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.
OBJECTIVES:
To promote economic development and alleviate under- employment and unemployment in
distressed areas, EDA operates a technical assistance program. The program provides funds
to: (1) enlist the resources of designated university centers 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.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants.
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Technical assistance is used to provide information, data, and know-how in evaluating,
shaping and implementing specific projects and programs that promote economic development
in economically depressed areas.
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. Grants may 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. Articles of incorporation charters for nonprofit organizations and certificates
of good standing, issued by the State in which the organization is incorporated, are
required. Applicants must demonstrate capability to complete the proposed work program
funded under the grant. Non-profit organizations must work in cooperation with a political
subdivision of a state.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:
Preapplication 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, will
approve 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 Non-Profit 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, Non-Profit
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 non-profit 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 subgrantees 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 99 $9,599,000; FY 00 est $9,100,000;
and FY 01 est $10,300,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $6,500 to
$200,000. The average grant for the University Center Program in fiscal year 1999 was
$98,300; for National Technical Assistance projects, $144,000; and for Local Technical
Assistance projects; $34,000.
PROGAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In fiscal year 1999, 143 projects were funded (69 University Centers, 61 Local
Technical Assistance projects, and 13 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.
