Federal grant programs / Department of Commerce

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (11.313)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$49.2 million
• Grant awards33
• Typical award$1.2 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$0
• Size rank1048 of 1824
• Type of assistanceCooperative agreements

Key findings

• It is the 1048th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 11 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 11 states and territories.

What the program funds

The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) program helps import-impacted U.S. firms develop and implement projects to regain global competitiveness, expand markets, strengthen operations, increase profitability, thereby increasing U.S. jobs. Key portions of the statutory authorization of EDA’s TAAF program expired on June 30, 2022. As of July 1, 2022, EDA was unable to accept new petitions from firms for certification of eligibility for trade adjustment assistance (“petitions”) through the TAAF program. Current Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers will utilize previously awarded funds to serve existing clients until such funding is exhausted.

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

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Section 253 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. § 2343(b)) provides that grants may be awarded to "intermediary organizations (including Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers)" to provide assistance to trade-injured firms. For an industry association or other organizations to be eligible for industry assistance under section 265 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. § 2355(a)), the applicant must submit evidence demonstrating that the industry faces import competition and includes a substantial number of Trade Act-certified firms or worker groups. Current funding is limited to the existing Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Under Chapters 3 and 5 of Title II of Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2341 et seq.), a firm may apply to the applicable TAAC supported by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce for certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) related technical assistance. Interested firms that believe they meet the requirements set forth in 13 CFR part 315 may contact EDA or one of the EDA-funded TAACs. TAACs will assist firms, at no cost, in completing and submitting a petition (Form ED-840P or any successor form) to EDA. Before a firm receives technical assistance under the program, the firm must have an adjustment proposal approved by EDA. Usually the adjustment proposal, which includes an unbiased diagnostic of the firm's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, is prepared by the TAAC in cooperation with the certified firm.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Awards range between $1M-$1.6M.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: The mission of the TAAF program is to help import-impacted U.S. firms develop and implement projects to regain global competitiveness, expand markets, strengthen operations, increase profitability, and create jobs. The program supports the development of business recovery plans, commonly referred to as “Adjustment Proposals” or “APs,” under Section 252 of the Trade Act, and provides matching funds to implement projects outlined in the APs. These projects may cover a range of functional areas to improve a firm’s market position and increase its overall competitiveness, including engineering, information technology, management, market development, marketing, new product development, quality improvement, and sales. Import-impacted U.S. firms with approved APs can then receive direct technical assistance through matching funds provided to TAACs to contract with third-party consultants that help firms expand markets, strengthen operations, and increase competitiveness. Funds are not provided directly to firms.

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, nonprofits 40%.

By state

Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.

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