Application Notes:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the program representative for their applicable state, using the information provided in the Contact section, to determine whether their project aligns with program priorities and requirements.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov. Hard-copy, faxed, and emailed applications will not be accepted.

As of March 6, 2023, applications may be submitted online at www.sfgrants.eda.gov. There will be a one-month transition period before applications are no longer accepted on www.ecivis.com/grants.gov. Applications in progress on www.ecivis.com/grants.gov that are not submitted before April 6, 2023, will need to be restarted from the beginning online at www.sfgrants.eda.gov. Starting April 6, 2023, applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

Applications must include:

• SF 424
• SF 424A
• SF LLL (if applicable)
• ED 900
• ED 900A (if applicable)
• CD 511 (if applicable)
• Budget narrative
• Documentation of matching share

Attachments may be submitted in .pdf format (preferred) or in Word, WordPerfect, or Excel format. The funding agency may request additional documentation and/or clarification.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number/Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration
• SPOC (state Single Point of Contact) notification

All federal applications must have a DUNS/UEI number, obtainable by calling (866) 705-5711 or accessing www.ecivis.com/duns. Applicants should verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam. Applicants in states participating in the SPOC program must contact the relevant SPOC listed in the SPOC file before applying.

Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• The project’s sustainability/durability, including the extent to which the project demonstrates support from regional stakeholders
• The applicant’s organizational capacity, including its financial and management capacity
• The extent to which the project aligns with the funding agency's current investment priorities
• The project’s potential to increase the capacity of the community or region to foster creation and/or retention of high-quality jobs and promote private investment in the regional economy
• Project's feasibility and the likelihood that the project will achieve its projected outcomes

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Notes:

Applicants generally must provide at least 50 percent of the total project cost via nonfederal cash and/or in-kind contributions; however, the funding agency may provide up to an additional 30 percent of the total project cost, reducing the required match to at least 20 percent of the total project cost. Refer to pages 9-10 of the NOFA file for a table of maximum cost share rates based on average per capita income or unemployment rate of the region where the proposed project is located.

The following types of entities may be eligible to receive up to 100 percent of the total project cost:

• States or political subdivisions of a state that have exhausted their effective taxing and borrowing capacity
• Nonprofit organizations that have exhausted their effective borrowing capacity
• Indian tribes

Funds from other federal awards may be used as matching contributions if authorized by statute.

Eligible in-kind contributions include:

• Space
• Equipment
• Professional services

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate regional office of the funding agency for their state, using the information provided in the Contact section, to discuss in-kind contributions. Refer to pages 8-10 of the NOFA file for additional details regarding the program's matching requirements.

Funding Notes:

An unspecified amount of funding is available to support grants and/or cooperative agreements through this program. For FY 2021, the funding agency received $33.5 million to support planning awards and $10 million to support technical assistance awards, of which approximately $2.8 million has been allocated for short-term and state planning awards, approximately $30.7 million for partnership planning awards, and approximately $1.6 million for local technical assistance awards.

Historically, between 320 and 450 planning awards have been disbursed each year, with a median award size of approximately $70,000. Historically, between 30 and 50 local technical assistance awards have been disbursed each year, with a median award size of approximately $100,000.

The large majority of funding under the planning component is for partnership planning awards for designated district organizations and Indian tribes.

Project periods will depend on project type and scope of work. Project periods for partnership planning awards will generally range from one to three years, and will typically be for three years. Other planning and technical assistance projects will usually have project periods that range from 12 to 18 months in duration, but may be for up to three years.

Funding is generally not provided for pre-award costs without the written approval of the funding agency.

Funding may not be used for application preparation costs.

March 8, 2023
A revised solicitation has been released for this program and attached as the NOFA file. In addition, a notice regarding an update to the online application process has been released and attached as the Update file. The Application and Contact sections have been updated accordingly.