FY 2023 Recompete Pilot Program - Phase 1 | EDA RECOMPETEPHASE1 2023

Opportunity Information: Apply for EDA RECOMPETEPHASE1 2023

The FY 2023 Recompete Pilot Program - Phase 1 is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) designed to help communities facing long-running economic hardship. The program is specifically targeted at places with a high prime-age (ages 25 to 54) employment gap, meaning a significant share of working-age adults are not employed compared to healthier labor markets. The core intent is to reduce persistent distress by supporting long-term, locally driven economic development efforts that lead to job creation and stronger regional economic conditions.

EDA structured the Recompete Pilot Program as a two-phase competition, with each phase released under its own Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Phase 1 is focused on planning and readiness. In this first phase, EDA will do two things: award funded Strategy Development Grants and approve Recompete Plans for selected regions. Applicants have to decide what they are seeking under Phase 1: they can apply for a Strategy Development Grant, seek approval of a Recompete Plan, or pursue both at the same time. This matters because the two components serve different purposes. Strategy Development Grants provide actual funding to help an area build a strong, comprehensive economic strategy. Recompete Plan approval, however, does not come with funding in Phase 1; its value is that it is a required prerequisite for competing for the much larger Implementation funding that will be offered under Phase 2. In other words, any region that wants to be eligible for Phase 2 implementation dollars should, at minimum, apply in Phase 1 for Recompete Plan approval, even if it is not also pursuing a Strategy Development Grant.

Phase 2 (covered under a separate upcoming NOFO) is where EDA plans to award Implementation funding, meaning resources to carry out the approved plan and execute the strategy on the ground. Phase 1 therefore functions as the gateway: it either helps applicants develop a viable strategy (through funded planning grants), or it formally clears a region to move forward into the implementation competition (through plan approval), or both. The structure is meant to ensure that Phase 2 applicants are not starting from scratch and that proposed investments are tied to a coherent, place-based plan for improving employment outcomes and economic resilience.

The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 11.040 and covers activities aligned with business and commerce, regional development, and related economic development work. Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities). The NOFO also indicates there may be additional eligible applicant types under an "Others" category, with specifics clarified in the full NOFO.

From an award and scale perspective, Phase 1 lists an award ceiling of $750,000, with EDA expecting to make around 20 awards. The opportunity was created June 30, 2023, with an original closing date of October 5, 2023. Because this is Phase 1, that ceiling primarily relates to Strategy Development Grant awards, since Recompete Plan approvals themselves are not funded under this phase.

Administratively, a key change in this cycle is that EDA shifted submission and grants management to a new platform called the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE). EDA states that EDGE is intended to streamline the full grants lifecycle by consolidating applications and post-award management into one system with better transparency, usability, and data quality. As of April 6, 2023, applications for this opportunity are no longer accepted through Grants.gov and must be submitted through EDGE at sfgrants.eda.gov, with detailed instructions provided in the full NOFO.

• The Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration in the business and commerce, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification), regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2023 Recompete Pilot Program - Phase 1" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 30, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 05, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for EDA RECOMPETEPHASE1 2023

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