Opportunity Information: Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006705
The FY 2020 SPRINT Challenge is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce, administered by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), focused on helping U.S. regions respond to the economic, health, and safety disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The program is designed to make strategic, merit-based investments that strengthen regional innovation economies, with an emphasis on practical efforts that spur entrepreneurship and innovation as tools for recovery. In line with EDA's broader mission, the intent is to support economic development in areas experiencing economic distress, encourage job creation, and help communities attract and leverage private investment.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006705; CFDA 11.307) offers grant funding with an award ceiling of $750,000 per award. EDA anticipated making approximately 100 awards under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), indicating a relatively broad national competition with the potential to support a sizable portfolio of regional projects. The activity categories tied to the NOFO include business and commerce, community development, regional development, and Opportunity Zone-related benefits, signaling that projects may intersect with multiple community and economic development priorities, including those in designated Opportunity Zones where applicable.
The central theme of the SPRINT Challenge is building and scaling innovation-driven responses to COVID-19 impacts, particularly by reinforcing the systems that help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. Competitive applications would generally be expected to demonstrate how proposed investments will strengthen a region's capacity for innovation, translate into measurable economic outcomes (such as new or retained jobs, new business formation, or increased private capital), and address pandemic-related risks. While the eligibility field is listed as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced outside the excerpt provided, the framing suggests EDA is seeking capable applicants positioned to execute regional economic development initiatives, often including partnerships that connect public, private, academic, and nonprofit actors.
Key administrative details reflect a time-limited competitive cycle: the opportunity was created on October 14, 2020, and had an original application closing date of December 3, 2020. Overall, the FY 2020 SPRINT Challenge can be understood as a targeted EDA grant competition intended to help distressed communities and regions stabilize and rebuild through entrepreneurship-led innovation strategies, using federal support to catalyze longer-term recovery and private-sector investment.Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006705
- The Department of Commerce in the business and commerce, community development, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification), opportunity zone benefits, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2020 SPRINT Challenge" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.307.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 14, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 03, 2020. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY 2020 SPRINT Challenge (EDA) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY 2020 SPRINT Challenge?
The FY 2020 SPRINT Challenge is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is administered by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and is focused on helping U.S. regions respond to the economic, health, and safety disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Which federal agency administers this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA).
What is the main purpose of the SPRINT Challenge?
The central theme is building and scaling innovation-driven responses to COVID-19 impacts. The program emphasizes practical efforts that spur entrepreneurship and innovation as tools for economic recovery, while also supporting EDA's broader goals of economic development in distressed areas, job creation, and attracting/leverage private investment.
What types of impacts is the program meant to address?
The SPRINT Challenge is designed to respond to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, specifically economic, health, and safety disruptions affecting communities and regional economies.
What kinds of projects are encouraged under this competition?
Based on the description provided, projects are expected to focus on strengthening regional innovation economies and reinforcing the systems that help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. Competitive projects would typically connect innovation and entrepreneurship efforts to COVID-19 recovery and measurable economic outcomes.
What outcomes should applicants be prepared to demonstrate?
Competitive applications would generally be expected to show how the proposed investment strengthens a region's capacity for innovation and leads to measurable economic results, such as new or retained jobs, new business formation, or increased private capital. Applications are also expected to address pandemic-related risks.
Is this funding competitive and merit-based?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a strategic, merit-based investment program, indicating that awards are made through a competitive process.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $750,000 per award.
How many awards did EDA anticipate making?
EDA anticipated making approximately 100 awards under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006705.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 11.307.
What activity categories are associated with this NOFO?
The activity categories tied to the NOFO include business and commerce, community development, regional development, and Opportunity Zone-related benefits.
Does the opportunity relate to Opportunity Zones?
Opportunity Zone-related benefits are listed among the activity categories. This suggests that projects may intersect with Opportunity Zone priorities where applicable, but the excerpt does not state that projects must be located in, or exclusively serve, Opportunity Zones.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligibility field is listed as "Others," and additional eligibility details are referenced outside the excerpt provided. From the framing in the description, EDA appears to be seeking capable applicants positioned to execute regional economic development initiatives, often including partnerships connecting public, private, academic, and nonprofit actors, but specific eligible applicant types are not provided in the excerpt.
Is the program focused on particular geographies or communities?
The opportunity is aimed at U.S. regions, with an intent to support economic development in areas experiencing economic distress. The description indicates the program is intended to help distressed communities and regions stabilize and rebuild through entrepreneurship-led innovation strategies.
What is the application timeline mentioned in the excerpt?
The opportunity was created on October 14, 2020, and had an original application closing date of December 3, 2020.
What does it mean that the grant is "discretionary"?
In this context, "discretionary" indicates the funding is awarded through a competitive, agency-managed process rather than automatically by formula. The excerpt characterizes the SPRINT Challenge as a competitive, merit-based investment program.
What is the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in this program?
Entrepreneurship and innovation are positioned as core tools for recovery. The program emphasizes investments that reinforce entrepreneurial ecosystems and innovation capacity in order to help regions rebuild and generate measurable economic benefits following COVID-19 disruptions.
How does this opportunity fit within EDA's broader mission?
The intent aligns with EDA's broader mission by supporting economic development in economically distressed areas, encouraging job creation, and helping communities attract and leverage private investment.
What is the overall takeaway for what EDA is trying to fund through SPRINT?
Based on the excerpt, the FY 2020 SPRINT Challenge is a targeted EDA grant competition meant to help regions and communities stabilize and rebuild after COVID-19 disruptions by supporting entrepreneurship-led, innovation-driven strategies and using federal investment to catalyze longer-term recovery and private-sector investment.
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