Federal grant programs / Department of Commerce

Economic Development Support for Planning Organizations (11.302)

Also known as Planning Investments and Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$146 million
• Grant awards798
• Typical award$210,000
• Awarded in FY 2025$19.1 million
• Size rank695 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceProject grants

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $31.4 million in fiscal 2021 to $19.1 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 695th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 11% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 49 states and territories.

What the program funds

The Economic Development Planning Assistance program provides essential investment support to district organizations, Native American organizations, states, sub-state planning regions, urban counties, cities and other eligible recipient to assist in planning. The two categories of the Planning Assistance program are: (a) planning investments for District Organizations, Indian Tribes and other eligible entities; and (b) short-term planning investments to states, sub-state planning regions and urban areas. Eligible activities under this program include developing, maintaining, and implementing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and related short-term planning activities.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

• Atlanta FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
  Open · Rolling or no fixed deadline · up to $300,000
• Chicago FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
  Open · Rolling or no fixed deadline · up to $300,000
• Denver FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
  Open · Rolling or no fixed deadline · up to $300,000
• Seattle FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
  Open · Rolling or no fixed deadline · up to $300,000
• Austin FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
  Open · Rolling or no fixed deadline · up to $300,000
• Philadelphia FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
  Open · Rolling or no fixed deadline · up to $300,000

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Pursuant to Section 3(6) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3122(6)(A)) and 13 C.F.R. § 300.3 (Eligible Recipient), eligible applicants for EDA financial assistance under the Public Works and EAA programs include a(n): (i) District Organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District; (ii) Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; (iii) 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; (iv) institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; (v) public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State; (vi) an economic development organization; or (vii) a public-private partnership for public infrastructure. Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible for funding.

What the money can and cannot pay for

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.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Generally, the amount of the EDA grant may not exceed 60 percent of the total cost of the project. Projects may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed 30 percent, based on the relative needs of the region in which the project will be located, as determined by EDA. In addition, EDA’s regulations allow an investment rate of up to 100 percent for Indian tribes, for a State or political subdivision of a State that can document that it has exhausted its effective taxing and borrowing capacity, or for a non-profit organization that can document that it has exhausted its borrowing capacity.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

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

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 67% of the money, nonprofits 14% and tribes 9.1%.

By state

43 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.