The application deadline for Phase 1 of the Recompete Pilot Program is October 5 – less than two months away! If you are applying for this funding opportunity, EDA encourages you to start your application today.  

Themes for Applicants to Keep in Mind 

As you’re starting your application, two important themes to keep in mind: 

• Focus on Prime Age Employment and Per Capita Wages: While the Recompete Pilot Program allows for a wide range of Phase 2 implementation activities and encourages innovative proposals, applicants should focus proposed Recompete Plan investments on those which will most effectively reduce the prime age employment gap and raise per capita wages in their identified service area. For Recompete Plan approval, applicants should clearly explain how their proposed investments would directly achieve such outcomes. EDA has published an Illustrative Implementation Investments guide, which you can access here. Please note: the examples in this guide are purely illustrative and are not indicative of EDA preferences on any particular intervention or approach.  

• Design a Targeted Geographic Approach: As stated in the Recompete Notice of Funding Opportunity, this is a “place-based program.” Funding is intended to improve and increase opportunities in a particular place. While applicants are free to identify any service area within an eligible geography, EDA encourages applicants to provide a clear rationale as to why they chose their service area and how EDA funding will have a discernible impact in that place.  

Updated FAQs and New Resources 

• Frequently Asked Questions: To assist communities in the Recompete Pilot Program application process, EDA has updated its Frequently Asked Questions website, including #19, 27, 37, 47, 48, 49, and 52. Please read all FAQs carefully as they may impact your application. The FAQs will be updated periodically during the application period to clarify questions we receive. Click here to view the updated FAQs. 
• Supplemental Guides: EDA has published three guides to support applicants in developing strong applications: (1) Illustrative Implementation Investments; (2)  Menu of Community Commitments (NEW); and (3) Additional Federal Funding Opportunities (NEW).  

Starting Your Application 

• Watch our Recent Webinar: An Application Basics public webinar was held July 27. View a recording of the webinar here. The slides from the webinar are available here.  
• Register for EDGE and SAM.GOV now: Register as soon as possible in EDA’s new grant management system, EDGE, to ensure you don’t have issues with submitting your application. To create an account, you will need your organization’s Unique Entity ID (UEI) and basic contact information. If you do not have an active UEI, please register on SAM.gov. While not required to sign up for EDGE, an active CAGE code in SAM.gov is required when an applicant is selected for an award. Once you have established an EDGE account, you can start your Recompete application here. If you are having issues with EDGE, please reach out to GrantHDSupport@eda.gov. 
• If you are a nonprofit: As part of their application, an applicant that is a nonprofit organization must provide a letter from the leadership of a political subdivision of the state clearly stating they support the application. Please reach out to your state or local government to secure such a letter as soon as possible.    

Contact EDA with any questions. You can find your Economic Development Representative on our Contact Us page or email Recompete@eda.gov.