Selected Recipients for this Program

Not Applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions

EDA Planning investments support the preparation of CEDS that guide EDA?s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance implementation investments, including Revolving Loan Funds.

Sound local planning also attracts other Federal, state, and local funds plus private sector investments to implement long term development strategies.

In this way, EDA?s Planning program plays a foundational role in helping communities develop important strategies that inform future economic development decisions. Comprehensive, market-based, local and regional planning is an essential component of successful economic development.

Effective planning creates a road map for community growth and development with a focused approach towards creating higher-skill, higher-wage jobs.

The Planning Program provides a foundation for EDA?s infrastructure investments, which are designed to stimulate economic growth in distressed regions.

The planning process supports an assessment of the region?s economic conditions and the development of a CEDS to guide resource allocation and project development.

The key value of this process is that it is locally determined and involves participation from all the diverse interests in the community.

Planning activities supported by these Investments must be part of a continuous process involving the active participation of Private Sector Representatives, public officials and private citizens, and include: (a) Analyzing local economies; (b) Defining economic development goals; (c) Determining Project opportunities; and (d) Formulating and implementing an economic development program that includes systematic efforts to reduce unemployment and increase incomes.

All EDA grants are discretionary grants.

EDA does not award any formula grants.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for and recipients of EDA investment assistance include a(n): (a) District Organization (as defined in 13 CFR 304.2); (b) Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; (c) State, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions; (d) institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or (e) public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State.

See section 3 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C.

§ 3122) and 13 CFR § 300.3.

As used in this paragraph, State includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S.

Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

See 13 CFR § 300.3 and 301.2.

Beneficiary Eligibility

EDA Planning investments provide support to Planning Organizations for the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of a CEDS. They also may provide support for related short-term planning investments and State plans designed to create and retain higher-skill, higher-wage jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the nation's most economically distressed regions.

Credentials/Documentation

To be considered for EDA assistance, applicants must first submit a complete EDA application package. The applicant must provide a list of its proposed Strategy Committee members. The Committee must represent the main economic interests of the Region and must include Private Sector Representatives as a majority of its membership. The applicant should ensure that the Strategy Committee includes public officials, community leaders, representatives of workforce development boards, institutions of higher education, minority and labor groups, and private individuals. The Strategy Committee representing Indian Tribes or States may vary. Applicants must also submit documentation of matching fund availability. Finally, non-profit applicants will be asked to provide additional documentation. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not required, but EDA offers applicants assistance in developing applications through its network of field-based Economic Development Representatives (EDRs).

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program 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 Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. For information on the application process you may access the applicable federal funding opportunity (FFO) announcement for Planning investment assistance at www.grants.gov and at www.eda.gov. EDA will review each application for Planning investment assistance in accordance with the evaluation criteria, funding priorities, and selection procedures set forth in the applicable FFO.

Award Procedures

Staff in the applicable EDA regional office review applications for eligibility and compatibility with EDA?s mission and funding priorities. Applications deemed eligible and at least minimally consistent with EDA?s mission and funding priorities are referred to an Investment Review Committee, which recommends applications for funding to the Regional Director. The Regional Director makes a funding determination and sends a recommendation to EDA Headquarters for concurrence.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (PWEDA) (42 U.S.C. § 3121 et seq.).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

EDA accepts new applications on a rolling basis and announces awards throughout the year. For continuation awards, regional offices may impose their own deadline for submission based on the previous award's period of performance.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

For continuation awards, regional offices may impose their own deadline for submission based on the previous award's period of performance.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: The minimum EDA investment rate for planning projects is 50 percent, and the maximum allowable EDA investment rate may generally not exceed 80 percent. This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Most grants are for 36-month periods. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required.

No cash reports are required.

Grant recipients must submit financial and project progress reports either on a quarterly or bi-annual basis, as required by the Special Terms and Conditions (SAC) of the award.

Recipients receiving CEDS assistance must submit an updated CEDS at least once every three years.

EDA requires the submission of the SF-425 Federal Financial Report.

EDA may elect to conduct site visits.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.

Records

All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of recipients and sub-recipients must be maintained according to the terms of the investment award.

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-2050-0-1-452.

Obigations

(Project Grants) FY 16 $29,955,674; FY 17 est $30,000,000; and FY 18 Estimate Not Available

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The average size of a Planning investment has been approximately $70,000, and investments generally range from $40,000 to $200,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

13 CFR Parts 300-303.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

David Ives 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Room 71030, Washington, District of Columbia 20230 Email: dives@eda.gov Phone: 202-482-0529

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

In addition to evaluating applications based on EDA's mission, funding priorities, and the evaluation criteria laid out in the applicable FFO, EDA also considers: (1) The proposed scope of work for the development, implementation, revision or replacement of the CEDS, or the relation of the CEDS to the proposed short-term planning activities or the State plan; (2) The qualifications of the applicant to implement the goals and objectives resulting from the CEDS, short-term planning activities or the State plan; (3) The involvement of the Region's business leadership at each stage of the preparation of the CEDS, short-term planning activities or State plan; (4) The extent of broad-based representation and involvement of the Region's civic, business, labor, minority and other interests in the proposed economic development activities; and (5) The feasibility of the proposed scope of work to create and retain higher-skill, higher-wage jobs through implementation of the CEDS. In addition, for continuation awards, funded recipients are evaluated on the basis of the extent of continuing economic distress within the Region, their past performance, and the overall effectiveness of their CEDS. For Planning Investment awards to a State, EDA will also consider the extent to which the State will integrate and coordinate its CEDS with local and Economic Development District plans.