To assist in the determination of causes of excessive
unemployment and underemployment in various areas and regions of the Nation.
To assist in the formulation and implementation of national, State, and local
programs that will raise income levels and otherwise produce solutions to the
problems resulting from the above conditions. To evaluate the effectiveness of
approaches and techniques employed to alleviate economic distress. 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
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Funding is for research (including evaluative research), training and EDA
program evaluations to carry out the objectives of the program.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Most research and evaluation
recipients are colleges, universities and other research institutions. Grants
may not be awarded to individuals or for profit organizations or firms to
start, expand a private business.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Projects are intended to
provide data on the effectiveness of economic development programs and
projects, assist in solving economic development problems, or respond to
economic development opportunities.
Credentials/Documentation: Qualifications of
researchers are considered during the proposal and application review process.
Applicants must have demonstrated expertise in the proposed area of study.
Pre-application Coordination: Pre-application
procedures and time frames are set forth in the Federal Register Notice of
Funding Availability. Applicants should be aware that these notices may be
general or very specific in the topics for which they solicit proposals. This
program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
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 29b for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit
organizations and of 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: The Assistant Secretary for
Economic Development, Department of Commerce, approves Research and Evaluation
grants.
Deadlines: Dates are published in the Federal
Register.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Applications
are generally approved or disapproved within 2 months of receipt of a complete
application.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: Usually waived.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Varies,
but usually a 1 year period. Funds are released as required and justified.
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. 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 the
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: All financial and programmatic records,
supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of grantees or
sub- grantees pertaining to the award must remain available to the Federal
Government for a minimum of 3 years after completion of the project or
sub-mission of the final financial status report, whichever is later.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 13-2050-0-1-452.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 517,000; FY 02 est
$500,000; and FY 03 est $500,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: In
fiscal year 2001, grants and cooperative agreements ranged from $5,000 to
$299,000. The average EDA support was 43,000.
Headquarters Office: John J. McNamee, Director,
Research and National Technical Assistance Division, Room H-7019, EDA,
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:
Evaluation of the Impact of Revolving Loan Fund
Investments; Study of Effective Indian Economic Development Projects and
Practices; and a Socioeconomic Data User's Guide.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
(1) Does not depend on further EDA or other federal
assistance; (2) Strengthens local economic development capacity; (3) Benefits
severely distressed areas; (4) Helps diversify distressed economies; (5)
Demonstrates innovative approaches to economic development.
