FY 2021 – 2023 Economic Development RNTA
🏛 Department of Commerce
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for economic development, research, and technical assistance projects in distressed areas. Eligible applicants include district organizations, Indian tribes, state/local governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, private individuals, and for-profit organizations. The two-step application requires a concept proposal first, followed by a full application upon invitation. Projects must support economic development strategies that create jobs and attract private investment.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
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. Once your concept proposal has been reviewed, you will receive an invitation to apply in EDGE. More information on how to apply is provided in the full NOFO. You must submit concept proposals to rnta@eda.gov.
Program Description
EDA provides strategic investments on a competitive merit basis to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas of the United States. Under this NOFO, EDA solicits applications from applicants in order to provide investments that support research and technical assistance projects under EDA’s R&E and NTA programs. Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities.
This NOFO employs a two-step application process: (1) the Concept Proposal and (2) the Full Application. EDA will only review Full Applications submitted by applicants who first submitted a Concept Proposal. Any Full Application received from an applicant that did not submit a Concept Proposal will be deemed ineligible and not considered for funding. For the Concept Proposal, applicants may use the optional template available at https://eda.gov/programs/rnta/resources/. Full Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov using the link that EDA will provide with its response to the Concept Proposal.
*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
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Concept Proposal (optional template available from EDA)
- Full Application (submitted through EDGE platform after invitation)
- Organizational documentation proving eligibility
- Project narrative and economic development strategy
- Budget and justification
- Demonstrate connection to economically distressed area
Program contact
- 👤 Bernadette Grafton Program Analyst
- 📧 rnta@eda.gov
- 📞 202-482-2917
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 11.312 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$3,810,770
-
$1,904,287
-
$1,866,254
-
$1,284,817
-
$539,960
-
$500,000
Top States by Funding
- IL 1 awards $3.8M
- DC 2 awards $2.4M
- VA 1 awards $1.3M
- CA 1 awards $0.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 11.312). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,094,313 | |
| 2026 est. | $2,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include state/local governments, nonprofits, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, district organizations, private individuals, and for-profit organizations. All must demonstrate a role in economic development.
What is the two-step application process?
First, submit a concept proposal to rnta@eda.gov. If selected, EDA invites you to submit a full application through their EDGE platform.
What is the funding range for awards?
Awards typically range from $1 to $1,500,000, depending on project scope and merit.
When are applications due?
This is a rolling program with no fixed deadline. Submit concept proposals continuously to rnta@eda.gov.
What does the project need to accomplish?
Projects must support economic development strategies that create jobs, attract investment, and advance prosperity in economically distressed communities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Submit your concept proposal first to rnta@eda.gov; you cannot proceed to full application without EDA's invitation.
- Use the optional concept proposal template available on EDA's RNTA resources page to strengthen your submission.
- Demonstrate how your project will leverage existing regional assets and support a clear economic development strategy.
- Focus on measurable outcomes like job creation, private investment attraction, and community prosperity metrics.
- Ensure your organization's eligibility is clear in the concept proposal to avoid delays in the invitation process.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting a full application without first submitting a concept proposal will result in automatic rejection. Failing to clearly connect your project to job creation and private investment in distressed areas weakens competitiveness. Vague strategies without specific regional assets or implementation plans reduce funding likelihood.
Similar grants
- ROLLING Atlanta FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance — Department of Commerce
- ROLLING Seattle FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance — Department of Commerce
- ROLLING Austin FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance — Department of Commerce
- ROLLING Denver FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance — Department of Commerce
- ROLLING Chicago FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance — Department of Commerce