaster declarations)
- 42. True An applicant can apply for regular program funds using any previous Presidentially declared disaster as a Special Need provided the applicant can demonstrate a clear nexus between the needs created by the declared disaster and the proposed project. There is no timeline on the disaster declaration as long as the nexus can be demonstrated. Note: State FEMA Disaster Declarations for the pandemic can still be used to demonstrate Special Need eligibility for Regular Program funds, however the ability to clearly draw a nexus and support it with data will be more difficult.
- 43. Multiple Choice: Which character from the movie Dodgeball said "Oh, I don't think I'm a lot dumber than you think that I thought that I thought I was once." a. White Goodman b. Patches O'Houlihan c. Peter La Fleur d. Steve the Pirate
- 44. a. White Goodman
- 45. Finally, there are several instances of Special Need eligibility in the new PWEAA NOFO that we encourage you to take a look at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view- opportunity.html?oppId=346815
- 46. Thank you! Hope this session was a hit.