BUILD TO SCALE

Entrepreneurs, especially technology entrepreneurs, flourish in healthy ecosystems. Technology-based economic development (TBED) grows ecosystems in which entrepreneurs can build and scale technology-driven businesses, which in turn create high-skill and high-wage jobs, economic opportunity, and the industries of the future. EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) awards grants through the Build to Scale (B2S) Program to foster technology-based ecosystems, to advance the growth of connected, innovation-centric economies that accelerate technology, and to enable commercialization to increase regional and global competitiveness.

Entities that are eligible for funding include: a State; an Indian tribe; a city or other political subdivision of a State; an entity whose application is supported by a State or a political subdivision of a state and that is o a nonprofit organization; o an institution of higher education; o a public-private partnership; o a science or research park; o a Federal laboratory; o a venture development organization; or o an economic development organization or similar entity that is focused primarily on improving science, technology, innovation, or entrepreneurship; or a consortium of any of the aforementioned entities. EDA is not authorized to provide grants to individuals or other entity types that are not eligible under this NOFO, and such requests will not be considered for funding. If an organization is currently implementing an OIE award (i.e., under a prior-year Build to Scale or Regional Innovation Strategies program funding opportunity) and submitting an application to the same or successor challenge under this NOFO, EDA will not consider that application for award unless all activities under the existing award, including but not limited to final reporting requirements, are completed and submitted to EDA prior to October 1, 2023.

Throughout the review and selection process, EDA, at its sole discretion, may seek clarification, including but not limited to written clarifications and corrected or missing documents, from applicants whose applications are being reviewed and considered and require that applicants provide such clarifications or corrections to continue to be considered for an award under this NOFO. EDA will provide applicants a reasonable amount of time to provide any additional documentation. An applicant’s failure to provide complete and accurate supporting documentation in a timely manner when requested by EDA may result in the removal of that application from consideration. Applications to all competitions under this NOFO will be reviewed against the following criteria. Criteria provided in the NOFO

This program has no statutory formula. Applicants must provide matching share equal to at least 50 percent of the total project cost.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Not Applicable.