APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT APPLYING

EDA administers seven economic development programs and awards funds allocated for these programs on a competitive basis. EDA evaluates each application package on the basis of its conformance with the investment policy guidelines, funding priority considerations, and eligibility requirements identified in the applicable Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement.

Obtaining and Submitting Application Packages

Application packages may be obtained from www.grants.gov. Applicants do not require a Grants.gov user id and password in order to download an application package.

Please note that the volume of traffic on Grants.gov can be quite heavy during normal business hours, which may impede the downloading process; applicants unable to download an application during normal business hours are encouraged to try again during off-peak hours. If applicants experience further difficulties, they may contact the appropriate EDA regional office to obtain a hardcopy application package.

Applicants have two options for submitting an application package to EDA. They may either: (a) submit an application through Grants.gov or (b) submit a hardcopy application to the appropriate EDA regional office. EDA encourages electronic submissions through Grants.gov, but will give equal consideration to any hardcopy applications received. Please note that applicants must apply for and receive a Grants.gov user id and password prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov. As this process can take 3 to 5 business days, applicants are advised to apply for a password at the beginning of the process; applicants can work on completing the application package while Grants.gov staff process their password request.

Applicants can register for a www.grants.gov password and search for grant opportunities by agency or Funding Opportunity Number at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp. (To access all EDA opportunities, click 'Browse by Agency,' select Department of Commerce opportunities and then sort the list by clicking on the ‘Agency’ column heading.) Applicants can also download and submit application packages electronically at www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp.

Click here for a Powerpoint presentation that explains EDA’s application process and provides detailed instructions for downloading and submitting application packages via Grants.gov. Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about EDA’s single application, Grants.gov, and EDA’s application process. For questions not addressed by the presentation or the FAQ, please consult www.grants.gov/assets/FindApplyUserGuide.pdf for detailed instructions on electronic submissions.

Alternately, applicants may send a hardcopy application package to the appropriate EDA regional office.

Program-specific application package requirements

Click here for information on applying for EDA Public Works assistance.

Click here for information on applying for EDA Planning assistance.

Click here for information on applying for EDA Local Technical assistance.

Click here for information on applying for Economic Adjustment assistance with construction components only.

Click here for information on applying for Economic Adjustment assistance with non-construction components only (including Revolving Loan Funds).

Click here for information on applying for Economic Adjustment assistance with both construction and non-construction assistance.

Note that, unlike the programs listed above, EDA’s University Center Program, National Technical Assistance Program, and Research and Evaluation Program do not accept application packages on a rolling basis, but rather only in response to specific Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcements. Consult EDA’s webpage on Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcements to determine if EDA is currently accepting applications for these programs and to learn about the specific requirements associated with the FFO.