Department of Commerce —Economic Development Administration

Program Description

Mission

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) mission is “to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.” EDA underwent reauthorization in 2004 and included the following brownfields-related provisions:

Authorizes grants for projects to expand, redevelop or reuse brownfields, within EDA’s existing program structure.
Authorizes grants for projects to develop brightfields sites, which will use solar energy technologies to develop abandoned or contaminated sites for commercial use.

EDA provides funding to promote infrastructure development, business development and economic revitalization.

Note: At the time of publication, EDA anticipated internal changes; interested parties should consult the EDA Web site for up-to-date information.

Brownfields Connections

Funds public works and infrastructure enhancements — targeted to state, local and tribal governments; public and private nonprofit organizations
Capitalizes revolving loan funds for state and local implementation of strategies to attract private sector investment — targeted to local governments, states and regional development organizations
Provides planning grants to economically distressed states and regions — targeted to state, regional, local and tribal governments
Funds infrastructure modernization at closed military bases — targeted to local governments, development organizations and reuse authorities

Resources

Financial Assistance

Public Works and Economic Development Facilities Program

The Public Works and Economic Development Program is EDA’s primary initiative that affects the redevelopment of brownfields.

Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants include: Economic Development Districts; Indian tribes or consortia of Indian tribes; states; cities or other political subdivisions; or institutions of higher education.

Limitations: No grants to individuals.

Availability: $164,367,851 was appropriated for fiscal year 2005.

Uses/Applications:

Support the construction or rehabilitation of essential public infrastructure and development facilities necessary to generate private sector jobs and investment

Redevelopment of brownfields, especially the modernization of industrial parks

Technology-led development and eco-industrial development on brownfield sites

Heritage preservation development investments such as those supported by the Preserve America Initiative

Economic Adjustment Assistance Program

This program helps states and local governments that experience sudden and severe economic dislocation or long-term economic deterioration to design and implement adjustment and redevelopment strategies. EDA has targeted the redevelopment of brownfields as a necessary and vital component in fulfilling program objectives.

Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include: institutions of higher learning, nonprofit organizations, and state and local governments.

Limitations: No grants to individuals.

Availability: $44,793,601 was appropriated for fiscal year 2005.

Uses/Applications:

Assist regions impacted by coal industry downsizing, timber industry issues and Alaska fishing-dependent communities

Assist communities that experience manufacturing job losses (e.g., major layoffs, plant closures, trade impacts, defense restructuring or disasters)

Planning Program for Economic Development Districts, Indian Tribes, States and Other Planning Organizations

Through the Districts, Tribes and Redevelopment Areas Program, EDA promotes workforce development activities in distressed areas at the local level. Presently, EDA supports 65 Indian tribes and over 300 economic development districts. Grants under the States and Urban Areas Program assist economically distressed states, sub-state planning regions, cities and urban counties to undertake significant new economic development planning, policy-making and implementation efforts.

Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants include: Economic Development Districts, Indian tribes, states and other planning organizations.

Limitations: In some cases, applications may be limited to entities who have already received funding.

Availability: $24,172,759 was appropriated for fiscal year 2005.

Technical Assistance

Technical Assistance Program: Local Technical Assistance; National Technical Assistance; and University Centers

Funds technical assistance projects to promote competitiveness and innovation.

Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include: Economic Development Districts; Indian tribes or consortia of Indian tribes; states; cities or other political subdivisions; or institutions of higher education.

Limitations: Availability of program funds is at EDA’s sole discretion. In some cases, applications may be restricted to entities who have already received funding. Universities may not have programs aligned with brownfields cleanup and redevelopment, however brownfields programs can be aligned to fit the missions and goals of the university programs.

Availability: $8,322,335 was appropriated for fiscal year 2005.

SNAPSHOT
Rumford, Maine

A property selected by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for redevelopment included a four-story, 66,000-square-foot building that was once part of the Mead Paper complex. With industrial activity dating back to the early 1900s, the Mead complex, located in the Town of Rumford, shut-down in 1998 after it announced it was leaving the specialty paper business. Working in partnership with the River Valley Growth Council, Mead realized the site could be reused as a facility to develop work skills and create new jobs for local citizens. The company donated the property and building to the River Valley Growth Council. Approximately $30,000 of the state’s EPA Brownfields grant was used to perform assessments on the property. This $2,000,000 site restoration project is funded by a $1,300,000 public works grant from EDA, with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development funding the remainder.

Additional Information

Dennis Alvord, Deputy Director, Intergovernmental Affairs
Economic Development Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 7816
14th St. & Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20230
202-482-4320
DAlvord@eda.doc.gov

Main Website: http://www.eda.gov

Region 3 | Mid-Atlantic Cleanup | Mid-Atlantic Brownfields & Land Revitalization