US Dept of Commerce Economic Development Administration

US Dept of Commerce Economic Development Administration

EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs

Overview

Overview EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) programs provide economically distressed communities and regions with comprehensive and flexible resources, including broadband, to address various economic needs. EDA can fund broadband projects in urban or rural Opportunity Zones.

Keep in mind that the bottom line mission of this agency is to create jobs. Whatever you’re planning to do with a broadband network, at least one of those goals has to be job creation. For example, company ABC will bring its operation with 100 jobs to your community, but only if there is broadband available. With this EDA grant, you have to spend the money for the broadband buildout before EDA reimburses you. Subsequently, your going to have to document and verify that you delivered on the 100 jobs you promised EDA.

This is a matching grant, so 50% of the budget must be matched by private or public entities, but no other federal government agency can be a match partner. Through the PWEAA NOFO, EDA solicits applications from applicants in order to provide revolving loan fund projects under EDA’s Public Works program and EAA programs.

If yours is an urban city and you have several distressed neighborhoods, EDA would encourage the city ask for the money to build broadband in all of those areas together rather than to a do separate application processes for each neighborhood. Since EDA is supporting smart city development, consider adding telehealth because a lot of smart city applications lend themselves well to telehealth applications.

Purpose

Planning (e.g., feasibility)

Smart Cities

Broadband Infrastructure (e.g., construction)

Eligibility

Libraries
Non-Profit Organizations
K-12 Schools
Small Businesses
Higher Education Institutions
State and Local Governments
District Organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District (EDD)
Tribal Entities

Amount Available

FY2020 Funding $200 Million Grant

Contact Website

https://www.eda.gov/funding-opportunities/

https://www.eda.gov/disaster-recovery/

Contact Information:

Please contact your local economic development representative (based on the location of the proposed project) at https://www.eda.gov/contact/

Additional Information – CARES

Overview

https://www.eda.gov/coronavirus/faq/index.htm

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) authorizes the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to make available $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.” Awards are given until the funds are exhausted.

EDA can only make grants to state and local governmental entities, institutions of higher education, not for-profit entities, and federally recognized Tribes.

Until the funding runs out, EDA will accept applications for grants to support a wide variety of assistance including:

  • Planning and Technical Assistance
  • Capitalization and Recapitalization of Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs), which provide access to capital for businesses
  • Construction of infrastructure and other economic development projects
  • Innovation grants

May not be very much money left as of this date  (September 1, 2020)

https://www.eda.gov/disaster-recovery