Federal grant programs / Department of Commerce

Economic Development Technical Assistance (11.303)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$47.7 million
• Grant awards214
• Typical award$188,572
• Awarded in FY 2025$654,525
• Size rank1,056 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceProject grants (cooperative agreements)

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $10.8 million in fiscal 2021 to $654,525 in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 1056th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 32% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 50 states and territories.

What the program funds

EDA administers three Technical Assistance initiatives under this assistance listing: the University Center Economic Development program, the National Technical Assistance Program, and the Local Technical Assistance program. Together, these initiatives help promote economic development and alleviate unemployment, underemployment, and outmigration in distressed regions.

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
• FY 2021 - 2023 Economic Development RNTA
  Open · Rolling or no fixed deadline · up to $1.5 million

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. For RNTA awards individuals and for-profit entities may be eligible.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Technical assistance is used to provide information, data, resources and toolkits which practitioners and policymakers can utilize when evaluating, shaping and implementing specific projects and programs to promote economic development efforts in their respective economically distressed regions. Under this competitive solicitation, EDA may, subject to the availability of funds, award grants to selected University Centers. The awards will have a five-year period of performance, with an initial funding period of one year. The selected University Centers will not have to compete for the second, third, fourth, and fifth years of funding. Funding beyond the initial year will be dependent upon the availability of funds and upon the recipients’ satisfactory performance and progress in achieving milestones and program goals as determined by EDA and expressed in writing.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. EDA encourages cost sharing, and applications that include matching funds may be more competitive than those that do not. Generally, the amount of an EDA award may not exceed 60 percent of the total cost of the project. However, for RNTA awards, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development (Assistant Secretary) has the discretion to establish a maximum Investment Rate of up to 100 percent where the project: (i) Merits, and is not otherwise feasible without, an increase to the Investment Rate; or (ii) Will be of no or only incidental benefit to the Eligible Recipient.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

In recent years, the average size of R&E and NTA investments has been approximately $350,000, and investments generally range from $200,000 to $500,000. Historically, EDA has funded approximately five R&E projects per year and three NTA projects.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: Local TA projects: https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/local-technical-assistance

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

Colleges and universities received 60% of the money, state and local governments 15% and nonprofits 14%.

By state

19 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.