FDI and Trade: International Engagement Ready Communities | EDA HDQ RNTA 2017 2005262

Opportunity Information: Apply for EDA HDQ RNTA 2017 2005262

The Department of Commerce, through the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), offered a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity titled "FDI and Trade: International Engagement Ready Communities" (Opportunity Number: EDA HDQ RNTA 2017 2005262; CFDA: 11.312). The core idea behind the program is that communities and the Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) that serve them vary widely in their capacity to pursue foreign direct investment (FDI) and export growth. Some regions have mature international strategies and staffing, while others have limited resources, fragmented efforts, or little experience connecting local industry strengths to global markets. EDA designed this award to help communities become more globally competitive by developing practical, regionally grounded plans and tools that strengthen how they attract FDI and promote exports, ultimately supporting domestic job creation.

The work EDA wanted funded focuses on identifying what actually makes trade and FDI promotion effective at the local and regional level, and why many places struggle to implement successful international engagement strategies. The awardee would be expected to analyze and document the characteristics of strong international engagement approaches, including the common barriers that prevent communities from succeeding (for example, limited staff capacity, lack of data, weak coordination among partners, or unclear regional industry priorities). In addition to this diagnostic work, EDA sought tangible products communities could use, not just general guidance. That includes developing best-practice reports that capture proven methods and lessons learned, and creating a cluster-specific assessment tool along with a toolkit training guide. The emphasis on "cluster-specific" signals that EDA wanted communities to evaluate international opportunities through the lens of their industry clusters and regional assets, rather than relying on generic, one-size-fits-all export or investment promotion tactics.

A central deliverable is a user-friendly, applied findings toolkit intended for direct use by communities. EDA described three practical functions this toolkit should support: first, helping a community assess how effective its current international engagement efforts are; second, helping it identify where it may have the strongest potential for global competitiveness in trade and investment based on the assets in its geography (such as existing industry clusters, workforce skills, research capacity, infrastructure, or supply chain advantages); and third, helping it develop and implement an upgraded international engagement strategy. Importantly, EDA wanted that enhanced strategy to be usable within established regional planning frameworks, specifically noting that it could be incorporated into a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) or a similar planning document. In other words, the goal was to integrate international engagement into mainstream economic development planning, rather than treating it as a separate, ad hoc activity.

Eligibility was broad and aligned with EDA's standard authorities under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 and EDA regulations at 13 C.F.R. 300.3. Eligible applicants included EDA-designated District Organizations, federally recognized Indian Tribes (or consortia of Tribes), states and local governments (including cities, counties, and special districts, as well as consortia of political subdivisions), institutions of higher education (excluding for-profit institutions, though consortia of eligible institutions were allowed), and public or private non-profit organizations or associations acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision. The source listing also reflects common Grants.gov categories such as state, county, and city governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; tribal governments; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $600,000. The original closing date was June 12, 2017, and the opportunity was created May 11, 2017. Because the funding instrument was a cooperative agreement, EDA would typically expect a higher level of federal involvement in project execution than under a standard grant, often meaning closer collaboration on deliverables, iterative review of work products, and alignment with EDA priorities around regional competitiveness and job creation.

Overall, this opportunity was aimed less at funding individual local export campaigns and more at building a practical, transferable framework that many communities could use to evaluate and improve their international engagement. The intended outcome is stronger regional capacity to attract foreign investment and increase exports by using tested approaches, clear assessments tied to industry clusters, and planning tools that fit into existing economic development strategy processes.

• The Department of Commerce in the business and commerce, community development, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FDI and Trade: International Engagement Ready Communities" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.312.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-05-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-06-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for EDA HDQ RNTA 2017 2005262

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