FEDERAL AGENCY:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, Public Law 105-393, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 3147.

EDA oversees three (National, Local and University Center) technical assistance which to promote economic development and alleviate under-employment and unemployment in distressed areas. The program provides funds to: (1) establish and operated University Centers which enlist the resources of their sponsoring institutions of higher education in promoting economic development; (2) support innovative economic development projects; (3) disseminate information and studies of economic development issues of national significance; and (4) finance feasibility studies and other projects leading to local economic development. Aids the long-range economic development of areas with severe unemployment and low family income problems; aids in the development of public facilities and private enterprise to help create new, permanent jobs.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Most technical assistance recipients are private or public nonprofit organizations; educational institutions; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; municipal, county or State governments and U.S. Territories or entities thereof. Occasionally, EDA awards program funds to private sector firms or individuals to conduct activities which EDA has determined will benefit the general economic development community. Program funds, not be awarded to individuals and for profit organizations to start or expand a private enterprise.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Projects are intended to assist in solving economic development problems, respond to economic development opportunities, and expand organizational capacity for economic development.

Credentials/Documentation:   No rigid requirements are required. A nonprofit organization is required to submit its articles of incorporation charters for nonprofit organizations and a certificate of good standing, issued by the State in which it is incorporated. Applicants must demonstrate capability to complete the work program proposed in the nonprofit organizations must work in cooperation with a political subdivision of a State.

Pre-application Coordination:   Applicants should submit proposals, following the format specified in 13 CFR 304, through an Economic Development Representative to the appropriate EDA regional office for projects with local or regional impact (including University Center proposals) and to EDA Headquarters for projects with national or multi- regional impacts or that serve a national demonstration purpose. This program, except for National technical assistance, in most cases is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372 "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   Applicants whose proposals are selected for further consideration will be given formal instructions and all application materials. This program is subject to provisions of 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations and with 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for institutions of higher education, with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, and with OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations.

Award Procedure:   Local technical assistance grants and University Center continuation grants are approved by the appropriate EDA Regional Director. The Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, Department of Commerce, approves all national technical assistance grants and initial university center grants.

Deadlines:   See deadlines announced in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 1 month to 4 months.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   Proposals for renewal will be reviewed on their own merit.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula. Technical assistance grantees generally must contribute 50 percent or more of the total project cost in cash or in-kind services. Lower percentages are possible as outlined in 13 CFR 301.4(b), 307.3, 307.6 and 307.9.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Varies, but usually a period of one year. Funds are released as required.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Grantees must complete Standard Form 270 to receive disbursements. Progress reports are required prior to making subsequent disbursement and shall be submitted in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14, "Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, other Nonprofit and Commercial Organizations" and 15 CFR Part 24, "Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," as applicable.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Nonprofit Organizations (to include Hospitals), and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document. States, local governments, and nonprofit governments that expend $300,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year.

Records:   Documents, paper, and financial reports pertaining to the award must remain available to the Federal government for a minimum of 3 years from the date of submission of the final financial status report. All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of grantees or sub-grantees are required to be maintained by the terms of the agreement. The grantee must retain records for 3 years after completion of the project or submission of the final financial reports, whichever is later, and have them readily available for inspection and audit.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   13-2050-0-1-452.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $9,082,000; FY 02 est $9,166,000; and FY 03 est $8,435,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   $10,000 to $220,000. The average grant for the University Center Program in fiscal year 2001 was $97,200; for National Technical Assistance projects, and for Local Technical Assistance projects; $31,200.

In fiscal year 2001, 121 projects were funded (65 University Centers, 44 Local Technical Assistance projects, and 12 National Technical Assistance projects).

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

13 CFR Part 307.1-307.9.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Refer to Appendix IV of the Catalog for EDA Regional Office addresses.

Headquarters Office:   Initial contact should be with Economic Development Representatives except for projects that are national in scope. For those projects the initial contact should be with Headquarters Office, John J. McNamee, Director, Research and National Technical Assistance Division, Economic Development Administration, Room H7019, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. Telephone: (202) 482-4085. Use the same number for FTS.

Web Site Address:   http://www.doc.gov/eda/

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

University Center projects provide management and technical assistance services to communities, counties, districts, nonprofit development groups, and technology transfer assistance to firms. Many local technical assistance projects help to determine the economic feasibility of various local development projects involving industrial, commercial, and other activities. National technical assistance projects fund reports on innovative economic development and the dissemination of economic development information.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Local technical assistance proposals: a) Strengthens the local capacity to undertake and promote effective economic development programs targeted to people and areas of distress; b) benefits distressed areas; c) helps to diversify distressed areas; d) demonstrates innovative approaches to stimulating economic development in distressed areas; and (e) is consistent with the CED strategy or other strategy accepted by EDA for the area in which the project is located. For University Center technical assistance proposals: a) Has the commitment of the highest management levels of the sponsoring institution; b) provides evidence of adequate nonfederal financial support, either from the sponsoring institution or other sources; c) outlines activities consistent with the expertise of the proposed staff, the academic programs, and other resources available with the sponsoring institution; d) documents past experience of the sponsoring institution in operating technical assistance programs; and e) for new University Centers, balances the geographic distribution of University Centers across the country. National technical assistance proposals: a) Do not depend upon further EDA or other Federal funding assistance to achieve results; b) strengthen the capacity of local, State or national organizations and institutions to undertake and promote effective economic development programs targeted to people and areas of distress; c) benefit severely distressed areas; d) help to diversify distressed economies; and e) demonstrate innovative approaches to stimulating economic development in distressed areas. Note: Generally, National TA funds will be awarded in response to project specific requests for proposals published in the Federal Register.