EDA Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program
U.S. Economic Development Administration
$20M–$40M per award
Researched for this program: 5 rejection traps · 7 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
EDA's place-based economic revival grants
The Recompete Pilot Program provides large-scale implementation grants ($20–$40M each) to economically distressed regions with high prime-age employment gaps. Phase 1 funded strategy development and plan approval; Phase 2 awards implementation funding for multi-year workforce, business development, and infrastructure projects. Authorized under the CHIPS and Science Act at $1 billion over 5 years.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $20,000,000 – $40,000,000
- Realistic amount
- Awards have ranged from $19M to $51M per region based on Phase 2 awards announced in August 2024.
- Deadline
- Closed — Phase 2 applications closed April 25, 2024 and the six awards have been made. No new competition announced.
- Status
- closed
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Applicant must be a Recompete Finalist — only organizations that received approved Recompete Plans in Phase 1 may apply for Phase 2 Implementation Grants
- Eligible applicants include: local governments, regional planning organizations, nonprofits, educational institutions, and tribal governments in designated Recompete-eligible areas
- Region must demonstrate a statistically significant prime-age employment gap (PAEG) relative to national median and median household income below national median
- For Phase 1 Strategy Development Grants (closed), a broader pool of applicants in eligible geographies could apply
- Organizations applying on behalf of a region must demonstrate capacity to manage multi-million dollar grants and coordinate multi-stakeholder implementation
Hard requirements
- Funds intermediaries, not businesses directly
- Location restriction: Designated Recompete-eligible areas with qualifying prime-age employment gap and below-median household income
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Workforce development programs — apprenticeships, job training, reskilling initiatives
- Business and entrepreneur development — technical assistance, capital access support, incubators
- Infrastructure improvements supporting job creation — broadband, transportation access, public utilities
- Planning, predevelopment, and technical assistance activities
- Program administration and evaluation (within allowable limits)
Ineligible expenses
- Direct subsidies to private businesses for profit-making activities
- Lobbying and political activities
- Activities not tied to the approved Recompete Plan
- Debt service on existing obligations
- Costs that are not allowable under 2 CFR Part 200
How to apply
-
1
Verify geographic eligibility via EDA mapping tool
Use the EDA Recompete Eligibility Mapping Tool to confirm your region qualifies based on prime-age employment gap and median household income criteria under the CHIPS Act statute.
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2
Register in SAM.gov and obtain active UEI
Ensure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Registration must remain active throughout the award period.
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3
Assemble regional coalition and develop Recompete Plan
For Phase 1, develop a comprehensive plan identifying root causes of economic distress and proposed intervention strategies. Coalition must include workforce, economic development, education, and business partners.
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4
Submit Stage I and Stage II application packages
Phase 2 Implementation Grants required a two-stage application: Stage I (concept/eligibility verification) and Stage II (full technical + budget narrative). Submit via grants.gov with required attachments.
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5
Post-award compliance and reporting
Awardees manage 5–8 sub-projects with rigorous federal reporting, including quarterly financial reports, annual performance reports, and adherence to EDA's grant conditions.
Phase 2 is closed to Recompete Finalists only — not accessible to new entrants. Monitor for future competition rounds.
Deadline & timing
Phase 2 applications closed February 18, 2026. A future funding round has not been announced. Monitor eda.gov for new NOFOs.
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