ACT Now Spotlight – Resources for Community Revitalization & Key Priorities

Funding Available to Grow Labor Force Participation
EDA Recompete Pilot Program: Phase 1 -- Due October 5, 2023

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Recompete Pilot Phase 1 Program is offering grants up to $750,000 to support planning activities to alleviate persistent economic distress and support long-term, comprehensive economic development and job creation in distressed communities with low labor force participation rates. Successful projects should demonstrate a clear understanding of local conditions and pathways to create and connect people with good jobs while ensuring the program’s benefits are shared equitably.

The Recompete Pilot program is broken into two phases in which only successful applicants who receive Phase 1 awards may compete for Phase 2 funds. Eligible Phase 1 projects may include:

  1. Strategy Development Grant (up to $750,000):
    • Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, coordination and execution of an inclusive, locally-defined planning process to develop a comprehensive regional strategy to address high prime-age employment gaps (ages 25-54) in the region (PAEG strategy); identification and fostering of regional partnerships for developing and implementing a comprehensive regional PAEG strategy; assessments to determine regional needs and capacities;​ development or updating of goals and strategies to implement an existing comprehensive regional PAEG strategy; and activities necessary to prepare for strategy implementation, which may include workforce development strategies, and environmental and engineering documentation.

2. Recompete Plan Approval

    • ​​A Recompete Plan will demonstrate the applicant has a multi-year plan for reducing the PAEG of the eligible area with a strong probability of success. A competitive plan will demonstrate understanding of regional conditions and needs; have a strong strategy and quality of potential investments; be equitable, inclusive, accessibile, and diverse; have regional assets with the potential to change the regional economic dynamics; outline a targeted geographic approach; and engage and have commitment from key local, regional, and state partners.

Applicants may apply for either a Strategy Development Grant, approval of a Recompete Plan, or both. Only those that receive approval for a Recompete Plan in Phase 1 will be permitted to apply for Implementation funds.

Eligible applicants include units of local government, Tribal governments, political subdivisions of a State or other entity (including a special-purpose entity engaged in economic development activities), public entities or nonprofit organizations acting in cooperation with the officials of a political subdivision of a State or special purpose economic development entity, economic development districts, and coalitions of any of the above entities. Applicants must be located within or serve an area indicated as eligible on the Recompete Eligibility Mapping Tool, which can be accessed here. No match is required.​

Phase 1 applications for the EDA Recompete Pilot Program are due on October 5, 2023.

For more information about how Sustainable Strategies DC can help your community with an EDA Recompete Pilot Phase 1 application, please contact Nicole Marion at (267) 294-8166. For additional information on other funding opportunities, please click here for our website

Funding Available to Address Food Insecurity in Rural Communities​
USDA Community Food Grants -- Due October 30, 2023

The U.S. Department of Rural Agriculture (USDA) Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program is offering up to $400,000 for community food projects that help fight food insecurity and promote self-sufficiency of low-income communities. Community Food Projects are designed to increase food security in communities by bringing the whole food system together to assess strengths, establish linkages, and create systems that improve the self-reliance of community members over their food needs. The CFPCG is offering grants under two funding areas:

  • Community Food Projects (CFP) support the development of projects with a one-time infusion of federal dollars that will spur self-sustaining project activities. Examples of CFP Projects include, but are not limited to, community gardens with market stands, value chain projects, food hubs, farmers’ markets, farm-to-institutions projects, and marketing & consumer cooperatives. All projects must involve low-income participants (up to $400,000).
  • Planning Projects (PP) support the early-stage investment in new projects and/or the creation of plans that help improve community food security. Examples of PP’s include, but are not limited to, community food assessments, coordination of collaboration development plans, Global Information Systems analyses, food sovereignty studies, and farm-to-institution exploration. All projects must involve low-income participants (up to $35,000).


Preference under both CFP and PP will be given to projects that develop links between multiple sectors of the food system, support entrepreneurial projects, build long-term capacity of communities, and help to reduce food insecurity.

Eligible applicants include public food program service providers, tribal organizations, or private, nonprofit entities. A 1:1 match is required.

Applications for the USDA Community Food Projects Grant Program are due October 30, 2023.

For more information about how Sustainable Strategies DC can help your community with a USDA CFPCG application, please contact Nicole Marion at (267) 294-8166. For additional information on other funding opportunities, please click here for our website.

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