EDA releases American Rescue Plan funding opportunities

CAPCOG is encouraging jurisdictions in the 10-county region to apply for the EDA American Rescue Plan funding opportunities that are most applicable to individual jurisdictions such as the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program and the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Program. CAPCOG recommends jurisdictions with qualifying projects apply sooner than later and be in contact with CAPCOG for technical assistance, project development and application coordination.

“The pandemic has affected a lot of local economies, and these funding opportunities represent a once-in-a-lifetime chance to recover and improve those economies,” said Shelly Hargrove, CAPCOG community and economic development director.

For the five-state area that includes CAPCOG, the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program has allocated $63.8 million for local projects with a goal of funding 25 to 30 projects between $2 and $2.5 million each. The program is geared to helping communities plan, build, innovate, and to get people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs. Technical, planning, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and public works and infrastructure projects are eligible under the program. The tourism program has allocated $16.6 million for the five-state area with a goal of awarding 10 to 15 projects between $1 and $1.5 million each. The latter program seeks to provide funds to invest in infrastructure, workforce or other projects that support the recovery of the tourism industry and economic resilience of the community in the future. Local governments and nonprofits that work in cooperation with local governments can qualify for the tourism program. Awarded projects will have an 80/20 funding match.

CAPCOG recommends local jurisdictions review each of the EDA’s notices of funding opportunity, determine where their projects best qualify, ensure the projects align with the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, and then discuss the project with their local EDA representative before applying. To prepare local jurisdictions for the funding opportunities, CAPCOG recorded a three-part webinar series that reviewed applying for EDA grants, best practices to qualifying, and the detailed look at EDA’s Notice of Funding Opportunities.

View the CAPCOG webinars.
Get more information about the funding opportunities.