Economic Development Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that leads the Federal economic development agenda by making strategic grants-based investments. EDA's regulations provide the framework through which the agency administers its economic development assistance programs. EDA is beginning the process of updating the agency's regulations and is committed to ensuring that public feedback helps shape the revised regulations. As part of the Administration's commitment to open government and in response to Executive Order 13563 ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review'', EDA requests input from the public on any obstacles created by EDA's current regulations and ways to improve them to help the agency better advance innovative economic development in the 21st century. EDA expects that this process will result in an updated rulemaking that reflects current economic development practice to advance an innovative economy.

This annual report is submitted in accordance with Section 1866 of the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act (TGAAA) of 2009, which was included as subtitle I (letter ``I'') of title I of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5, 123 Stat. 115, at 367). Section 1866 of the TGAAA directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress an annual report on the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) Program by the 15th of December each year. The TAAF Program is one of four Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Programs authorized by the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2341 et seq.) (Trade Act). Administered by the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), the goal of the TAAF Program is to help economically distressed U.S. businesses develop strategies to compete in the global economy. In general, the program provides cost-sharing technical assistance to eligible businesses to create and implement targeted business recovery plans, called Adjustment Proposals under the program. Firms contribute a matching share to create and implement their plan. Technical assistance is provided through a nationwide network of eleven EDA-funded Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACs), which are either non-profits or university-affiliated. The TAACs provide assistance to firms petitioning EDA for certification of eligibility under the program and in the development and implementation of business recovery plans. Firms that completed the TAAF Program in FY 2008 report that at completion, average sales were $10.3 million, average employment was 73, and average productivity was $140,977 (sales per employee). One year after completing the program (FY 2009), firms report that average sales increased by one percent, average employment decreased by 10 percent, and average productivity increased by 11 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nationwide for the manufacturing industry in FY 2009, average employment decreased 12 percent and average productivity increased by 4 percent. Two years after completing the program (FY 2010), firms report that average sales decreased by 14 percent, average employment decreased by 16 percent, and average productivity increased by 3 percent. BLS reported that nationwide for the manufacturing industry in FY 2010, average employment decreased 12 percent and average productivity increased by 9 percent. Overall, there has been an increase in the demand for the TAAF Program in FY 2010, as demonstrated by the increase in the number of petitions for certification and Adjustment Proposals submitted to EDA for approval. In FY 2010, EDA approved an additional 114 petitions, a 53 percent increase as compared to FY 2009; and approved an additional 93 Adjustment Proposals, a 54 percent increase as compared to FY 2009. The addition of TAAF staff resources facilitated EDA's ability to improve processing time for petitions and Adjustment Proposals in FY 2010. Although there was a spike in petitions and Adjustment Proposals, EDA successfully met the 40-day processing deadline to make a final determination for petitions accepted for filing; and the 60-day processing deadline for approval of Adjustment Proposals as required in the TGAAA. In fact, the average processing time for petitions has started to decline below the 40-day requirement and the average processing time for Adjustment Proposals is below 30 days.

This notice announces new application submission and review procedures for FY 2011 funding under EDA's (i) Public Works and Economic Development Facilities Program; (ii) Economic Adjustment Assistance Program; and (iii) Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund (GCCMIF) Program. To enhance the competitiveness, transparency, and efficiency of EDA's grants-making process and ensure timely responsiveness to applicants, in FY 2011 EDA will move to a funding cycle system under which applications submitted under these programs will be considered for funding roughly once a quarter. Beginning on October 14, 2010, applications will still be accepted on a continuing basis but must be received by the deadlines set out below in order to be considered for funding during a particular cycle. Eligible applicants have the option of receiving preliminary feedback on an application's technical and competitive merits by submitting the application for an optional preliminary review as described in section V.A. of the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement, which is posted on EDA's Web site at http://www.eda.gov/ InvestmentsGrants/Grant%20Process.xml. EDA will provide such feedback not later than 15 business days after EDA's receipt of the application, and applicants will have the opportunity to revise and/or supplement the application as necessary or submit a new application by the funding cycle deadline or in time for consideration in a subsequent funding cycle. Applicants that elect to receive such feedback should take care to submit the application sufficiently in advance of a funding cycle deadline so that EDA can provide the feedback and the applicant can make any changes and/or provide additional documentation or submit a new application by the funding cycle deadline. EDA will not select projects for funding until after the funding cycle deadline has passed. Applications may be submitted electronically in accordance with the instructions provided at http://www.grants.gov or in hard copy to the applicable regional office. Please see sections IV. and V. of the FFO for complete information on the new application submission and processing procedures. Deadlines: Beginning in FY 2011, EDA will accept and review applications submitted under its Public Works, Economic Adjustment Assistance, and GCCMIF Programs in funding cycles. To be considered during a particular funding cycle, complete applications must be accepted and validated by http://www.grants.gov or delivered in hard copy to the applicable regional office listed in section IX. of the FFO with a postmark or courier service's time and date stamp on or before 5 p.m. local time in the applicable regional office on the deadline date for the funding cycles listed below. For FY 2011, the funding cycle deadlines are as follows: December 15 for funding cycle 1; March 10 for funding cycle 2; June 10 for funding cycle 3; and September 15 for funding cycle 1 of FY 2012. Please note that applications for financial assistance submitted under EDA's Planning, Partnership Planning, Local Technical Assistance, University Center, and Research and National Technical Assistance Programs are not subject to the deadlines described above, and requirements for these programs will be published in separate FFO announcements. In addition, applications for any supplemental appropriations that EDA receives will not be subject to the deadlines published in this notice, and EDA will publish a separate FFO for any such appropriations. Please contact the applicable regional office listed in section IX. of the FFO for additional information on submitting an application under any of EDA's programs.

Pursuant to the Supplemental Appropriations Act, Public Law 111-212, 124 Stat. 2302 (2010), EDA announces general policies and application procedures for the FY 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Supplemental Federal Funding Opportunity. This investment assistance will be made available to help devise and implement short- or long-term economic redevelopment strategies and for technical assistance activities to address economic development challenges in regions impacted by the discharge of oil stemming from the April 20, 2010, BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion. Applicants are advised to read carefully the federal funding opportunity (FFO) announcement for this notice and request for applications. For a copy of the FFO announcement, please see the Web sites listed below under ``Electronic Access.''

Pursuant to the Research and Evaluation program, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) seeks applications to research, develop, and disseminate metrics to enable policymakers and practitioners to more effectively understand how to assess the triple bottom line (economic, environmental, and social impacts) of various economic development activities. 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. Through its Research and Evaluation program, EDA works towards fulfilling its mission by funding research and technical assistance projects to promote competitiveness and innovation in distressed rural and urban regions throughout the United States and its territories. By working in conjunction with its research partners, EDA will help States, local governments, and community-based organizations to achieve their highest economic potential.

The i6 Challenge is a new, multi-agency innovation competition led by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The i6 Challenge is designed to encourage and reward innovative, ground-breaking ideas that will accelerate technology commercialization and new-venture formation across the United States, for the ultimate purpose of helping to drive economic growth and job creation. To accomplish this, the i6 Challenge targets sections of the research-to-deployment continuum that are in need of additional support, in order to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems. Applicants to the i6 Challenge are expected to propose mechanisms to fill in existing gaps in the continuum or leverage existing infrastructure and institutions, such as economic development organizations, academic institutions, or other non-profit organizations, in new and innovative ways to achieve the i6 objectives. Under the i6 Challenge, EDA intends to fund implementation grants for technical assistance through its Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (42 U.S.C. 3149). The federal funding opportunity for the i6 Challenge was announced on May 3, 2010, and a notice and request for applications was published in the Federal Register (75 FR 23676).

Pursuant to the Research and Evaluation program, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) solicits applications to develop, implement, and disseminate information that will enable policymakers and practitioners to more effectively understand the regional innovation clusters that drive the national economy and how regional assets and innovation inputs help shape these clusters at the local level. 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. Through its Research and Evaluation program, EDA works towards fulfilling its mission by funding research and technical assistance projects to promote competitiveness and innovation in distressed rural and urban regions throughout the United States and its territories. By working in conjunction with its research partners, EDA will help States, local governments, and community-based organizations to achieve their highest economic potential.

EDA announces its participation in the Energy Efficient Building Systems Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative (Initiative), the first pilot project of the Interagency Regional Innovation Clusters Taskforce (Taskforce). The Taskforce has been charged with developing a replicable and sustainable model for coordinated Federal and regional efforts that foster and use regional innovation clusters to: Develop and demonstrate sustainable and efficient models for attaining national strategic objectives; create and retain Good Jobs (defined below); eliminate gaps between the supply and demand for workers in specialized fields through training and education; increase regional gross domestic product (GDP); promote innovation in science and technology; and enhance the economic, technological, and commercial competitiveness of the United States on the global stage. The Taskforce has selected Energy Efficient Building Systems Design as the topical focus for its first pilot project. The pilot project will be anchored around a Department of Energy (DOE)-funded Energy Innovation Hub and will incorporate elements funded by each of EDA, SBA, and NIST/MEP. Capitalized terms used in this notice and request for applications have the meanings ascribed to them under the heading SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

On January 27, 2010, the Economic Development Administration (``EDA'') published a final rule implementing revisions to its regulations. The final rule responded to all substantive comments received during the public comment period and finalized the rulemaking proceeding in connection with the interim final rule published on October 22, 2008. EDA publishes this rule to correct a heading of a

EDA is soliciting competitive applications from accredited institutions of higher education, including community colleges, and from consortia of accredited institutions of higher education for FY 2010 University Center Economic Development Program funding in the geographic areas served by its Austin and Denver regional offices. 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. Institutions of higher education have many assets and are able to establish and operate University Centers in partnership with EDA. These EDA-sponsored University Centers conduct research; provide technical assistance to tribal entities, local governments, and public and private sector organizations; and undertake other activities with the goal of enhancing regional economic development by promoting a favorable business environment to attract private capital investment and higher- skill, higher-wage jobs.

On October 22, 2008, the Economic Development Administration (``EDA'') published an interim final rule to synchronize its Revolving Loan Fund (``RLF'') regulations with significant improvements in the management and oversight of its RLF program, including the issuance of written guidance that provides EDA staff with steps to help better ensure grantee compliance with RLF requirements. Additionally, the interim final rule made changes to certain definitions in the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program regulations provided notice of other substantive and non-substantive revisions made to EDA's regulations. EDA received a total of two comments on the October 22, 2008 interim final rule. This final rule responds to all substantive comments received during the public comment period and finalizes this rulemaking proceeding.

In February of 2009, Congress enacted the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009, which in part was intended to establish a new Community Trade Adjustment Assistance (Community TAA) Program under chapter 4 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2371 et seq.) (Trade Act) to help communities respond to the loss of jobs caused by the layoffs at firms and other types of employers impacted by trade competition. This notice announces general policies and application requirements for the Community TAA Program. Grants made under the program may be used to support a wide range of technical, planning, and infrastructure projects to help communities adapt to pressing trade impact issues and diversify their economies.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.