Opportunity Information: Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006617

The EDA-HDQ-OIE-2020-STEMTALENT opportunity (also listed as EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006617) is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the Economic Development Administration (EDA). It is designed to help regions build and test new, practical apprenticeship models in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that line up with the needs of their local innovation economy. In plain terms, EDA is looking for projects that do more than generic workforce training; the focus is on apprenticeships that directly connect people to real jobs and career pathways in innovative, fast-growing sectors within a specific region.

At the core of the program is the STEM Talent Challenge goal: expanding or strengthening regional workforce capacity so communities can better support high-growth and high-wage entrepreneurial ventures, "industries of the future" (often meaning sectors built around emerging technologies), and other innovation-driven companies that are likely to drive competitiveness and job creation. The emphasis is on talent development that helps innovation ecosystems function better, such as improving the supply of skilled workers for startups and scaling firms, strengthening employer-driven training partnerships, and creating structured on-the-job learning models that can be replicated or expanded. The opportunity aligns with funding activity areas that include employment, labor and training, regional development, and science and technology or other research and development-related efforts, reflecting that these projects sit at the intersection of workforce development and economic growth strategy.

The funding instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of $300,000 per award and an anticipated total of about 10 awards. The program is associated with CFDA number 11.023. The opportunity was created on August 27, 2020, with an original application deadline of October 14, 2020. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere in the full announcement, indicating the competition may be open to a range of organization types depending on EDA's specific eligibility rules for this solicitation.

Overall, this solicitation is aimed at regions that want to build modern STEM apprenticeship pipelines tied to innovation-led economic development. Competitive proposals would typically be expected to show a clear link between apprenticeship design and the specific regional industries and employers driving innovation, and to demonstrate how the model will contribute to stronger talent pipelines, better job outcomes, and long-term regional economic competitiveness.

  • The Department of Commerce in the employment, labor and training, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification), regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "EDA-HDQ-OIE-2020-STEMTALENT" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.023.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Aug 27, 2020.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 14, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006617

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FAQs: EDA-HDQ-OIE-2020-STEMTALENT (STEM Talent Challenge) Grant Opportunity

What is the EDA-HDQ-OIE-2020-STEMTALENT opportunity?

EDA-HDQ-OIE-2020-STEMTALENT (also listed as EDA HDQ OIE 2020 2006617) is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The solicitation focuses on helping regions build and test new, practical STEM apprenticeship models tied to real jobs and regional economic needs.

Which federal agency is offering this grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA).

What is the main purpose of the STEM Talent Challenge?

The core goal is to expand or strengthen regional workforce capacity so communities can better support high-growth and high-wage entrepreneurial ventures, industries of the future (often tied to emerging technologies), and other innovation-driven companies that drive competitiveness and job creation.

What types of projects is EDA looking for under this opportunity?

The solicitation is aimed at projects that build and test modern, practical apprenticeship models in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The focus is not on generic workforce training, but on apprenticeship pipelines that directly connect people to real jobs and career pathways in innovative, fast-growing sectors within a specific region.

Is this funding meant for general workforce training programs?

No. The opportunity emphasizes projects that go beyond generic training. EDA is looking for structured, employer-connected apprenticeships that are designed around specific regional industries and the local innovation economy, with clear connections to jobs and career pathways.

How does this grant connect workforce development to economic development?

These projects sit at the intersection of talent development and regional economic growth strategy. The aim is to strengthen innovation ecosystems by improving the supply of skilled workers for startups and scaling firms, strengthening employer-driven training partnerships, and creating on-the-job learning models that can be replicated or expanded.

What is meant by "innovation economy" in this solicitation?

Based on the description provided, the innovation economy refers to regional sectors and employers associated with innovation-driven growth, including startups, scaling firms, and emerging-technology-related industries that are likely to drive competitiveness and job creation.

What are "industries of the future" in the context of this opportunity?

The solicitation describes industries of the future as sectors built around emerging technologies and other innovation-driven areas expected to contribute to future competitiveness and employment growth.

What outcomes are competitive proposals expected to demonstrate?

Competitive proposals would typically be expected to show: (1) a clear link between apprenticeship design and specific regional industries and employers driving innovation; and (2) how the model will contribute to stronger talent pipelines, better job outcomes, and long-term regional economic competitiveness.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $300,000 per award.

How many awards are anticipated?

The solicitation anticipates about 10 awards in total.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 11.023.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on August 27, 2020.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was October 14, 2020.

Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere in the full announcement. This suggests the competition may be open to a range of organization types, depending on EDA's specific eligibility rules for this solicitation.

Does the solicitation specify exactly which organization types qualify?

Not in the information provided here. It notes that additional eligibility details are referenced elsewhere in the full announcement, meaning applicants would need to rely on the full solicitation for the definitive eligibility requirements.

What activity areas does this opportunity align with?

The opportunity aligns with activity areas that include employment, labor and training, regional development, and science and technology or other research and development-related efforts.

What makes an apprenticeship model a good fit for this program?

Based on the description, a strong fit is an apprenticeship model that is practical, employer-connected, and structured around real on-the-job learning. It should be tailored to the region's innovation-led industries and designed to improve workforce pipelines for innovation-driven employers.

Is replication or scalability important for proposed models?

Yes. The description emphasizes creating structured on-the-job learning models that can be replicated or expanded, implying that EDA values approaches that can extend beyond a one-off effort.

What is the overall focus of the solicitation in plain terms?

In plain terms, the grant is aimed at regions that want to build modern STEM apprenticeship pipelines tied to innovation-led economic development, with apprenticeships that connect people to real jobs in innovative, fast-growing sectors within a specific region.

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Funding Opportunity
FY 2021 STEM Talent Challenge Program Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2021 2007015

Funding Number: EDA HDQ OIE 2021 2007015
Agency: Department of Commerce
Category: Employment, Labor and Training, Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification), Regional Development, Science and Technology and other Research and
Funding Amount: $250,000

 

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