Through this ARPA EAA NOFO, EDA aims to assist communities and regions impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, including historically underserved communities. The pandemic has caused, and continues to cause, economic injury to U.S. communities and regions in devastating and unprecedented ways.
EDA’s ARPA EAA NOFO is designed to provide a wide-range of financial assistance to communities and regions as they respond to, and recover from, the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, including long-term recovery and resilience to future economic disasters. Under this announcement, EDA solicits applications under the authority of the Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, which is flexible and responsive to the economic development needs and priorities of local and regional stakeholders. This is the broadest NOFO EDA is publishing under ARPA and any eligible applicant from any EDA Region may apply. EDA expects to fund a number of projects under this NOFO that support communities negatively impacted by the downturn in the coal economy, supporting transitioning away from coal.
EDA anticipates funding approximately 300 non-construction and construction projects that cost between approximately $500,000 and $5,000,000 with this appropriation, though EDA will consider applications above and below these amounts.
There are no application submission deadlines. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new ARPA EAA NOFO, cancellation of this ARPA EAA NOFO, or all available funds have been expended.
While EDA encourages eligible applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible, EDA strongly advises eligible applicants to submit complete applications no later than March 31, 2022 so that EDA can review and process the application in time to get a potential award in place prior to deadlines imposed by Congress. Submission by March 31, 2022 is not a guarantee of funding. Any award is subject to the availability of funds. See Section E of this ARPA EAA NOFO regarding EDA’s review process.
Pursuant to section 3(4) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3122(4)(A)) and 13 C.F.R. § 300.3 (Eligible Recipient), eligible applicants under the EAA program include a(n): (i) District Organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District (EDD); (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; or (v) public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a general purpose political subdivision of a State.