[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77714-77716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28374]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[991215339-4345-13]


Solicitation of Proposals for Economic Development Assistance 
Programs

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA)

ACTION: Notice and request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is soliciting 
proposals for the following programs: Grants for Public Works and 
Economic Development Facilities; Economic Development--Support for 
Planning Organizations; Economic Development--Technical Assistance; 
Economic Adjustment Assistance; and Economic Development--Trade 
Adjustment Assistance. EDA's mission is to lead the Federal economic 
development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, 
preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide 
economy. EDA fulfills its mission by investing in the following: Public 
works, infrastructure and development facilities; the crafting and 
implementation of comprehensive economic development strategies; local, 
national and University Center-based technical assistance projects; and 
revolving loan funds. Under separate statutory authority, EDA also 
provides technical assistance to firms adversely affected by directly 
competitive imported products.

DATES: Proposals are accepted on a continuing basis and applications 
are invited and processed as received. Normally, two months are 
required for a final decision after the receipt of a completed 
application invited by EDA that meets all requirements.

ADDRESSES: For applicants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee, please send 
proposals to: Economic Development Administration, Atlanta Regional 
Office, 401 West Peachtree Street, NW., Suite 1820, Atlanta, Georgia 
30308-3510, Telephone: (404) 730-3002, Fax: (404) 730-3025.
    For applicants in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma or 
Texas, please send proposals to: Economic Development Administration, 
Austin Regional Office, 327 Congress Avenue, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 
78701-365, Telephone: (512) 381-8144, Fax: (512) 381-8177.
    For applicants in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio or 
Wisconsin, please send proposals to: Economic Development 
Administration, Chicago Regional Office, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 
855, Chicago, IL 60606, Telephone: (313) 353-7706, Fax: (313) 353-8575.
    For applicants in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, 
Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah or Wyoming, please send 
proposals to: Economic Development Administration, Denver Regional 
Office, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Room 670, Denver, Colorado 80204, 
Telephone: (303) 844-4715, Fax: (303) 844-3968.
    For applicants in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands 
or West Virginia, please send proposals to: Economic Development 
Administration, Philadelphia Regional Office, Curtis Center, 601 Walnut 
Street, Suite 140 South, Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone: (215) 597-
4603, Fax: (215) 597-1063.
    For applicants in Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, 
Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nevada, Northern 
Mariana Islands, Oregon or Washington, please send proposals to: 
Economic Development Administration, Seattle Regional Office, Jackson 
Federal Building, Room 1890, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington 
98174,

[[Page 77715]]

Telephone: (206) 220-7660, Fax: (206) 220-7669.
    For a copy of the FFO announcement for this request for proposals, 
please see the Web site below listed under ``Electronic Access.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or for a 
paper copy of the FFO announcement, contact the appropriate EDA 
regional office listed above. EDA's Web site, http://www.eda.gov 
contains additional information on EDA and its program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Electronic Access: EDA is not currently able to accept electronic 
submission of proposal packages. However, the full funding opportunity 
announcement for the FY 2005 Economic Development Assistance Programs 
competition is available through Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov. 
Additional information is available through EDA's Web site, http://www.eda.gov.
    Funding Availability: Funding appropriated under Public Law 108-447 
is available for economic development assistance programs authorized by 
the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended 
(Public Law 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121, et seq.), and as most recently 
amended by the Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act 
of 2004 (Public Law 108-373), and for trade adjustment assistance 
authorized under title II, chapters 3 and 5 of the Trade Act of 1974, 
as amended (19 U.S.C. 2341-2355; 2391), and as further amended by 
Public Law 107-210. Funds in the amount of $253,984,652 have been 
appropriated for FY 2005 and shall remain available until expended.
    Statutory Authority: The authority for programs listed below is the 
Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (Public 
Law 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121, et seq.), and as further amended by Public 
Law 105-393 and 108-373. The authority for the program listed in part 
II.6 is title II, chapters 3 and 5 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended 
by Public Law 93-618, 98-120, 98-369, 99-272, 99-514, 100-418, 103-66, 
105-277, and 107-210 (19 U.S.C. 2341-2391) (Trade Act).
    CFDA: 11.300 Grants for Public Works and Economic Development 
Facilities; 11.302 Economic Development--Support for Planning 
Organizations; 11.303 Economic Development--Technical Assistance; 
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance; 11.313 Economic Development--
Trade Adjustment Assistance.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants for and eligible recipients of EDA 
financial assistance include Economic Development Districts: Indian 
tribes or consortia of Indian tribes; states; cities or other political 
subdivision; institutions of higher education or consortia of 
institutions of higher education; public or private nonprofit 
organizations or associations acting in cooperation with officials of a 
political subdivision of a state. Projects eligible for financial 
assistance include those projects meeting ``special needs'' criteria, 
as set forth in Section VIII.B. of the FFO.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: Generally, the amount of the EDA grant 
may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project, unless the 
project meets the requirements in 42 U.S.C. 3144. Projects meeting the 
criteria may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed 30 
percent based on the relative needs of the area in which the project 
will be located. See 42 U.S.C. 3144. While cash contributions are 
encouraged, in-kind contributions, fairly evaluated by EDA, may include 
assumptions of debt and contributions of space, equipment, and services 
and may provide the non-Federal share of the project cost. 42 U.S.C. 
3144. In-kind contributions must be eligible project costs and meet 
applicable Federal cost principles and uniform administrative 
requirements. Id. EDA may supplement the costs of a project up to and 
including 100 percent of such project costs where the applicant is able 
to demonstrate that the project meets the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 
3144(c). Potential applicants should contact the appropriate EDA office 
to make this determination.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    Evaluation and Selection Procedures: Each pre-application proposal 
is circulated by a project officer to the appropriate regional office 
staff for review and comments. When the necessary input and information 
are obtained, the pre-application proposal is considered by the 
regional office Investment Review Committee (IRC), made up of regional 
office staff. The IRC discusses the proposal and all pertinent 
documentation and evaluates it on two levels of analysis. The IRC (a) 
determines if the proposal meets the program specific criteria provided 
under 13 CFR 305.2 for Public Works, 13 CFR 306.2 for Planning 
Assistance, 13 CFR 307.2 for Technical Assistance, 13 CFR 308.2 and 
308.4 for Economic Adjustment and 13 CFR 315.5 and 315.6 for Trade 
Adjustment Assistance for Firms, and (b) rates each proposal using the 
general evaluation criteria set forth at 304.2 as further defined by 
the Investment Policy Guidelines set forth in this notice below. 
University Center and National Technical Assistance funding proposals 
will be evaluated pursuant to a separate Federal Register notice 
published in this issue.
    After completing its evaluation, the IRC recommends whether or not 
an application should be invited, documenting its recommendation in the 
meeting minutes or in the Investment Proposal Summary and Evaluation 
Form. The IRC analysis of the project's fulfillment of the Investment 
Policy Guidelines is reviewed at EDA headquarters for quality 
assurance. After receiving quality control clearance, the Selecting 
Official (depending on the program, either the Regional Director or the 
Assistant Secretary) selects the applications to be invited after 
considering the evaluations provided by the IRC and the degree to which 
one or more of the Funding Priorities provided below are included (or 
packaged together) in making his/her decision as to which 
preapplication proposals should be invited. The Selecting Official then 
formally invites the successful proponent to submit a formal 
application. If the Selecting Official declines to invite a full 
application, he/she provides written notice to the proponent. In the 
case of a continuation grant, no pre-application proposal is required. 
Proposals received after the date of this notice will be processed in 
accordance with the requirements set forth herein until the next annual 
Federal Register is published.
    If a successful proponent submits a formal application, it is 
reviewed by EDA program officials to determine whether it contains any 
deficiencies under EDA regulations at 13 CFR chapter III. If 
deficiencies are noted, the applicant is provided a written request to 
amend the application to resolve any deficiencies. EDA will negotiate 
with the applicant to resolve any deficiencies. If deficiencies are not 
resolved 30 days after receipt of the written notice, the application 
may be rejected. If the full application is accepted, the applicant and 
EDR are notified and it is forwarded for final reviews and processing 
in accordance with EDA and DOC procedures.
    Evaluation Criteria: EDA investment proposals will be competitively 
evaluated primarily on their ability to meet or exceed the following 
Investment Policy Guidelines (each criterion will be given equal 
weight):
    1. Be market-based and results driven. An investment will 
capitalize on a

[[Page 77716]]

region's competitive strengths and will positively move a regional 
economic indicator measured on EDA's Balanced Scorecard, such as: an 
increased number of higher-skill, higher-wage jobs; increased tax 
revenue; or increased private sector investment.
    2. Have strong organizational leadership. An investment will have 
strong leadership, relevant project management experience, and a 
significant commitment of human resources talent to ensure a project's 
successful execution.
    3. Advance productivity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. An 
investment will embrace the principles of entrepreneurship, enhance 
regional clusters, and leverage and link technology innovators and 
local universities to the private sector to create the conditions for 
greater productivity, innovation, and job creation.
    4. Look beyond the immediate economic horizon, anticipate economic 
changes, and diversify the local and regional economy. An investment 
will be part of an overarching, long term comprehensive economic 
development strategy that enhances a region's success in achieving a 
rising standard of living by supporting existing industry clusters, 
developing emerging new clusters, or attracting new regional economic 
drivers.
    5. Demonstrate a high degree of commitment by exhibiting:
     High levels of local government or non-profit matching 
funds and private sector leverage;
     Clear and unified leadership and support by local elected 
officials; and
     Strong cooperation between the business sector, relevant 
regional partners and local, state and federal governments.
    Funding Priorities: Highly rated preapplication proposals may or 
may not be invited to submit full applications based on the following 
Funding Priorities. Generally, all EDA proposals and applications 
should enhance regional competitiveness and support long-term 
development of the regional economy. Further priority will be given to 
proposals that:
    1. Encourage innovation and regional competitiveness:
    a. Reflect coordination of strong regional leadership committed to 
regional cluster development;
    b. Encourage a formal organization structure and process for 
working on cluster development and maintaining consensus;
    c. Encourage a common vision and collaboration among firms, 
universities, and training centers to implement a cluster strategy;
    d. Establish research and industrial parks that encourage 
innovation-based competition;
    e. Implement cluster-focused and innovation-focused business 
development efforts; and
    f. Develop or implement coordinated economic and workforce 
development strategies.
    2. Upgrade core business infrastructure such as:
    a. Transportation infrastructure;
    b. Communications infrastructure; and
    c. Specialized training program infrastructure.
    3. Help communities plan and implement economic adjustment 
strategies in response to sudden and severe economic dislocation. 
Specifically, EDA will give highest priority to support manufacturing-
impacted communities by:
    a. Helping communities that experience manufacturing job losses 
(e.g., major layoffs, plant closures or trade impacts); and
    b. Supporting innovation and competitiveness in American 
manufacturing.
    4. Support technology-led economic development, for example, 
proposals that:
    a. Reflect the important role of research and development capacity 
of universities in regional development; and
    b. Create and support technology transfers.
    5. Advance community and faith-based social entrepreneurship in 
redevelopment strategies for areas of chronic economic distress.

The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal 
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are 
applicable to this solicitation, and are available on EDA's Web Site, 
http://www.eda.gov.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This document contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Form ED-900P 
has been approved by OMB under the control number 0610-0094. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to 
respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.

Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not 
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this 
rule concerning grants, benefits and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). 
Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. 
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared.

    Dated: December 21, 2004.
David A. Sampson,
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 04-28374 Filed 12-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-M