Economic Development Pilot – Program Year 2022-2023

Portal ID:
16787
Status:
Closed
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:

Details

Purpose:

The Economic Development Pilot will fund projects that have emerged from existing regional processes or plans and are ready for implementation, and showcase innovative projects that advance the goals of Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF). This solicitation for proposals fulfills the requirement of Senate Bill 162 that align with the high road focus of the program and will demonstrate potential uses of CERF Implementation Phase funding.

Description:

The Economic Development Pilot will fund projects that are not directly tied to the CERF Planning and Implementation phases but that illustrate the types of projects that may be funded during the Implementation phase of the program. As such, these projects must align with the values of the CERF program. The grant funds can be used for various activities related to advancing a high-road economy that meet community or industry needs within a region or across multiple regions.

The CERF program includes the following core values for project development. Applicants should reflect on how their proposed project aligns with each of these core values.

Equity: Projects must prioritize the needs and interests of disinvested communities across the region. Prioritizing equity requires identifying how the benefits and burdens of economic development, regional planning, and other relevant processes are distributed in and across communities. Equity includes “leveling the playing field” by identifying and remediating systemic barriers facing specific groups. It requires identifying present-day disparities and confronting the planning, development, and decision-making processes that keep existing barriers in place and perpetuate historical injustices.
Sustainability: Projects must advance economic development that is self-sustaining and aims at a carbon-neutral, climate-resilient economy addressing the needs of the region’s communities.

Job quality and access: Projects must prioritize jobs that provide a family-sustaining wage, health benefits, a pension, worker advancement opportunities, a safety net, and collective worker input. These jobs are stable, with predictable schedules, and safe working conditions. Quality jobs must be accessible to communities throughout the region, with a specific focus on equitable access for members of disinvested communities and other groups facing labor market barriers.

Economic competitiveness: Projects must strengthen the region to compete effectively in the global economy and deliver prosperity to the region. This includes leveraging a region’s comparative advantage, diversifying its economy, and training its workforce to prepare for jobs in emerging industries.

Economic resilience: Projects must focus on improving the region’s ability to avoid, withstand, and recover from economic shocks. This includes foreseeing, adapting to, and leveraging changing conditions to a region’s economic advantage.

The process for a notice of intent includes an email sent to WSBCERF@edd.ca.gov by close of business Monday, January 23, 2023 indicating your interest to apply. 

 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Business
  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

Eligible: Non-profit organizations; Community-based organizations; District organizations of an EDA-designated Economic Development District; Higher education institutions or a consortium of higher education institutions; CA Native American Tribes or a consortium of CA Native American Tribes; Local governments, Special Districts, Metropolitan Planning Organizations.

Ineligible: for profit entities.

Candidates must be residents of the U.S.

Matching Funding Requirement:

Projects that intend to use Economic Development Pilot funds as matching funds must demonstrate additional funding has already been secured. Matching funds may include but are not limited to funds or in-kind support commitments from related public and private partners.

Applicants must include relevant documentation such as a notice of award to demonstrate that additional funding has already been secured.

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
April 2023
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
9/1/2023- 8/29/2025

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$50,000,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • State
The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Advances & Reimbursement(s)

Funding Method Notes:

Employment Development Department may provide community-based non-profit organizations an Advanced Payment option to reduce barriers in participating in the CERF program, up to 25 percent of their total grant award through an Advance Payment option. Applicants are not required to use the Advance Payment option if the reimbursement model is preferred. Applicants requesting Advance Pay will only be eligible for a one time advance payment.

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Karen Calderon, 1-916-937-5229, WSBCERF@edd.ca.gov