2021 American Rescue Plan Act Statewide Planning, Research, and Networks (US)

Deadline: 31-Oct-21

The Department of Commerce has announced the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Statewide Planning, Research, and Networks.

• Statewide Planning: Through grants provided to States, EDA will fund a variety of activities among which the State may choose one or more to fund:
  • Developing economic development plans that identify new or existing industry clusters that would benefit from specific infrastructure, studies, and/or workforce investments to facilitate rapid expansion of such industry clusters.
  • Bringing together potentially disparate existing local and regional plans, such as Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), or state and local plans under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), into one holistic and inclusive state-wide plan or a plan that encompasses multiple regions within a state or across state lines including strengthening links between urban and rural areas.
  • Analyzing the needs of persistent poverty communities and formulating strategies to decrease disparities between these areas and more prosperous areas within a State.
  • Facilitating coordination with Tribes or other indigenous communities regarding State, regional, or local planning efforts that intersect with the Tribes’ interests and are supported by impacted Tribal communities.
  • Hiring disaster recovery coordinators, including possibly extending the terms of disaster recovery coordinators hired by local Economic Development Districts pursuant to EDA’s CARES Act funding.
  • Supporting statewide broadband data collection and mapping efforts and developing statewide broadband deployment and technical assistance plans.
  • Conducting a statewide skills assessment and analysis to help inform workforce development and training needs based on employers’ demand for skills, including coordination with the state labor market information agency and the state workforce development board.
  • Cataloging state innovation and entrepreneurship assets including mechanisms to access capital and equity financing to support business development and expansion and gaps in access to capital for underserved rural and urban communities.
  • Undertaking a statewide supply chain and logistics assessment to increase efficiencies.
  • Identifying state assets and economic resources and developing action plans that will benefit the state’s economy in a regional and global marketplace.
  • Other related activities as approved by EDA.
• Research and Communities of Practice Challenge: Through Research and Communities of Practice awards, EDA will fund data, tools, and institutional capacity for evaluating and scaling evidence-based economic development efforts and for creating Communities of Practice to connect and provide technical assistance to existing EDA grantees like University Centers, the Revolving Loan Fund network, the Build to Scale network, Economic Development Districts, Tribal partners, and new grantees under the ARPA Build Back Better Regional and Jobs Challenges.

• Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2), Congress provided EDA with $3,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022, to “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus and for necessary expenses for responding to economic injury as a result of coronavirus.” Of the funds provided, EDA anticipates awarding $90,000,000 under this NOFO: $59,000,000 for Statewide Planning grants and $31,000,000 for Research and Communities of Practice Challenge awards.
• Period of Performance: For Statewide Planning grants, EDA expects the period of performance to range in duration from 12 to 30 months. For Research and Communities of Practice awards, the period of performance will depend on the nature of the project for which the grant or cooperative agreement is awarded. Typically, such projects range in duration from 12 to 24 months but, given the current on-going economic conditions, EDA expects some projects may require a period of performance of approximately 48-60 months. EDA expects that all projects will proceed efficiently and expeditiously, and EDA encourages applicants to clearly document how quickly they will be able to start and complete the proposed project scope of work. EDA’s American Rescue Plan appropriations are available for making awards through September 30, 2022, though performance under the award may extend to no later than September 30, 2027.

• Eligible applicants for Research and Community of Practice Challenge awards include a(n):
  • District Organization;
  • Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes;
  • State, county, 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;
  • Institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or
  • Public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State.
• Eligible applicants for Statewide Planning grants are a Governor’s Office, or equivalent, of a State, or an eligible applicant type described above that is designated in writing by the Governor’s Office. Under section 3(10) of PWEDA the term “State” includes the fifty States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=334728