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For inquiries, please email BusinessLiaison@doc.gov
This week, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Biden Administration launched the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete) competition. The Recompete Pilot Program will invest $200 million in projects that spur economic activity in geographically diverse and persistently distressed communities across the country.
Recompete, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, is a part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda, stimulating private sector investment, creating good-paying jobs, revitalizing American manufacturing, and ensuring no community is left behind. The announcement comes on the heels of President Biden delivering a major economic address on “Bidenomics” – his vision for growing the economy from the middle-out and bottom-up, including by investing in America and communities left behind, empowering workers, and increasing competition to lower costs.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2.6 Billion Framework Through Investing in America Agenda to Protect Coastal Communities and Restore Marine Resources
On June 6th, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce unveiled a $2.6 billion framework to invest in coastal climate resilience through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. As part of the President’s Investing in America Agenda, this initiative will support communities and people on the frontlines of climate change, dedicating nearly $400 million specifically for Tribal priorities and benefiting coastal and Great Lakes communities nationwide with an emphasis on environmental justice.
Read more about these historic and equitable initiatives here.
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The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced that a U.S. delegation will travel to Busan, South Korea, for the fourth negotiating round of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) from July 9-15, 2023.
The first negotiating round was held in Brisbane, Australia, from December 10-12, 2022, followed by a special negotiating round on Pillars II-IV in New Delhi, India, from February 8-11, 2023. The second negotiating round was held in Bali, Indonesia from March 13-19, 2023, followed by the third negotiating round in Singapore from May 8-15, 2023.
For more information on IPEF, please click here.
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Pride Month provides us with an important moment to pause and reflect on the remarkable strength, determination, and advancements of the LGBTQI+ community. It also serves as a time to pay tribute to the countless individuals who dedicated themselves for years, overcoming tremendous obstacles, to pave the way for future generations.
Through this symbolic flag, the Department proudly expresses our unwavering support for the LGBTQI+ members of our community. It represents our shared commitment, aligned with the Biden Administration, to forge a society that embraces diversity and fosters inclusivity for all Americans.
Click here to watch Secretary Raimondo’s remarks commemorating Pride Month.
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The U.S. Department of Commerce announced its first-ever Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, which will provide $575 million in funding through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help coastal and Great Lakes communities, including Tribal communities in those regions, become more resilient to extreme weather and other impacts of the climate crisis. The Challenge is the first and largest funding opportunity released under the $2.6 billion Inflation Reduction Act climate resilience framework.
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Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced a Strategic Vision and Application Process for Semiconductor Supply Chain Projects, nearly 400 Companies Interested in CHIPS Incentives.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has shared the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategic vision to strengthen the semiconductor supply chain through CHIPS for America investments. To advance this vision, the Department announced a funding opportunity and application process for large semiconductor supply chain projects and will release later in the fall a separate process for smaller projects. Large semiconductor supply chain projects include materials and manufacturing equipment facility projects with capital investments equal to or exceeding $300 million.
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U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is launching a new public working group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that will build on the success of the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (RMF) to address this rapidly advancing technology. The Public Working Group on Generative AI will help address the opportunities and challenges associated with AI that can generate content, such as code, text, images, videos and music. The public working group will also help NIST develop key guidance to help organizations address the special risks associated with generative AI technologies. Read more here.
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“Access to Internet is no longer a luxury and thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we are taking action to close the digital divide for everyone in America. The Middle Mile program will invest more than $900 million in the infrastructure needed to connect communities, military bases, and Tribal lands to the Internet, lower the cost of access, and increase bandwidth.” - Secretary Gina Raimondo
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced $930 million to expand middle mile high-speed Internet infrastructure across 35 states and Puerto Rico as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All Initiative, the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program invests in projects that build regional networks that connect to national Internet networks.
Read more about middle mile high-speed Internet infrastructure here.
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QUIZ: Learn More About NTIA’s Internet for All Program!
1. Which key Biden Administration legislation helped enact the Internet for All program?
a) American Rescue Plan
b) Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
c) CHIPS and Science Act
d) Inflation Reduction Act
2. How much money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was allocated so all Americans can access affordable, reliable, and high-speed internet?
a) $65 billion
b) $500 million
c) $50 billion
d) $60 billion
3. How much funding is included in the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program to heighten adoption and use, like digital literacy training, for those who need it most, including communities of color, rural communities, and older Americans.
a) $500 million
b) $400 million
c) $1.44 billion
d) $700 million
4. True or False: The FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program provides monthly discounts for qualifying households.
a) True
b) False
CORRECT ANSWERS:
1- b) Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
2- a) $65 billion
3- c) $1.44 billion
4- a) True! The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program provides $30 per month, and $75 per month on Tribal lands, for qualifying households to purchase internet access.
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Personnel Spotlight: Brandon Bradford
Special Advisor for External Affairs, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Q: What is your role/title? How did you come to this work?
A: I am a Special Advisor for External Affairs in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Office (NTIA) and work specifically on one of our key priorities, Internet for All. I started working at the Department of Commerce in the Office of the Secretary as the Deputy Director of Advance, and then moved to my current role. During the first six months at NTIA, I traveled with Andy Burke, the Special Representative of Broadband, former mayor of Chattanooga, TN. While traveling the country with Andy, we shared the scope of our programs, why local communities matter, and informed communities about our Notice(s) of Funding.
Q: Can you give a definition/ description of NTIA?
A: By law NTIA is charged with being the principal advisor to the President on telecommunication and information policy. Right now, NTIA’s major focus is expanding high-speed Internet access and adoption, increasing the use of spectrum by all users, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth. As mentioned earlier, a key focus of my office is the Internet for All (IFA) programs, which have the ambitious goal to ensuring everyone in America has access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. This program sounds simple in theory but is very complex in application.
There're two marquee IFA programs folks can be a part of:
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The BEAD program, stands for broadband, equity access and deployment. This program allocates $42 billion to states to ensure every home and business has a high-speed connection.
- The Digital Equity Acts program, which addresses devices, skills, and affordability.
The Department of Commerce supports local stakeholder engagement for program implementation, which is where my office comes into the process.
Q: What is the timeline for the Internet for All (IFA) program?
A: The IFA program application process started in 2022 with a letter of intent from all 50 states, which contained an agreement to craft a plan for implementation in their region. The state acceptance of these federal funds hinged on undertaking significant tasks. Receiving initial planning funds to establish state broadband offices was contingent upon meeting a specific timeline, assuming such offices were not already in place. We recently announced the amount of federal funds each state will be receiving so they can begin crafting specific plans based on the amount of money they will receive.
Q: What should stakeholders know about the work that your team does? What is an unexpected impact from the IFA program that would surprise readers?
A: One of the most important results from IFA will be increased digital literacy. As mentioned earlier, I had the privilege early on to travel across the country and hear directly from communities how these programs will change lives. It’s clear that we take our digital skills for granted. The folks working here have regular access and exposure to laptops and devices that we’re not intimidated to use. However, some folks might not have the digital comfort, capacity, and knowledge for instance, of how to send an email. I recently traveled to Miami, to explore how service jobs required a level of digital literacy to input data into company online systems. It is especially clear in this new generation of telework, telehealth, online retail, and remote learning that these skills are imperative. Stakeholders should know that we’re bringing opportunity through new connectivity to people who need it most.
Q: Is there a primary email where NTIA can be contacted? How would you encourage readers to collaborate?
A: NTIA can be contacted by going to internetforall.gov. There, folks will find a map where you can click your state to access information on your federal program officer and your state broadband office, which can plug you into these opportunities.
Mark Colón, Director of the NTIA Office of Public Engagement has a strong commitment to stakeholder outreach and partnering with trusted organizations within communities. We know that trust is everything in terms of action. I think our commitment to this partnership is a unique attribute.
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In Case You Missed It
Grant Opportunities:
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Inflation Reduction Act: NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge
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https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=348810
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CZM Habitat Protection and Restoration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Competition
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https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=348701
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https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=348101
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CHIPS Incentives Program – Commercial Fabrication Facilities
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https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=348101
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Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development
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https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=348101
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To view all available funding opportunities across the Biden-Harris administration, click here:
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