Philadelphia FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) in Philadelphia has launched a new grants management platform, the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE). Applications for grants related to the EDA's planning and local technical assistance program must now be submitted via EDGE and will no longer be accepted through Grants.gov as of April 6, 2023. Full instructions on how to apply via EDGE are provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

EDGE was designed to enhance the grant application process by improving transparency, user experience, data quality, and efficiency. However, please note that applications for Partnership Planning should not be made via EDGE; for these, you should contact your point of contact.

EDA provides funding via the planning and local technical assistance program to stimulate economic growth, support employment and attract private investment in economically challenged regions of the U.S, through a variety of planning awards. Under the Planning program, EDA supports the development and implementation of regional economic development plans, resisting in capacity building, promoting economic prosperity and resilience.

EDA provides Partnership Planning awards to certain planning bodies such as District Organizations serving EDA-associated Economic Development Districts and to Indian Tribes for the development or revision of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), which articulate and prioritize the strategic economic goals of the region.

EDA also provides Short-Term and State Planning awards for activities aimed at guiding the creation and retention of quality jobs, particularly for unemployed or underemployed individuals in economically distressed regions.

In addition, the Local Technical Assistance program offers grants aimed at strengthening the abilities of local or State organizations, educational institutions, and other eligible entities to develop and promote effective economic development programs. This is achieved through projects like feasibility studies, impact analyses, disaster resiliency plans, and project planning.

It should be noted that despite the published Notice of Funding Opportunity stating that the ED900A form and the SF424B form are required for a complete application, these forms are no longer needed and have been removed from the package template.