The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, A Coordinated Initiative to Advance Regional Competitiveness

Economic Development Administration

Description

This posting announces the availability of funding for the Jobs Accelerator. Regions across the nation can compete for complementary Federal resources that will be targeted to address the gaps and opportunities specific to their self-identified, high-potential industry clusters. The Jobs Accelerator leverages existing financial and technical resources from 16 Federal agencies and bureaus to support the development of approximately 20 high-growth industry clusters selected through a competitive inter-agency grant process. Funds awarded to the winning applicants can be used to achieve measurable outcomes such as commercialization, business formation, expansion of existing businesses, job creation, and exports. Total proposed funding for the Jobs Accelerator is approximately $33 million in direct Federal support from funding agencies, subject to the availability of appropriations. The funding agencies are the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, and, subject to the availability of appropriations, the Small Business Administration. This collaboration is designed to allow applicants to submit one application to access three complementary Federal sources to comprehensively support cluster development, and applicants must apply for all three funding sources available under the Jobs Accelerator FFO. Awards are expected to range from approximately $1.5 million to $2.2 million per cluster through the three funding agencies, and matching funds are required for a portion of the funding.

Who can apply

• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education
• Small businesses
• Others

Contact

Rebecca Moudry
JobsandInnovationChallenge@eda.doc.gov