FY 2020 SPRINT Challenge | EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006705

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.

• 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).

Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006705

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