Top Level Officials at EDA Reveal Insight to 2013 Budget Request

During a conference call I participated in last week with top level Dept. of Commerce Economic Development Administration staff in Washington DC it was revealed there would be big changes in the 2013 EDA budget. The biggest change on the horizon is the decrease in the overall budget. $38MM less will be in the budget request for 2013. Where those changes take place are mostly in the PWEDA line item. With funding decreases at all levels of government staying competitive and on top of the issues with EDA is more important than ever. For information on the newest budget request and all the issues affecting the EDA email your questions to AskJill@essergy.net.

If you have aN EDA project in mind and would like a free review email me at AskJill@essergy.net.

Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/askjillknowseda

Lessons Learned From the First Year of the "New" Grant Process

The EDA launched its new grant process just about this time last year. As the process matured, EDA decided to wrap up prior years applications during the first quarter and accept only have three quarters of new submissions during fiscal year 2011.

EDA hoped its new application would enable it to rule on grant applications within two weeks. To do so, it scored applications as non-competitive, competitive, or highly competitive. It considered only highly competitive proposals to be eligible for funding. During the first round 175 applications were received December 10th, 2010 of those 135 were dismissed as non-competitive, and only 11 were ranked highly competitive. Of the 11 two were written by AskJill, the only two I wrote!

What do these facts suggest for new applicants?

1. DO Submit only complete applications. That includes Public Works Grants. The environmental narratives MUST have complete environmental clearance from all federal and local agencies. WAIT until the next round or whenever you receive the required sign offs or your application may be ruled technically incomplete.

2. DO call and speak with the local EDA Economic Development Representative (EDR), before you write the grant application.

3. DO NOT write a blind application and submit through www.grants.gov or it is highly likely that your application will be non-competitive.

4. DO use the Public Works program to complement your local budget shortfalls in this tight economy.

5. DO ask if planning money is available to write your first Comprehensive Economic Development Study (CEDS). Repeat grants for updating or renewing CEDS rarely get funded.

6. DO be prepared to wait for the grant to fund. At this point, despite its best efforts EDA still has been unable to reduce the time to actual funding while its Reauthorization is held up in Congress. Hopefully that will change soon and the funding for 2011 FY, which will end in 2 weeks, can be released.

The most important lesson learned? Government change always takes more change than anticipated.

Invitation to Conference Call with Obama Key Officials on the 2012 Budget "What Does it Mean for Innovators?"

Saturday, Feb 26, 2011 White House Hosts Regional Innovation Conference Call on FY 2012 Budget   Tuesday, March 1, 5:00 PM EST RSVP NOW at: opersvp@who.eop.gov CALL IN #: (866) 261-2650     You are invited to a briefing conference call with key members of the Obama administration to discuss what the budget holds for innovators and regional efforts. In his State of the Union Address, President Obama discussed the need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build our competitors in order to win the future.  We have since initiated several programs to accelerate and amplify the efforts of entrepreneurs, workers, business leaders, and other job creators across the country, and to connect this work through strategies for innovation including the Better Buildings Initiative, Innovation Hubs, and Startup America. Recently, President Obama proposed investments to strengthen these initiatives when he released his FY 2012 budget.  The budget provides a foundation for economic growth by funding programs like HubZones and Regional Innovation Clusters. Please feel free to share this invite. WHAT: White House Regional Innovation Update Call: The FY 2012 Budget WHEN: Tuesday, March 1, 2011, 5:00 PM Eastern Time      RSVP: opersvp@who.eop.gov CALL IN #: (866) 261-2650    SUBSCRIBE    FORWARD THIS TO A FRIEND   SENT TO JILLDOMINGUEZ@ESSERGY.NET   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE PROFILE   |   FORWARD TO A FRIEND

EDA Invests $100,000 Promoting Regional Agriculture Cluster

$100,000 goes to local agriculture The state Office of Planning has been awarded a $100,000 federal grant that will benefit local agriculture. The Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Commerce Department announced the award yesterday, saying it will allow the state to assess agricultural irrigation systems, design a food market distribution program and develop a local food production strategy. More broadly, the results of the work funded by the grant are expected to save or create jobs, lead to lower-priced food items and help the state become more self-sufficient in its food supply, according to the Economic Development Administration. "The plan that the State of Hawaii will develop with this EDA grant will improve the condition of the agricultural sector and streamline the food distribution system to strengthen the cluster's productivity and its ability to create jobs," John Fernandez, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, said in a statement. Business Briefs - Hawaii News - Staradvertiser.com http://bit.ly/eJh1Nh

U.S. Census Bureau Launches Interactive Map of Local 2010 Census Data | Department of Commerce

U.S. Census Bureau Launches Interactive Map of Local 2010 Census Data Submitted on February 10, 2011 - 12:30pm Categories: 2010 Census Census 2010 Bureau of the Census Printer-friendly version The U.S. Census Bureau has launched a new, interactive map that conveniently and easily displays local-level 2010 Census population counts. The application allows users to compare county-level population change from 1960 to 2010, as well as state-level data on race and Hispanic or Latino origin for 2010.   Last week, the rollout of detailed data began with the release of local population counts for Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia. This week, local data for Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland and Vermont are being released. For each state, the Census provides summaries of population totals as well as data on race, Hispanic origin, and voting age for multiple geographies within the state, such as census blocks, tracts, voting districts, cities, counties and school districts. The counts are being delivered on a state-by-state basis, and all states will receive their data by April 1. As new data is released, the Census Bureau will update the map. Learn more about your state. U.S. Census Bureau Launches Interactive Map of Local 2010 Census Data | Department of Commerce

The U.S. House adopted an amendment by Congressman Mike Michaud (D-ME) yesterday to restore the proposed $80 million program reduction for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of the chamber’s Continuing Resolution (CR) for the remainder of FY2011 (October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2011).

To:       NADO Members From:  Matthew Chase, Executive Director Re:       Update on EDA Vote in U.S. House The U.S. House adopted an amendment by Congressman Mike Michaud (D-ME) yesterday to restore the proposed $80 million program reduction for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of the chamber’s Continuing Resolution (CR) for the remainder of FY2011 (October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2011).    Attached and below is the final vote results for Roll Call 50 offered by Rep. Michaud.  The amendment was adopted 305-127 with 145 Republicans (60% of the caucus) and 160 Democratic (83% of the caucus) members in support of restoring EDA’s budget to the FY2010 level.  Of the Aye (Yes) votes, EDA was supported by the House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) and 8 of the 12 Appropriations subcommittee chairs (known as the Cardinals).    Please be sure to thank your legislators for their support!  If your House members voted against the EDA budget amendment, please be sure to follow up with a letter and invitation to meet with them and hopefully bring them on a tour of successful EDA projects in your region.   The 2011 NADO Washington Policy Conference, slated for March 20 - 23 at the Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, VA (right across the river from the Capitol and quick metro ride!), is an essential part of the association's federal advocacy program.  The 2011 event will feature expert panels on federal budget and appropriations issues, key administration and congressional priorities, and insights into the association's regional development policy agenda.  In addition, the federal agency networking roundtable session will feature an opportunity to network one-on-one with representatives from more than 25 federal agencies and programs!    Register online today at http://www.nado.org/conferences/washington.php or call Tawanna Harley at 202.624.624-7806 / tharley@nado.org.     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 50 (Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined)   Michaud Amendment to restore $80 million in FY2011 funding for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) with a $80 million funding offset from the U.S. Bureau of the Census periodic census account.       H R 1      RECORDED VOTE      16-Feb-2011      2:07 PM       AUTHOR(S):  Michaud of Maine Amendment No. 153       QUESTION:  On Agreeing to the Amendment Ayes Noes PRES NV Republican 145 95     Democratic 160 32   1 Independent         TOTALS 305 127   1   ---- AYES    305 ---   Ackerman Aderholt Akin Alexander Altmire Andrews Austria Baca Bachus Baldwin Barletta Barrow Bartlett Barton (TX) Bass (CA) Bass (NH) Berg Berkley Bishop (GA) Bishop (NY) Bishop (UT) Blackburn Blumenauer Bonner Bono Mack Boren Boswell Boustany Brady (PA) Braley (IA) Brooks Brown (FL) Buchanan Bucshon Buerkle Butterfield Calvert Camp Canseco Capito Capps Capuano Cardoza Carnahan Carney Carson (IN) Carter Cassidy Castor (FL) Chabot Chandler Cicilline Clarke (MI) Clyburn Coble Coffman (CO) Cohen Conyers Cooper Costello Courtney Crawford Crenshaw Critz Crowley Cuellar Cummings Davis (CA) Davis (KY) DeFazio DeGette DeLauro Denham Dent Deutch Dicks Dingell Doggett Dold Donnelly (IN) Doyle Duncan (TN) Ellison Emerson Engel Farr Fattah Filner Fincher Fitzpatrick Fleming Forbes Foxx Frank (MA) Frelinghuysen Gallegly Gerlach Gibbs Gibson Gingrey (GA) Gohmert Goodlatte Gowdy Granger Graves (MO) Green, Al Green, Gene Griffin (AR) Griffith (VA) Guinta Guthrie Hanabusa Hanna Harman Harper Harris Hastings (FL) Hastings (WA) Heck Heinrich Heller Higgins Himes Hinchey Hinojosa Hirono Holden Holt Hoyer Huizenga (MI) Hultgren Hunter Hurt Inslee Israel Jackson Lee (TX) Johnson (GA) Johnson (IL) Johnson (OH) Johnson, E. B. Johnson, Sam Jones Kaptur Keating Kelly Kildee Kind Kingston Kinzinger (IL) Kissell Lance Landry Langevin Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Latham LaTourette Latta Lee (CA) Levin Lewis (CA) Lewis (GA) Lipinski LoBiondo Loebsack Lowey Luetkemeyer Luján Lynch Mack Maloney Manzullo Marchant Marino Markey Matheson Matsui McCarthy (NY) McCollum McCotter McDermott McGovern McIntyre McKeon McKinley McMorris Rodgers McNerney Meeks Mica Michaud Miller (FL) Miller (MI) Miller (NC) Miller, Gary Miller, George Moore Mulvaney Murphy (CT) Murphy (PA) Myrick Nadler Neal Neugebauer Noem Nunnelee Olson Olver Owens Pallone Pascrell Pastor (AZ) Paul Paulsen Payne Pearce Pelosi Perlmutter Peters Peterson Petri Pingree (ME) Pitts Platts Poe (TX) Polis Pompeo Price (NC) Quigley Rahall Rangel Reed Rehberg Reichert Renacci Reyes Richardson Richmond Rigell Roe (TN) Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Rohrabacher Ross (AR) Royce Runyan Ruppersberger Rush Ryan (OH) Sánchez, Linda T. Sanchez, Loretta Sarbanes Scalise Schiff Schilling Schmidt Schock Schrader Schwartz Schweikert Scott (SC) Scott (VA) Scott, David Sewell Shuler Shuster Simpson Sires Slaughter Smith (NJ) Smith (TX) Smith (WA) Southerland Speier Stark Stearns Stivers Sutton Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Thompson (PA) Thornberry Tiberi Tierney Tipton Tonko Towns Tsongas Turner Upton Van Hollen Visclosky Walberg Walden Walz (MN) Wasserman Schultz Watt Webster Welch Westmoreland Whitfield Womack Woolsey Wu Yarmuth Young (AK)   ---- NOES    127 ---   Adams Amash Bachmann Becerra Benishek Berman Biggert Bilbray Bilirakis Black Brady (TX) Broun (GA) Burgess Burton (IN) Campbell Cantor Chaffetz Chu Clarke (NY) Clay Cleaver Cole Conaway Connolly (VA) Costa Cravaack Culberson Davis (IL) DesJarlais Diaz-Balart Dreier Duffy Duncan (SC) Edwards Ellmers Eshoo Farenthold Flake Fleischmann Flores Fortenberry Franks (AZ) Fudge Garamendi Gardner Garrett Gonzalez Gosar Graves (GA) Grijalva Grimm Gutierrez Hall Hartzler Hayworth Hensarling Herger Herrera Beutler Honda Huelskamp Issa Jackson (IL) Jenkins Jordan King (IA) King (NY) Kline Kucinich Labrador Lamborn Lankford Lofgren, Zoe Long Lucas Lummis Lungren, Daniel E. McCarthy (CA) McCaul McClintock McHenry Meehan Moran Napolitano Nugent Nunes Palazzo Pence Posey Price (GA) Quayle Ribble Rivera Roby Rogers (MI) Rokita Rooney Ros-Lehtinen Roskam Ross (FL) Rothman (NJ) Roybal-Allard Ryan (WI) Schakowsky Scott, Austin Sensenbrenner Serrano Sessions Sherman Shimkus Smith (NE) Stutzman Sullivan Terry Velázquez Walsh (IL) Waters Waxman Weiner West Wilson (FL) Wilson (SC) Wittman Wolf Woodall Yoder Young (FL) Young (IN)   ---- NOT VOTING    1 ---   Giffords     If you wish to be removed from the NADO  friends email list, please email info@nado.org.

Passing Along EDA Request for Comments on Regulations

Monday, Feb 14, 2011
EDA Seeks Public Comment on Regulations

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is asking its stakeholders to help the agency update its regulations so it can more effectively partner with communities and organizations to create jobs and economic growth.  Earlier this month, EDA published a Federal Register Notice requesting public comment on the agency’s regulations, particularly ways EDA can revise the process to provide better economic development services.  We encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas about EDA’s regulations here on EDA’s website, where you can also see the ideas others have submitted. 
 
EDA’s regulations are an important tool for the agency’s economic development assistance programs as they provide the framework through which the agency selects, awards, and administers its investments.  The agency is particularly interested in learning of any perceived impediments to contemporary economic development practices that are produced as a cause or consequence of a particular regulation.  Although EDA welcomes comments on all of its regulations, the agency requests particular input on how the regulations impact the creation and growth of Regional Innovation Clusters (RICs) and property management issues.
 
Read President Obama’s Executive Order calling for a government-wide review of all regulations and his editorial in the Wall Street Journal calling for a 21st-century regulatory system.
 
Go to www.edaregulations.ideascale.com to share your comments, recommendations, ideas and feedback regarding EDA’