Grants for Public Works and Economic Development Facilities (11.300)
Program
11.300 Grants for Public Works and Economic Development Facilities
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Commerce
Office: Economic Development Administration
Authorization
Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 3121 et seq.).
Program Number
11.300
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
Public Works grants support the construction or rehabilitation of essential public infrastructure and facilities necessary to generate or retain private sector jobs and investments, attract private sector capital, and promote regional competitiveness, innovation, and entrepreneurship, including investments that expand and upgrade infrastructure to attract new industry, support technology-led development, accelerate new business development, and enhance the ability of regions to capitalize on opportunities presented by free trade.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants
Uses and Use Restrictions
Characteristic projects include investments in facilities such as water and sewer systems, industrial access roads, industrial and business parks, port facilities, rail spurs, skill-training facilities, business incubator facilities, brownfield redevelopment, eco-industrial facilities, and telecommunications and broadband infrastructure improvements necessary for business creation, retention and expansion. A project must be located in or benefit a region that, on the date EDA receives an application for investment assistance, satisfies one or more of the economic distress criteria set forth in 13 CFR 301.3(a). All nvestments must be consistent with a current EDA-approved Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) or equivalent strategic economic development plan for the region in which the project will be located, and the applicant must have the required local share of funds committed, available, and unencumbered. Applicants must be able to start and complete proposed projects in a timely manner consistent with award terms and conditions. Recipients must award contracts in accordance with proper procedurement procedures and ensure that contractors pay Davis-Bacon wage rates. Indirect costs are not allowed. All grants awarded are discretionary grants. EDA does not award formula grants.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for and recipients of EDA investment assistance include a State, city, county, or other political subdivision of a State, including a(n): (a) District Organization as defined in 13 CFR 304.2; (b) Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; (c) State, 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 such political subdivisions; (d) institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or (e) public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State. See section 3 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3122) and 13 CFR 300.3. Projects eligible for Public Works investment assistance include those located in regions meeting "Special Need" criteria as defined in 13 CFR 300.3. For-profit, private-sector entities do not qualify for Public Works assistance under PWEDA. EDA may not provide investments directly to individuals or for-profit entities seeking to start or expand a private business. Such requests may be referred to State or local agencies, or to non-profit economic development organizations. As used in this paragraph, 'State' includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Not applicable. Public Works and Economic Development investments are intended to help recipients in the nation's most distressed communities to revitalize, expand, or upgrade their physical infrastructure to attract new industry, encourage business expansion, diversify their local economies, and generate or retain long-term private sector jobs and capital investments.
Credentials/Documentation
To be considered for EDA investment assistance, applicants must first submit a complete EDA application package. If EDA determines that the proposed Public Works project merits further consideration, EDA will request: a copy of the region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS); letters of commitment to document matching funds; a USGS map of the site; letter of commitment from private beneficaries of the project; comments from the metropolitan area review/clearinghouse agency; a legal opinion and other documentation, as necessary, verifying the applicant's answer to questions regarding project ownership, operation, maintenance, and management; an engineering report; an environmental narrative (and possibly an Environmental Impact Statement if deemed necessary); and documented approval from the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). Non-profit applicants will be required to submit additional documentation. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable. An environmental impact assessment is required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. For information on the application process you may access the applicable federal funding opportunity (FFO) announcement for Public Works investment assistance at www.grants.gov and at www.eda.gov. EDA will review each application for Public Works investment assistance in accordance with the evaluation criteria, funding priorities, and selection procedures set forth in the applicable FFO.
Award Procedure
Staff in the applicable EDA regional office review applications for eligibility and compatibility with EDA's mission and funding priorities. Applications deemed eligible and at least minimally consistent with EDA's mission and funding priorities are referred to an Investment Review Committee, which recommends applications for funding to the Regional Director. The Regional Director makes a funding determination and sends a recommendation to EDA Headquarters for concurrence.
Deadlines
Not Applicable.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
> 180 Days. Generally, applicants will either receive notification that their request for assistance has been declined or receive a notification that EDA has determined that their project merits further consideration within 120 days. The length of time that elapses between the notification that a project merits further consideration and actual grant award varies considerably based on the time required for the applicant to gather and submit the requested additional materials (e.g. environmental narrative, engineering reports, etc.) and the time required for EDA to assess this information.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Generally, the amount of the EDA grant may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project. Projects may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed 30 percent, based on the relative needs of the region in which the project will be located, as determined by EDA. In the case of EDA investment assistance to a(n) (i) Indian Tribe, (ii) State (or political subdivision of a State) that the Assistant Secretary determines has exhausted its effective taxing and borrowing capacity, or (iii) non-profit organization that the Assistant Secretary determines has exhausted its effective borrowing capacity, the Assistant Secretary has the discretion to establish a maximum EDA investment rate of up to 100 percent of the total project cost.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Public Works investments, which are disbursed for eligible costs incurred, are generally not disbursed until after all contracts for construction have been awarded. Project periods are specified in the grant award documents, but generally these do not exceed five years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Quarterly progress reports are required. These progress reports specify any discrepancies between expected and actual performance, particularly in terms of schedule and cost, and explain the reasons behind any such discrepancies. EDA requires the submission of the SF-425 Federal Financial Report. EDA reviews progress and financial reports for compliance with all award terms and conditions, as well as EDA regulations. EDA reserves the right to conduct site visits on an as-needed basis.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Single or program-specific audits shall be performed in accordance with the requirements contained in OMB Circular A-133, “Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations,” and the related Compliance Supplement. OMB Circular A-133 requires any non-federal entity (i.e., non-profit organizations, including non-profit institutions of higher education and hospitals, States, local governments and Indian tribes) that expends federal awards of $500,000 or more in the recipient’s fiscal year to conduct a single or program-specific audit in accordance with the requirements set out in the Circular.
The applicant is reminded that EDA or the Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General also may conduct an audit of an award at any time.
Records
All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of recipients or sub-recipients are required to be maintained by the terms of the grant agreement.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Financial Information
Account Identification
13-2050-0-1-452.
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 08 $169,919,000; FY 09 est $129,280,000; FY 10 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The average size of a Public Works investment in FY 2008 was $1.32 million. However, this average is informational only and is not intended to restrict the size of future awards.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Title 13 CFR Chapter III, Parts 300-302, 305, 310, and 314.
Related Programs
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices.
Headquarters Office
Maureen V. Klovers, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 7019, Washington, District of Columbia 20230 Email: mklovers@eda.doc.gov Phone: (202) 482-2785
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2009: See EDA's website at http://www.eda.gov/NewsEvents/NewInvestments.xml for a list of new EDA grants and a brief description of each grant. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
EDA will review all applications for investment assistance for the feasibility of the budget presented and conformance with EDA statutory and regulatory requirements. EDA will assess the economic development needs of the affected region in which the proposed project will be located, or the region which the project will serve, as well as the capability of the proponent to implement the proposed project. Furthermore, EDA will select applications competitively based on strategic areas of interest and priority considerations identified in the applicable announcement of federal funding opportunity (FFO). EDA also may consider the degree to which an investment in the proposed project will satisfy one or more of the following criteria: (a) is market-based and results driven; (b) has strong organizational leadership; (c) advances productivity, innovation and entrepreneurship; (d) looks beyond the immediate economic horizon, anticipates economic changes and diversifies the local and regional economy; and (e) demonstrates a high degree of local commitment. Public Works investment applications must meet EDA's investment policy guidelines as set out in 13 CFR 301.8 and other requirements as provided in the applicable FFO.
