U.S. EDA Funding

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) offers programming to help cover the costs of economic development projects for communities. CUPPAD is the official Economic Development District (EDD) in the central U.P. and can facilitate and assist with applications that qualify for an EDA grant program.

The latest information is available at the US EDA's website and social media outlets.

If you have questions about EDA grant programs and eligibility, please contact our Senior Economic Development Planner, Ryan Soucy, at rsoucy@gmail.com.

EDA AMerican Rescue Plan Programs

Following the American Rescue Plan Act, EDA was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks.

American Rescue Plan funding enables EDA to provide larger, more transformational investments across the nation while utilizing its greatest strengths, including flexible funding to support community-led economic development. These funding programs come in the form of innovative challenges:

EDA_ARP_EAA

Economic Adjustment Assistance Program

The American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance Program makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities.

The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDA’s most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs.

A wide range of technical, planning, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and public works and infrastructure projects are eligible for funding under this program.

Build Back Better Regional Challenge

Designed to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating economic recovery and rebuilding local economies. This grant program provides a transformational investment to 20-30 regions.

  • Phase 1: 50-60 regional coalitions of partnering entities will be awarded ~$500,000 in technical assistance funds to develop and support three to eight projects to grow a regional growth cluster.
      • Deadline to apply: October 19, 2021
  • Phase 2: EDA will award 20-30 regional coalitions $25 million to $75 million, and up to $100 million, to implement those projects.
      • Deadline: March 15, 2022
  • Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
  • EDA's Build Back Better Webinar

Good Jobs Challenge

Through the Good Jobs Challenge, EDA is allocating $500 million to collaborative skills training systems and programs that get Americans back to work. Building and strengthening systems and partnerships in underserved populations and areas to secure a quality job that provides good pay, benefits, and growth opportunities.

EDA will fund proposals within the following three phases, as applicable to regional needs:

  1. System Development
    Help establish and develop a regional workforce training system comprised of multiple sector partnerships.
  2. Program Design
    Develop the skills training curriculum and materials, and secure technical expertise needed to train workers.
  3. Program Implementation
    Implement non-construction projects needed to provide workforce training and connect workers with quality jobs, including wrap-around services.

Coal Communities Commitment

The Coal Communities Commitment (ACC) is part of the broader Economic Adjustment Assistance program, but allocates $300 million of the ARPA funds to support coal communities as they recover from the pandemic and help create new jobs and expansion of industry.

Indigenous Communities

EDA is allocating $100 million in American Rescue Plan funding specifically for Indigenous communities, which were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

This program is designed to support the needs of Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities. EDA will support these important partners to develop and execute economic development projects that they need to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future.

A wide range of technical, planning, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and public works and infrastructure projects are eligible for funding under this program.

Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation

EDA is focused on accelerating the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors. $750 million of EDA’s American Rescue Plan funds are allocated to support the following efforts:

  • State Tourism Grants: $510 million in non-competitive awards to help states quickly invest in marketing, infrastructure, workforce and other projects to rejuvenate safe leisure, business and international travel.
      • A formal invitation to apply is required
  • Competitive Grants: $240 million to help communities that have been hardest hit by challenges facing the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors to invest in infrastructure, workforce or other projects to support the recovery of the industry and economic resilience of the community in the future.

Statewide Planning, Research, and Networks

Building back better means investing in projects that will promote equity and develop local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks and climate change.

  • Statewide Planning Grants: EDA is supporting states in planning efforts by allocating $59 million for Statewide Planning Grants.
      • Formal invitation to apply required
  • Research and Networks Grants: In addition, the program will allocate $31 million for Research and Networks Grants to invest in research that assesses the effectiveness of EDA’s programs, and provides support for stakeholder communities around key EDA initiatives.

Public Works

The Public Works Program empowers distressed communities to revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure to attract new industry, encourage business expansion, diversify local economies, and generate or retain long-term, private sector jobs and investment.

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Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission