Frequently Asked Questions

A. OVERVIEW – FY25 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

A1. What distinguishes the EDA FY25 Disaster Supplemental NOFO from previous EDA disaster supplemental NOFOs? What is a “funding pathway” as used in the NOFO? [06/13/2025]

This FY25 Disaster Supplemental NOFO seeks projects that are responsive to post-disaster needs and priorities by engaging all aspects of the community, with a specific emphasis on private sector buy-in and investment as critical indicators of project viability. The NOFO refers to the various types of projects designed to meet the needs and goals of disaster-impacted communities as “funding pathways.”

In support of this transformative vision, EDA will award grants under this NOFO through these pathways. The pathways are groupings of different types of projects that entities can apply that are organized by the intent of the grant and different application requirements and review processes. They are organized this way to facilitate applicants being able to quickly and easily identify the rules and processes that apply to the type of grant they want to apply for. The three pathways are:

• Readiness Path – Non-construction projects that will increase a community’s readiness to implement larger scale recovery projects in the future by helping prepare a community to implement disaster recovery projects through feasibility studies, strategy development, capacity building, pre-development projects, and other such activities
• Implementation Path – Construction or non-construction projects designed to address the economic challenges faced by a community recovering from a natural disaster and improve economic trajectories beyond pre-disaster economic conditions.
• Industry Transformation Path – Multiple large-scale, multi-component construction and non-construction projects led by a coalition of regional stakeholders that are designed to fundamentally transform the economic trajectory of a region through the development or acceleration of an industry.

A2. What amount of funding is available under the EDA FY25 Disaster Supplemental NOFO? [06/13/2025]

Under this NOFO, EDA is announcing the availability of approximately $1.447 billion to support economic recovery projects located in or otherwise serving areas impacted by major disasters in either calendar year 2023 and/or calendar year 2024.

A3. What specific recovery goals does EDA seek to accomplish through grants awarded? [06/13/2025]

EDA’s primary goal under this NOFO is to support local and regional economic recovery by funding projects that help:

• Restore economic activity, AND
• Result in economic growth and outcomes that exceed pre-disaster baseline conditions (e.g., business creation and growth, job creation, workforce development).

Additional information related to EDA’s objectives and impact requirements for Readiness, Implementation, and Industry Transformation Path projects is provided below and in Sections G through J of this FAQ resource.

A4. What types of projects are eligible under each funding pathway? [06/13/2025]

While EDA will fund a variety of different projects and activities, both within and across the funding pathways, these grants will share an important common characteristic: each grant awarded under any of these paths is intended to support critical improvements in local and regional capacity and overall economic growth and resilience that improve pre-disaster economic conditions.

Detailed information about the Readiness, Implementation, and Industry Transformation Paths is provided in the NOFO, as well as within Sections G through J, below.

Readiness Path 

Readiness projects are non-construction projects designed to build capacity in regions impacted by disasters.

Readiness Path projects can help communities and regions to apply for and/or implement future disaster recovery funding in a variety of ways, including by:

• Creating or updating economic recovery strategies,
• Hiring disaster recovery subject matter experts and practitioners, and/or
• Paying for predevelopment costs that are critical to subsequent project implementation.

Implementation Path 

EDA will fund Implementation Path projects that will replace, repair, or upgrade critical public infrastructure that was damaged or destroyed by major natural disasters, mitigate or potentially prevent economic disruptions that could result from future disaster events, and that are critical to the restoration of sustained economic activity. EDA will also fund projects that put communities on a path to exceed their previous pre-disaster economic conditions, including through diversification of the local economy and the development or acceleration of industries. Examples of implementation projects EDA can support under this NOFO include (but are not limited to):

• Critical infrastructure projects that include (but are not limited to) replacing, repairing, or upgrading:
  • Water systems and facilities (e.g., drinking water, sewer and wastewater, stormwater)
  • Bridges
  • Revitalization and expansion of aviation, port, and harbor facilities
  • Railway spurs and extensions
  • Business incubators and industrial parks
  • Communications systems, including broadband
• Construction or expansion of workforce training facilities
• Costs associated with establishing or expanding workforce training programs including Registered Apprenticeship Programs, including the procurement of necessary equipment
• Capitalization or recapitalization of revolving loan funds (RLFs)
• Development or expansion of commercialization and proof of concept centers
• Activities intended to create or expand foreign direct investment, trade, or export initiatives
• Activities intended to spur or accelerate large-scale industry investment

Industry Transformation Path 

EDA will award Industry Transformation Path grants to regional coalitions that submit applications comprised of three to five large-scale component projects (both construction and/or non-construction) intended to transform the scope and scale of regional economic growth by funding the creation of new and/or the expansion of existing industries and sectors.

EDA expects these awards to catalyze transformational economic growth by:

• Accelerating post-disaster economic recovery through job creation, business development, and innovation,
• Multiplying the impact of federal awards by leveraging additional private investment,
• Enhancing private sector engagement in regional economic growth and diversification
• Increasing regional participation and competition in domestic and global markets,
• Alleviating and disrupting local persistent poverty through training and employment opportunities
• Supporting activities intended to spur or accelerate large-scale industry investment

Detailed information about EDA grantmaking under the Readiness, Implementation, and Industry Transformation Paths is provided in the NOFO, as well as under Sections G through J of these FAQs, below.

A5. Is there a submission deadline for EDA FY25 Disaster Supplemental NOFO grant applications? [06/13/2025]

• Readiness Grants: No. EDA will accept applications on an ongoing (rolling) basis until all available funds have been expended (or until such time as the NOFO is cancelled, as applicable). EDA intends to expeditiously review applications upon receipt.
• Implementation Grants: No. EDA will accept applications on an ongoing (rolling) basis until all available funds have been expended (or until such time as the NOFO is cancelled, as applicable). EDA intends to expeditiously review applications upon receipt.
• Industry Transformation Grants: Yes. The submission deadline for Industry Transformation applications is 5:00 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
   

B. Program Eligibility and Other Requirements

B1. What organizations are eligible to apply for and receive grant assistance? [06/13/2025]

Eligible applicants for/recipients of EDA EAA economic recovery grants include:

• District organizations
• Indian tribes or a consortium of Indian tribes
• States, counties, cities, 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 political subdivisions
• Institutions of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education
• Public or private nonprofit organizations or associations acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state
• Economic development organizations
• Public-private partnerships for public infrastructure

B2. What places are eligible to receive assistance? [06/13/2025]

To be considered for funding, proposed projects must be located in, primarily serve, or demonstrably benefit one or more communities in areas that are covered under a major disaster declaration issued as a result of hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in either calendar year 2023 and calendar year 2024.

EDA will determine area eligibility pursuant to the applicable Federal disaster declaration under the Stafford Act, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designation of areas as eligible for public assistance or individual assistance identified under each of the relevant Stafford Act disaster declarations maintained on FEMA’s website: www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations. EDA encourages all applicants to consult the FEMA website for identified declarations prior to submitting an application.

Please see Section C.2 of the Disaster Supplemental NOFO for additional information.

B3. What is a Stafford Act disaster declaration? How is this relevant to NOFO eligibility requirements? [06/13/2025]

The Robert T. Stafford Act (as amended) “constitutes the statutory authority for most Federal disaster response activities especially as they pertain to FEMA and FEMA programs.” The Act establishes a process through which states, territories, and Tribal areas can request and obtain a Presidential declaration of a major disaster or emergency. The Act also defines the type and scope of assistance available from the Federal Government and sets the conditions for obtaining that assistance.

For purposes of NOFO eligibility, the term “major disaster” is synonymous with “Stafford Act disaster.” FEMA defines the term major disaster as “any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought) or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this act to supplement the efforts and available resources of local, State governments and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship or suffering caused thereby.”

B4. How can I confirm whether my project is located in (or will otherwise benefit) an eligible designated area (or areas)? [06/13/2025]

Prospective NOFO applicants are encouraged to use tools available on the FEMA website to confirm whether their proposed projects are located in or benefit a jurisdiction included under a major Federal disaster declaration issued for a disaster that occurred in calendar year 2023 or calendar year 2024. To look up a particular disaster declaration, please visit the FEMA website at www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations.

B5. What are the cost share/match requirements? [06/13/2025]

EDA generally expects to fund up to 80% of the eligible costs of grant assistance provided under this NOFO.

In accordance with EDA’s statutory authority under Section 703 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3233), EDA may increase the investment rate up to a maximum of 100%.

Applicants requesting a federal award rate greater than 80% of eligible project costs will need to demonstrate to EDA how and why this is justified by providing current, relevant statistics and other appropriate information describing the nature and level of regional economic distress, including information regarding other disaster-related needs facing the region and the level of resources available (or lack thereof) to address those needs. Examples of the type of information applicants could provide to support the justification for their request can include (and are not limited to) whether the applicant:

• Has exhausted its effective taxing or borrowing capacity,
• Can otherwise document that no local matching funds are reasonably obtainable, or
• Meets other thresholds for elevated need based on overall regional economic conditions.

EDA Grant Officers will evaluate these requests on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the circumstances of the proposed project justify approving a federal share in excess of 80%.

EDA may also establish a maximum investment rate of up to 100% for projects of Indian tribes.

NOTE: Coalitions applying for an Industry Transformation Grant have the option to meet the matching share requirement by apportioning the matching share across the component projects included in their application. If individual component projects are not funded by EDA, the coalition may need to reapportion or find new sources of match.

B6. Must applications demonstrate how proposed projects align with the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)? [06/13/2025]

Yes. The CEDS process serves as a cornerstone of EDA’s grant programs and communities and regions use the process to develop strategies to guide economic development efforts. Information about CEDS is available on EDA’s website at www.eda.gov/resources/comprehensive-economic-development-strategy.

Except for a recovery strategy funded under the Readiness Path (as described in Section A.2.a of the Disaster Supplemental NOFO), each project funded under the NOFO must be consistent with:

• The region’s current CEDS, OR
• If a regional CEDS does not exist, an equivalent regional economic development strategy that EDA determines to meet the agency’s CEDS or strategy requirements.

NOTE: In cases where a project is intended to benefit an area that encompasses multiple CEDS (or CEDS equivalents), the applicant will need to demonstrate how the project is consistent with a broader, multi-regional strategy, which may include demonstrating consistency with multiple CEDS.

To document compliance with the CEDS alignment requirement, applicants must:

• Through Section D.3 of the Form ED-900:
  • Identify the regional CEDS (or CEDS-equivalent plan) in question, and
  • Provide EDA with a copy of the planning document, either by attaching the relevant section(s) of the CEDS to the application, or by inserting a hyperlink to an electronic version of the plan in the body of the application.
• Through Section D.4 of the Form ED-900, clearly detail how the proposed project will support the economic development needs and objectives outlined in the CEDS (or CEDS-‑equivalent plan).

As noted above, demonstrating CEDS alignment does not apply to recovery strategy grant applications under the Readiness Path as described in Section A.2.a of the NOFO.

B7. What is a CEDS-equivalent plan? [06/13/2025]

Applicants located in or otherwise serving communities and regions that are not covered under a CEDS can submit various regional economic development plans (or a combination of plans) as a CEDS equivalent along with their application. These can include (but are not limited to):

• “Master Plans”
• Disaster plans (e.g., resilience, recovery, hazard mitigation plans)
• Long-Term Recovery Support Strategies prepared through one or more Federal Recovery Support Functions

Applicants seeking technical guidance regarding CEDS-equivalent planning documents are strongly encouraged to consult with their state or territory’s Economic Development Representative (EDR). EDR contact information is available on EDA’s website (searchable by state and territory): www.eda.gov/about/contact.

B8. What are EDA’s Investment Priorities? [06/13/2025]

EDA has five investment priorities:

1. Critical infrastructure
2. Workforce
3. Innovation and entrepreneurship
4. Economic recovery resilience
5. Manufacturing

To be considered for funding under the Disaster Supplemental NOFO, a proposed project must be consistent with EDA Investment Priority #4: Economic Recovery Resilience. Economic Recovery Resilience is defined as “[e]conomic development planning or implementation projects that enhance the ability of an area to withstand and recover from adverse short-term or long-term changes in economic conditions, including effects from industry contractions or economic impacts from natural disasters.”

More information is available on the EDA website at www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities.

B9. What projects and activities are prohibited under this NOFO? [06/13/2025]

Some projects are generally ineligible under the Disaster Supplemental NOFO, including projects that:

• Are primarily residential in nature (e.g., housing),
• Create community amenities (e.g., swimming pools, zoos, recreational centers),
• Support casinos or gaming,
• Support general governmental functions (see 2 CFR 200.444), and
• Supplement operating budgets or replace lost revenue (including lost tax revenue).

Under no circumstances will EDA or DOC be held responsible for application preparation expenditures, which are distinguished from pre-award project costs.

It is DOC policy that funds may not be used to pay for profits or management fees in excess of costs, unless statutorily authorized. Funds may not be used, directly or indirectly, to replace existing funds. Additionally, the use of project funds to make equity or hybrid investments in businesses is not an allowable cost.

Applicants that are unsure whether their proposed recovery project is eligible under this NOFO should consult with their state or territory’s EDR. EDR contact information is available on EDA’s website (searchable by state and territory): www.eda.gov/about/contact.

NOTE: Matching funds cannot be used for any activity that would be otherwise ineligible under this program.

B10. Is our project eligible for EDA assistance if it will be partially financed with funding from one or more other Federal agencies or programs? [06/13/2025]

This will depend on the source of other Federal funding. In general, funds under another Federal award can be used as match only if there is specific statutory authority that the funds can be applied to match or cost sharing requirements of other Federal programs.

NOFO applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with their state or territory’s EDR to help assess questions about sources of match. EDR contact information is available on EDA’s website (searchable by state and territory): www.eda.gov/about/contact.

B11. My organization received a grant under a previous EDA NOFO. Will this affect our eligibility for a grant under this NOFO? [06/13/2025]

No. Previous recipients of any EDA award are eligible to apply for, and potentially receive, an economic recovery grant under this NOFO.
 

C. Application System Requirements

C1. Do I first need an EDGE account to download and submit an application? [06/13/2025]

Yes. Applicants must register for an EDGE account at sfgrants.eda.gov to obtain, complete, and submit an application electronically through EDGE. While the Authorized Representative is the only official with the authority to submit applications on behalf of the organization, multiple points of contact may be registered or added by the lead applicant to the application workspace to view or work on completing the application. More information on how to enroll in EDGE and how to add multiple points of contact is available on the EDGE website: https://sfgrants.eda.gov/s/resources/documents

C2. Besides EDGE, do I need to register with any other system(s) to apply for a grant under the Disaster Supplemental NOFO? [06/13/2025]

Yes. In addition to EDGE, applicant organizations are required to:

• Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application (www.sam.gov/entity-registration),
• Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in the application, and
• Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award, or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. SAM requires annual registration renewals that must be maintained throughout the application and award process.

EDA may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the EDA is ready to make an award, EDA may determine that the applicant is not qualified. Recipients will be subject to reporting requirements, as identified in OMB guidance published at 2 CFR parts 25 and 170.

Note that to receive a subaward, a subrecipient must have a UEI.

C3. How long does it take to complete the SAM registration process? [06/13/2025]

EDA strongly encourages organizations that haven’t already registered with SAM to begin the registration process as early as possible to avoid potential delays in the submission of a complete application. Applicant organizations that have not previously completed this process may require three to four weeks to accomplish the required tasks.
 

D. Application Preparation

D1. Where can I find an application? [06/13/2025]

Registered applicants can obtain, prepare, and submit complete applications electronically through the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE) website: https://sfgrants.eda.gov.

D2. Are applicants required to work with EDA staff to prepare a grant application? [06/13/2025]

No. Applicants are not required to work with an EDA staff person to prepare their applications; however, EDA program staff can help clarify key application and project requirements.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their state or territory’s Economic Development Representative (EDR) for assistance, including technical guidance with EDA’s application preparation and submission requirements. EDR contact information is available on EDA’s website (searchable by state and territory): www.eda.gov/about/contact.

D3. What are the required components of an EDA FY25 Disaster Supplemental NOFO application? [06/13/2025]

Specific, detailed information describing the required components of each type of project application is available under Section D of the NOFO (Application and Submission Information):

• Table A: Required Application Documentation for All Projects, pp. 22-24
• Table B: Project Specific Package Requirements
  • Application Package for Non-Construction Projects Under Any Path, pp. 25-26
  • Application Package for Design and Engineering Projects Under Any Path, pp. 26-28
  • Application Package for Construction Projects Under Any Path, pp. 28-30
  • Application Package for RLF Projects Under Any Path, pp. 30-32
• Table C: Application Checklist by Project Type, pp. 35-37

Additional requirements pertaining to applications for various incubator and/or accelerator projects (e.g., business incubator, technology accelerator) are explained under NOFO Appendix III (Additional Information on Application, Policy, and Legal Requirements), pp. 64.

Applicants seeking technical guidance with NOFO application requirements are invited to contact their state or territory’s EDR for assistance. EDR contact information is available on EDA’s website (searchable by state and territory): www.eda.gov/about/contact.
 

E. Application Submission

E1. Does EDA require applicants to submit their applications electronically? [06/13/2025]

In general, yes. To obtain, complete, and submit an application electronically through EDGE, applicants must register for an EDGE account at https://sfgrants.eda.gov. As part of the registration process, you will register one Authorized Representative for your organization; however, multiple points of contact may be registered or added by the lead applicant organization to the application workspace to view or work on completing the application. The Authorized Representative will be the only official with the authority to submit applications.

EDA intends to review each application promptly upon receipt. EDA may request additional documentation or information from the applicant to make an eligibility or completeness determination. EDA may reject any documentation that the agency determines is inaccurate or incomplete.

It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that an application was submitted successfully through EDGE and to ensure that the submission was complete as to form and content. 

E2. Am I required to use a specific document format to submit my application through EDGE? [06/13/2025]

Yes. The required electronic file format for NOFO application package submissions is text-‑searchable Portable Document Format (PDF) and, where appropriate, Microsoft Excel.

E3. Is EDGE the only option I have to submit my application to EDA?[06/13/2025]

No. In general, EDA will not accept paper, facsimile, or email application submissions. However, EDA will make exceptions to this requirement to accommodate applicants with accessibility needs. A paper version of the application may be obtained from your state or territory’s Economic Development Representative (EDR). EDR contact information is available on EDA’s website (searchable by state and territory): www.eda.gov/about/contact.

E4. What if I’m having difficulty using EDGE? Who can provide me with technical assistance to resolve any issues? [06/13/2025]

If you experience a systems issue with EDGE (i.e., a technical problem or glitch with the webpage) that is making it difficult or otherwise preventing you from obtaining, completing, and/or submitting an application, please:

• Print any error message received, and
• Email the help desk at [email protected].

The Help Desk will issue you a case number that you can use to track the status of your issue.

Before contacting EDA for technical assistance, applicants should note that problems with the applicant’s computer system or equipment are not considered systems issues. Similarly, an applicant’s failure to take the following actions are not considered systems issues:

• Complete the required registration
• Ensure that the registered Authorized Representative submits the application
• Receive a notice receipt of an email message from EDGE

Applicants can find useful EDGE training materials on the EDGE website: https://sfgrants.eda.gov/s/resources/training-materials.

E5. How will applicants be notified that their application submissions have been received by EDA? [06/13/2025]

The Authorized Representative submitting the application package will receive a time‑stamped email from EDGE confirming the submission and receipt of the application and other required documents. Applicants are encouraged to save and print the confirmation screen generated by EDGE after the application has been submitted and the confirmation email is transmitted by the system.
 

F. Application Review, Selection, and Notification

F1. What procedures does EDA follow to review and select applications for grant awards? [06/13/2025]

EDA’s application review and selection process consists of:

• Technical review, and
• Merit review by an Investment Review Committee (IRC).

EDA will conduct a technical review of all construction and non-construction grant applications to ensure completeness, responsiveness, and eligibility. An application may not be evaluated by the IRC if:

• The application package does not contain mandatory items (including documentation of area eligibility),
• The applicant is not an eligible entity, and/or
• The project fails to address program objectives and priorities.

EDA, at its sole discretion, may continue to review applications for which EDA has identified minor defects that EDA has determined may be easily rectified or cured.

Applications recommended by the IRC and deemed fully compliant with applicable rules and regulations will be forwarded to the Selecting Official. The Selecting Official will make a final funding decision in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, or his/her delegee. The Selecting Official may select a project for funding that differs from the IRC’s recommendations based on any the selection factors specified in Section E.3 of the NOFO.

F2. What criteria will Investment Review Committees use to determine which applications to select for funding? [06/13/2025]

Detailed explanations of the application evaluation criteria and processes are provided under Section F (Application Review and Selection Processes) of the NOFO:

• Readiness Path applications, pp. 38-39
• Implementation Path applications, pp. 39-41
• Industry Transformation Path applications, pp. 41-42

G. Readiness Path

G1. What is the Readiness Path? [06/13/2025]

Readiness Path projects are designed to increase a community’s readiness to successfully develop long-term recovery strategies and successfully leverage the resources they need to implement and manage long-term economic recovery projects. Put another way, successful Readiness projects are those that increase the quality or likelihood of success of future economic development and disaster recovery strategies and related projects.

G2. How will EDA grants support grantee readiness? What types of projects and activities does EDA expect to support with this path? [06/13/2025]

Readiness Path grants are designed to meet the community where it is and move the community towards its economic development goals. As noted in the bullets below, Readiness grants can support a variety of capacity building, technical assistance, and strategic planning activities, as well as certain predevelopment costs.

• Recovery Strategies: Applicants may seek funding in the form of a “recovery strategy grant” to develop, update, or refine a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that alleviates long-term economic deterioration or a sudden and severe economic dislocation, as described in EDA’s regulations at 13 CFR § 307.3.3.
  
  Recovery strategies can help ensure that communities and regions have the resources they need to develop long-term recovery strategies that facilitate:
  • Community input, buy-in
  • Project development
  • Additional private investment needed to address the scope and scale of economic disruption caused by one or more major disasters.

• Capacity Building: EDA will consider applications to support hiring new, additional staff (5-year term-limited positions) to provide applicant organizations with the capacity they need to successfully develop and implement long-term economic recovery and resilience strategies and projects. New hires can include full-time and part-time positions such as:

  • Recovery Coordinators
  • Economic Recovery practitioners/subject matter experts

  Capacity building projects can help ensure that applicants are staffed with qualified personnel whose roles and responsibilities include:

  • Leading local and regional economic recovery planning and project development,
  • Establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with and among local and regional stakeholders, and
  • Leveraging and managing project implementation resources.
• Project Predevelopment Costs: EDA will consider applications to support costs related to the development of future economic recovery projects. These can include, but are not limited to, costs pertaining to environmental assessments, architectural and engineering plans, applying for permits, legal fees, etc.
  
  Funding for project predevelopment costs can help ensure that communities and regions have the capital resources they need to successfully proceed from project design to project implementation.

Note that Readiness Path applications can include activities in one or more of the above categories.

G3. Should applicants apply for strategic planning, organizational capacity, and/or predevelopment grants before applying for other economic recovery assistance? [06/13/2025]

Possibly. While applicants are not required to seek Readiness Path funding before applying under other Paths, EDA strongly encourages prospective applicants for these types of economic recovery grants to prioritize submitting these applications as early as possible, ideally prior to applying for other economic recovery assistance (whether from EDA or otherwise). Leveraging these awards during the initial phase of local and regional economic recovery work can position applicants and the communities they serve to successfully leverage and manage Federal and other economic recovery resources.

G4. What is the range of minimum and maximum amounts EDA expects to award under the Readiness Path? [06/13/2025]

In general, EDA expects to award between $250,000 – $500,000 per readiness grant to cover costs associated with projects and activities that could include:

• Recovery strategic planning
• Staff capacity
• Economic recovery project predevelopment costs

G5. Can applicants apply for an amount of grant assistance that is not within the ranges described under the previous response? [06/13/2025]

Yes. These ranges reflect EDA’s general expectations based on its current assessment of disaster impacts and the likely need for assistance, and do not represent hard-and-fast limits (either minimum or maximum) to the amount of grant assistance that an applicant may apply for or that EDA may award.
 

H. Implementation Path

H1. What types of projects and activities does EDA expect to support under the Implementation Path? [06/13/2025]

EDA will award Implementation Path grants to projects designed to mitigate or prevent the impacts of future disaster events, and fund the replacement, repair, or upgrades to critical public infrastructure that was damaged or destroyed by major natural disasters and that are critical to the restoration of sustained economic activity. EDA will also fund projects that lead to the further diversification of the local economy through the development or acceleration of industries. Examples of implementation projects EDA can support under this NOFO include (but are not limited to):

• Critical public infrastructure projects (see FAQ below)
• Construction or expansion of workforce training facilities
• Costs associated with establishing or expanding workforce training programs including Registered Apprenticeship Programs, including the procurement of necessary equipment
• Capitalization or recapitalization of revolving loan funds (RLFs)
• Development or expansion of commercialization and proof of concept centers
• Activities intended to create or expand foreign direct investment, trade, or export initiatives
• Activities intended to spur or accelerate large-scale industry investment

H2. What types of infrastructure projects can receive funding under this NOFO? [06/13/2025]

EDA expects to award grants under this NOFO to replace, repair, and make resilience upgrades to critical public infrastructure facilities and systems that were destroyed or damaged by a major disaster and/or are critical to the restoration of sustained economic activity. Examples include (and are not limited to):

• Drinking water facilities
• Sewer/wastewater treatment facilities
• Stormwater systems
• Airports
• Railway spurs and extensions
• Business incubators and industrial parks
• Job training facilities
• Communications systems, including broadband

EDA will prioritize selecting applications demonstrating that the applicant’s infrastructure project will be designed and constructed (or otherwise repaired or modified) to withstand and recover from various disruptive events, such as major disasters, and support long-term economic growth and stability by mitigating (and even preventing) economic disruptions caused by these incidents.

H3. What is the range of minimum and maximum amounts EDA expects to award under the Implementation Path? [06/13/2025]

In general, EDA expects implementation grant award amounts to range between:

• $2M to $20M for Construction Projects
• $100K to $5M for Non-Construction Projects

NOTE: To be considered for funding under the Implementation Path, construction projects (including costs associated with project design and engineering) must be located within eligible designated areas. For non-‑construction projects, the scope of work must primarily benefit eligible designated areas, and stakeholders representing those areas must be directly engaged in the project.

H4. Can applicants apply for an amount of grant assistance that is not within the ranges described under the previous response? [06/13/2025]

Yes. These ranges reflect EDA’s general expectations based on its current assessment of disaster impacts and the likely need for assistance, and do not represent hard-and-fast limits (either minimum or maximum) to the amount of grant assistance that an applicant may apply for or that EDA may award. EDA may deviate from these estimates, including funding projects greater than $20 million, in cases of exceptional need and/or exceptional impact.

H5. What types of applications will be competitive under the Implementation Path? What criteria will EDA use to evaluate Implementation Path applications? [06/13/2025]

Strong Implementation Path projects will result in tailored disaster recovery solutions that not only address the recovery needs of the impacted communities but generate additional private and public investment to propel the regional economy forward and generate new businesses and jobs. That said, recognizing the level of distress that communities may face in the wake of disasters, Implementation Path projects are not required to generate new jobs or private investment. Implementation Path projects can also be competitive by showing that their project will positively impact other measures for economic growth (including, for example, growing the tax base or increasing the labor force participation rate from pre-disaster rates).

Competitive Implementation Path applications will include those that effectively demonstrate how proposed disaster recovery solutions will:

• Address specific recovery needs and priorities of the impacted community or region,
• Contribute to the restoration of local or regional economic activity,
• Successfully attract the investment of additional private capital, and
• Facilitate economic growth and employment opportunity outcomes in excess of rates and trends that pre-date the disaster incident.

Implementation Path applicants will be required to include an Impact and Engagement Narrative with their submissions. Applicants will use the Narrative to clearly articulate how the proposed implementation project addresses these criteria. This includes clearly defining pre-‑disaster and post-disaster economic conditions as benchmarks against which to measure the potential impact of proposed projects. These can include (but are not limited to) measures such as:

• Jobs created, retained, or lost
• Businesses created, retained, or lost
• Average wages by sector or position
• Labor Force Participation Rate
• County GDP
• Primary sectors, industries, businesses
• Unemployment rate
• Change in tax base

Applicants with additional questions concerning this NOFO, including requests for technical assistance with application requirements, are invited to contact their state or territory’s Economic Development Representative (EDR) for assistance. EDR contact information is available on EDA’s website (searchable by state and territory): www.eda.gov/about/contact.
 

I. Industry Transformation Path

I1. What are the purpose and objectives of EDA’s Industry Transformation awards? [06/13/2025]

Industry Transformation Path projects catalyze and accelerate the growth and expansion of new and existing commercial and industrial clusters in eligible designated areas. EDA seeks to award grants to projects led by an overarching coalition of regional partners demonstrating the capacity and strategic preparation necessary to scale nascent or emerging industries, in part by catalyzing awarded funding and substantial private and public sector investments to achieve regional economic growth and fortify the region’s economy against future disasters. EDA further expects these large-scale coordinated grant awards will:

• Accelerate post-disaster economic recovery through job creation, business development, and innovation
• Multiply federal dollar impact through leveraged private investment
• Enhance private sector engagement in regional economic growth and diversification
• Increase regional participation and competition in domestic and global markets
• Alleviate and disrupt local persistent poverty through training and employment opportunities, including through the Registered Apprenticeship Programs (www.apprenticeship.gov)
• Implement activities intended to spur or accelerate large-scale industry investment

I2. What distinguishes an Industry Transformation application package from other applications? [06/13/2025]

In general, Industry Transformation application packages will consist of 3-to-5 large-scale coordinated component projects (construction and/or non-construction). Each application package should be collaboratively developed and submitted by a coalition of local and regional cross-sector partners and reflect the coalition’s shared, community-based vision to transform the regional economy by creating a new industrial or commercial sector or scaling the growth of one that already exists.

EDA expects competitive Industry Transformation project proposals to demonstrate how the projects will collectively lead to greater impacts in business attraction, jobs created, wage growth or private investment generated than is anticipated under the Implementation Path.

I3. What types of projects and activities does EDA expect to support under the Industry Transformation Path? [06/13/2025]

EDA expects Industry Transformation applicants to request grant assistance for the same types of projects and activities referred to under the Implementation Path section of the NOFO. These include, but are not limited to:

• Public infrastructure (including broadband infrastructure) construction, repair, and resilience upgrades
• Construction or expansion of workforce training facilities at a local community college or trade/technical school
• Costs associated with establishment or expansion of workforce training programs including Registered Apprenticeship Programs, including the procurement of necessary equipment
• Capitalization or recapitalization of revolving loan funds
• Development or expansion of commercialization and proof of concept centers
• Activities intended to create or expand foreign direct investment, trade, or export initiatives
• Activities intended to spur or accelerate large-scale industry investment

I4. What are component projects? [06/13/2025]

Component projects are the individual projects within an Industry Transformation Path proposal that link together to support the coalition’s goal to transform the regional economy by developing or accelerating a key industry. EDA’s vision is for Industry Transformation projects to collectively contribute to greater impacts and better overall economic outcomes than would be possible by completing an individual project, or even multiple but separate, unrelated projects.

Below are a few illustrative examples of how a series of component projects could work together under an Industry Transformation application. These examples are intended only as a reference for applicants as they develop ideas for Industry Transformation applications that are relevant to their regions’ assets and economic growth priorities and objectives.

• Scale a semiconductor manufacturing corridor by funding:
  • Expansion of a non-profit’s existing advanced packaging facility, to scale production,
  • Installation of new advanced packaging machinery and equipment in an existing local government-owned facility to boost efficiency,
  • Development of real-time digital twin of advanced packaging facility and semiconductor production line,
  • Scaling of workforce development training program across region to upskill talent for semiconductor manufacturing through industry intermediaries expanding access to Registered Apprenticeships, and
  • Creation of a network of coalition participants and industry leaders to address industry needs collectively.
• Expand and accelerate maritime industry by funding:
  • Expansion of key transportation corridors and roadways to increase trade and bolster regional supply chains,
  • Upgrade of port infrastructure to increase capacity,
  • Creation of marine technology and maritime workforce development training programs to meet industry needs,
  • Purchase and implementation of new barge service to increase efficiency and reduce costs for resource transportation regionally, and
  • Collaboration with university system to expand degree programs on marine engineering, marine transportation, and maritime management to bolster regional talent pipeline.
• Create a regional food system within a multi-county region by funding:
  • New construction of a publicly owned regional advanced food processing facility,
  • Acquisition of advanced food processing equipment and technology,
  • Expansion of public transportation infrastructure (including rail, ports, and regional airport) to facilitate the transport of regionally-sourced raw materials to the processing plant and finished products from the processing plant to market,
  • Acquisition and rehabilitation of regional food system workforce training center, and
  • Acquisition of relevant technology and other equipment for workforce training courses.

I5. How are applicants required to demonstrate that their proposed portfolio of component projects effectively address leveraged private investment, transformational economic growth and job creation? [06/13/2025]

Overarching Narrative

Each Industry Transformation applicant coalition should submit an Overarching Narrative that summarizes the long-term economic transformation strategy and execution plan and describes how the proposed component projects effectively support the implementation of the coalition’s collective vision. The plan, to be captured in the Overarching Narrative, should demonstrate how EDA funding for component projects, alongside other capital commitments and support, will fundamentally transform and improve the economic trajectory of a region (or regions) adversely impacted by a disaster by accelerating the creation of a new, or the growth of an existing sector or industry.

For a complete explanation of the Industry Transformation Overarching Narrative requirements, see NOFO Appendix I (Required Application Narratives,) pp. 44-51.

Investment and Policy Commitments

Applicants for the Industry Transformation Path are required to demonstrate investment and/or policy commitments. In addition to securing private investment commitments, EDA recognizes applicants may need to undertake new policies and programming to accelerate their target industry’s growth and economic recovery. EDA will fund implementation strategies under this NOFO that are paired with commitments to institute creative and impactful economic policy changes that may not require EDA funding to implement. The NOFO offers maximum flexibility to fund or otherwise support new public and regional policies, and applicant coalitions are encouraged to describe the types of policy changes they are considering.

NOTE: These required commitments are separate and apart from the required matching funds that the coalition is required to secure.

For a complete explanation of the Industry Transformation commitment requirements, see NOFO Appendix II (Investment/Policy Commitments Requirements), pp. 51-54.

I6. What is the range of minimum and maximum grant amounts EDA expects to award to Industry Transformation application portfolios? [06/13/2025]

Given the ambitious nature of these projects, EDA expects to fund Industry Transformation application portfolios in the range of $20 million to $50 million.

I7. Can applicants apply for an amount of grant assistance that is not within the ranges described under the previous response? [06/13/2025]

Yes. These ranges reflect EDA’s general expectations based on its current assessment of disaster impacts and the likely need for assistance, and do not represent hard-and-fast limits (either minimum or maximum) to the amount of grant assistance that an applicant coalition may apply for or that EDA may award. EDA may deviate from these estimates, including funding projects greater than $50 million, in cases of exceptional need and/or exceptional impact.

I8. Can applicants request assistance for a number of component projects that is either less or greater than the range of 3-to-5 component projects? [06/13/2025]

Yes. On a case-by-case basis, EDA can consider Industry Transformation applications for which the number of component projects is either less or greater than the range of 3-to-5 projects, provided that the application demonstrates that the coalition membership is cohesive, the organization is well-organized, and the projects are vital to a compelling strategy that will significantly and positively impact the regional economy.

I9. What is the required composition of Industry Transformation application coalitions? Who leads the coalition? [06/13/2025]

Strong applicant coalitions will consist of key regional cross-sector stakeholders that are united around a community-led vision and strategy to transform the regional economy. EDA expects competitive coalitions to be organized around strong management and governance plans to ensure effective project implementation and management and to provide consistent, ongoing attention to and support for the vision for regional economic transformation beyond the expiration of the grant period of performance. These coalitions must include an eligible entity and private sector partners and may include other entities such as institutions of higher education, including community colleges and technical schools; state, territorial, local, or Tribal governments; economic development organizations; workforce training organizations; or community-based organizations.

Only those entities and organizations that are eligible to apply for and receive grant assistance under this NOFO (as summarized under question B1, above) can serve as a coalition’s lead applicant for an Industry Transformation Grant.

J. Interaction Between Project Paths

J1. Does EDA intend for Readiness Path projects to interact with the Implementation and/or Industry Transformation Path projects? Am I required to apply for the Readiness Path first before applying for assistance under the other Paths? [06/13/2025]

No. Applicants are not required to apply for the Readiness Path before applying for Implementation or Industry Transformation funding. The Readiness Path is designed to meet the community where it is and strengthen the community’s ability to plan for and achieve economic development goals. This includes projects and activities that help prepare the community to apply for and manage economic recovery assistance from various funding sources, both public and private.

Eligible applicants may apply for the Readiness Path alone. Likewise, eligible applicants may also apply concurrently with different and distinct projects for the Readiness Path and/or Implementation Path and/or Industry Transformation Path. For the Industry Transformation Path, each proposed component project will have a separate application package that meets the application requirements described under the NOFO. However, do not submit an application for the same project under different paths.

J2. Is there a disadvantage to participating in the Readiness Path? If I have to get a grant under the Readiness Path before I am ready to apply for the other Paths, how will I know if funding will still be available for those Paths? [06/13/2025]

While EDA may review projects and select them for funding on a rolling basis, EDA is aware that some regions or applicants may need Readiness Path funding to be competitive for the Implementation or Industry Transformation Paths. As such, subject to available funds, EDA will work to reserve some funding for later in the process to ensure that every region or applicant is fairly evaluated.

J3. How do I decide whether to apply for the Implementation Path or Industry Transformation Path? Will I lose the opportunity to apply for the Implementation Path if my Industry Transformation application is not selected for award? [06/13/2025]

In the event that EDA does not fund all or part of an Industry Transformation application, EDA, at its sole discretion, may fund individual component projects of that application under the Implementation Path. Please do not apply concurrently for duplicate projects under any Path under this NOFO.