This NOFO announces the availability of funding for EDA’s FY 2022 University Center Economic Development Program Competition. This program funds technical assistance provided by an accredited institution of higher education or a consortium of accredited institutions of higher education that is focused on one or more of the following program focus areas: advancing regional commercialization efforts, advancing high-growth entrepreneurship, cultivating innovation, encouraging business expansion in a region’s innovation cluster(s), developing a high-skilled regional workforce, and increasing the resiliency of a region. EDA solicits competitive applications from accredited institutions of higher education and from consortia of accredited institutions of higher education that are located in and have programs targeting only geographic areas served by EDA’s Atlanta and Seattle Regional Offices:
Atlanta Regional Office Serves: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
Deadline: April 29, 2022
Eligible Applicants: An accredited institution of higher education, including a community college, junior college, or a consortium of accredited institutions of higher education is eligible to apply for and to receive funding under the University Center Economic Development Program. See section C.1 of this NOFO.
For FY 2022, EDA plans to allocate approximately $8.4 million to the University Center program ($2.4 million for the first year of awards under this competition) in anticipation of an FY 2022 appropriation or an annual continuing resolution. These amounts are based on funding levels appropriated through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). Annual awards for the University Centers selected in past years generally have been in the range of $80,000 to $200,000 each, and each participating region has generally made 8 to 10 awards. The Atlanta and Seattle Regional Offices may choose to fund awards under this competition outside of these ranges. Subject to the availability of funding at the time of award, the funds allocated to the University Center program are anticipated to be available until expended
