Economic Adjustment Assistance

The EAA program provides a wide range of technical, planning, public works and infrastructure, and other financial assistance in regions experiencing adverse economic changes that may occur suddenly or over time. These adverse economic impacts may result from a steep decline in manufacturing employment following a plant closure, changing trade patterns, catastrophic natural disasters, a military base closure, or environmental changes and regulations.

Pursuant to Section 3(6) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. � 3122(6)(A)) and 13 C.F.R. � 300.3 (Eligible Recipient), eligible applicants for EDA financial assistance under the Public Works and EAA programs include a(n): (i) District Organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District; (ii) Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; (iii) State, county, 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 political subdivisions; (iv) institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; (v) public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State. Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible for funding; (vi) an economic development organization; or (vii) a public-private partnership for public infrastructure.

For construction and non-construction projects (except proposals for preparation or revision of a CEDS), the following criteria will receive equal weight: i. The project�s feasibility or likelihood that it will achieve its projected outcomes on the proposed schedule; ii. The extent to which the project demonstrates support from and involvement with regional stakeholders, e.g. private, public, and non-profit entities, community-based organizations, workforce development boards, economic development organizations, schools, community colleges, neighborhood and housing associations, and the communities that stand to benefit; iii. The extent to which the project demonstrates resiliency to future sudden and severe economic dislocations, e.g., closures of major local employers, etc.; iv. The extent to which the project is aligned with and integrated into other public or private investments currently ongoing or planned for the community and region; v. The degree of economic distress experienced in the project region; vi. The project�s demonstrated ability to foster job creation and retention, including whether the project will create jobs and registered apprenticeships; vii. The project�s demonstrated ability to promote private investment in the regional economy; and viii. The project�s demonstrated alignment with EDA�s current Investment Priorities as outlined at https://www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities. In addition to the above criteria, for workforce projects only,...

Generally, the amount of the EDA grant may not exceed 60 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 addition, EDA�s regulations allow an investment rate of up to 100 percent for Indian tribes, for a State or political subdivision of a State that can document that it has exhausted its effective taxing and borrowing capacity, or for a non-profit organization that can document that it has exhausted its borrowing capacity.