EDA / American Rescue Plan Status Update – Funding Opportunities

The U.S. Economic Development Administration recently provided a status update on its EDA American Rescue Plan (ARP) programs. Since sharing an EDA/ARP Fact Sheet in Regional Update last August, Southeast Michigan’s local governments and partner organizations have been busy. We know this because we have been talking with many of you and sharing background information, data, and technical assistance with those pursuing opportunities to stimulate regional economic growth. SEMCOG has proudly supported the following efforts:

• The Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) coalition’s Build Back Better application – The DRP’s application was announced by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo as one of 60 national finalists, which receives Phase I funding. This initiative will leverage the region’s expertise in the automotive industry and growing advanced mobility industry. SEMCOG continues to provide input into the process. Phase 2 of the Challenge, which will award 20-30 regional coalitions up to $100 million to implement 3-8 projects that support an industry, has a March 15, 2022 deadline.
• Communities pursuing funding through the EDA’s Good Jobs Challenge national competition.
• The Downriver Community Conference’s application for EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) funding for coal-affected communities – SEMCOG organized an EDA/SEMCOG Coal Communities Discussion webinar with communities participating from Monroe, St. Clair, and Wayne Counties. SEMCOG also participated in the Downriver Community Conference’s strategy meetings – led by the University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute – that provided guidance to DCC’s application.
• Communities pursuing EDA Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation funding – These projects are important in a number of ways, including the connections they provide for people to the places they live with infrastructure and services that support a high quality of life. They also support efforts to develop local neighborhoods and business districts as dynamic and diverse places to live, work, and visit.

While the deadline for most of these programs has passed, the EDA is strongly recommending that applicants contact their local Economic Development Representative to discuss availability of funds, including funding through EDA’s EAA and Indigenous Communities programs. EDA advises communities to submit applications for these programs no later than March 31, 2022.

For more information, the EDA Representative in Michigan is Lee Shirey.

For SEMCOG Letters of Support that demonstrate your application proposal’s consistency with the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), please contact me at [email protected] or (313) 324-3353.