Chicago FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
🏛 Department of Commerce
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for economic development planning and technical assistance in the Chicago area. Eligible applicants include District Organizations, Indian Tribes, state/local government entities, institutions of higher education, and nonprofits working with government officials. Activities supported include Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), feasibility studies, impact analyses, and disaster resiliency plans. This is a federal EDA program with cost-sharing requirements and rolling applications through the EDGE platform.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
UPDATED NOTICE – PLEASE READ: April 6, 2023
EDA is excited to announce the launch of its new grants management platform: the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE). EDGE was developed to streamline the application and grants management process by implementing a single platform with increased transparency, improved user experience, higher data quality, and more efficiency throughout the entire grant lifecycle.
As of April 6th, 2023, applications can no longer be submitted on Grants.gov, and will ONLY be accepted through EDGE. To apply in EDGE, please go to: sfgrants.eda.gov. More information on how to apply is provided in the full NOFO.
PARTNERSHIP PLANNING program instructions: Please note that applicants will be invited to submit applications through EDGE for the Partnership Planning program. For more information, please reach out to your EDA point of contact.
Program Description:
EDA makes planning and local technical assistance investments to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas of the United States.
Under the Planning program, EDA makes Partnership Planning, Short-Term Planning, and State Planning awards to eligible recipients to create and implement regional economic development plans designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. More specifically, EDA makes Partnership Planning investments to designated planning organizations (i.e., District Organizations) serving EDA-designated Economic Development Districts and to Indian Tribes to facilitate the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), which articulate and prioritize the strategic economic goals of recipients’ respective regions. EDA also makes Short-Term and State Planning awards for economic development planning activities that guide the eventual creation and retention of high-quality jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the Nation’s most economically distressed regions.
Under the Local Technical Assistance program, EDA makes awards to strengthen the capacity of local or State organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities to undertake and promote effective economic development programs through projects such as feasibility studies, impact analyses, disaster resiliency plans, and project planning.
**Please note: While the published Notice of Funding Opportunity (available under “Related Documents”) states that the ED900A form and the SF424B form are both required for a complete application, these forms are no longer required and have therefore been removed from the package template.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Evidence of Cost-Share/Local Match commitment
- Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) or planning document (if applicable)
- Organizational documentation (articles of incorporation, 501(c)(3) status, etc.)
Program contact
- 👤 Bernadette Grafton Program Analyst
- 📞 202-482-2917
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 11.302 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,442,700
-
$1,442,700
-
$1,050,000
-
$480,000
-
$339,120
-
$300,000
-
$280,000
-
$280,000
-
$279,511
-
$256,500
Top States by Funding
- KY 3 awards $3.9M
- VA 11 awards $2.3M
- SC 9 awards $1.9M
- WV 8 awards $1.7M
- NY 6 awards $1.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 11.302). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $30,320,496 | |
| 2025 | $35,423,222 | |
| 2026 est. | $34,500,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
District Organizations, Indian Tribes, states, cities, other political subdivisions, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations working with government officials are eligible. Consortiums of these entities may also apply.
What are the main program components?
The Planning program funds Partnership Planning, Short-Term Planning, and State Planning awards for economic development strategies. The Local Technical Assistance program funds feasibility studies, impact analyses, and disaster resiliency planning.
How do I apply?
Applications are submitted exclusively through EDA's EDGE platform at sfgrants.eda.gov as of April 2023. Grants.gov is no longer accepted for this program.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes, cost-sharing is required for this grant. Check the full NOFO for specific match percentages by program component.
What is the funding range?
Awards can reach $300,000, though specific award ranges vary by program component and project type.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review the full NOFO carefully, as required forms have changed—some previously required forms (ED900A, SF424B) are no longer needed. Check EDGE platform for current requirements.
- Develop a strong regional economic development strategy aligned with job creation and private investment attraction goals.
- Document your cost-sharing commitment clearly; this grant requires matching funds from local or state partners.
- Tailor your application to one of the three planning tracks (Partnership, Short-Term, or State Planning) or Local Technical Assistance—do not try to blend them.
- Connect your project to economically distressed areas and emphasize capacity building and long-term economic resilience outcomes.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting through Grants.gov instead of EDGE platform results in automatic rejection. Failing to clearly document required cost-sharing or local match reduces competitiveness. Vague or unfocused economic development strategies without measurable job creation goals are common weaknesses.
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