Billions available for county economic development, including $300 million for coal communities

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, a $1.9 trillion package designed for COVID relief, was signed into law in March. As part of ARP, a section called the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund (Recovery Fund) allocated $62.5 billion in direct aid to counties, including $867.8 million for Kentucky counties. 

While the Recovery Fund is one way that counties can receive fiscal relief, there are a number of other funding streams under ARP.  That includes opportunities through the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) which was allocated an additional $3 billion to provide funding for economic recovery projects.

The EDA recently announced more details about that funding, including a commitment to invest $300 million of the funds into coal communities. Counties are eligible to apply for five of the six competitive grant programs offered by the EDA:  

Build Back Better Regional Challenge: $1 billion

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge will fund regional coalition efforts to grow new regional industry clusters or scale existing clusters. In Phase I, 50 to 60 regional coalitions will be awarded approximately $500,000 for technical assistance to develop three to eight projects to grow a regional industry cluster. In Phase II, EDA will provide grants to 20 to 30 of the regional coalitions awarded in Phase I with awards ranging from $25 million to $75 million to implement the projects. EDA has committed to allocate at least $100 million from this program to coal communities.

• Phase 1 deadline: October 19, 2021
• Phase 2 deadline: March 15, 2022

Learn more here.

Good Jobs Challenge: $500 million

The Good Jobs Challenge focuses on workforce development efforts to create and implement industry-led training programs designed to provide skills and connect unemployed and underemployed workers to job opportunities. EDA will fund system development, program design and program implementation projects.

• Application deadline: January 26, 2022

Learn more here.

Economic Adjustment Assistance: $500 million

The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is the most flexible EDA grant program. Projects eligible for funding include: technical, planning, workforce development, entrepreneurship, public works and infrastructure. EDA has committed to allocate at least $200 million from this program to coal communities. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.

• Suggested application submission date: March 15, 2022

Learn more here.

Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Competitive Grants: $240 million

The Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program will help communities hit hardest by challenges facing the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors. EDA will fund projects to invest in infrastructure, workforce or other projects that support the recovery of these industries and economic resilience of the community. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.

• Suggested application submission date: March 15, 2022

Learn more here.

Research and Networks Grants: $31 million

The Research and Networks Grants will fund research assessing the effectiveness of EDA programs and provide support to stakeholder communities around EDA initiatives. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.

• Suggested application submission date: October 31, 2021

Learn more here.

WEBINARS FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Economic Development Administration is hosting several information webinars about these topics in August:

For more information about all of these opportunities, you can visit EDA’s website: https://eda.gov/arpa/