In this Edition Grants, Funding, Webinar Information and Program Info from Regional and Federal Partners 

ARC:  POWER, Entrepreneurship Academy, Funding & Program Info and Deadline Extensions

ARC is assisting grantees who are unable to meet project goals or timelines due to the current situation. If you are a current ARC grantee experiencing such challenges, please email your ARC project coordinator and state program manager as soon as possible for help with needed accommodations regarding your project’s deliverables, timelines, budget, or other operations. (When emailing, please put your ARC project number in the subject line. This will make responding to your request easier).

• ARC has extended the application deadline for the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy to March 31, 2020. Should this program, or the ARC/ORNL Summer STEM program, need to be modified further, an announcement will be made in mid-April.

The deadline for POWER applications moved to April 24, 5 pm ET. Additional revisions can also be made to applications already submitted to power.arc.gov during this thirty-day extension.  

EDA:  Opportunity Zones

Two new resources to support local development strategies that seek to increase investment and job growth in Opportunity Zones and other distressed areas EDA has updated the CEDS Content Guidelines to help communities across the country to maximize their ability to attract investment to Opportunity Zones. Find the updated CEDS content guidelines here. EDA, Indiana University (IU), and its Kelley School of Business launched the USA Opportunity Zones tool. The tool resides on StatsAmerica. The tool combines location information from OZs with reports that list EDDs, University Programs, nearby EDA investments, and other demographic and economic metrics. View these additional tools and resources for OZs:

• EDA investments in projects located in and around Opportunity Zones
• Compilation of Federal Actions and Resources supporting OZs
• Final Regulations on Opportunity Zones

USDA:

ReConnect Deadline Extended to March 31, 2020

USDA RD ReConnect Broadband Funding Available. USDA is now accepting applications for the second round of ReConnect Program loan and grant funding. Funds available include up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for loan and grant combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans. Applications for all funding products will be accepted in the same application window, which will close no later than March 16, 2020. To learn more about eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect.

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Deadline Extended to April 15, 2020

USDA Rural Energy for America Program has extended the deadline for accepting REAP Grant applications until April 15, 2020. This extension was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2020. Additional information regarding the deadlines, program or necessary application materials can be found at the following webpage:  www.rd.usda.gov

Read the full announcement to learn more about the opportunities USDA Rural Development is implementing to provide immediate CoVid-19 relief to our customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Contact Randy Monhemius with any questions or concerns:

Randel Monhemius Business Program Specialist Ohio State Office, Rural Development United States Department of Agriculture 200 North High Street, Room 507 Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 614-255-2424    

Innovation and Technology

NEW: NSF Research Grants for Future Manufacturing (FM)

PROGRAM SOLICITATION NSF 20-552: The goal of NSF’s Future Manufacturing program is to support fundamental research that will enable manufacturing approaches that are either entirely new or that can be done today but not at a sufficient scale to make them economically viable. Future Manufacturing will require the design and deployment of diverse new technologies for synthesis and sensing, and new algorithms for manufacturing new materials, chemicals, devices, components, and systems. It will require new advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, new cyberinfrastructure, new approaches for mathematical and computational modeling, new dynamics and control methodologies, new ways to integrate systems biology, synthetic biology and bioprocessing, and new ways to influence the economy, workforce, human behavior, and society.

Proposals should provide examples of how the research results could lead to transformational manufacturing advances that address significant problems. They should provide a vision statement describing the new manufacturing capabilities that could be enabled by the proposed research, and the potential industrial and societal benefits. They should also describe the implications of the proposed activities on the education of the skilled technical workforce. Three thrust areas have been identified for support in FY 2020 under this solicitation:

• Future Cyber Manufacturing Research,
• Future Eco Manufacturing Research, and
• Future Biomanufacturing Research.

A one-page Letter of Intent is required for all tracks and should be submitted via FastLane no later than April 10. Full information is available at: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20552

Letter of Intent Due April 1: DOE Invites Applications for SBIR Phase II Small Business Projects

In early March, DOE will release a Phase II funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Phase II projects are expanded R&D efforts with awards of up to $1,100,000 over two years. Applicants must have received a Phase I or Phase II award to apply. Visit the DOE-wide SBIR-STTR page for more information.

Transportation

HOPE Transit Funding Deadline extended to June 3, 2020

The HOPE transit funding program supports planning, engineering and technical studies or financial planning to improve transit services in areas experiencing long-term economic distress.  It will also support coordinated human service transportation planning to improve transit service or provide new services such as rides to opioid abuse recovery, treatment and employment. The deadline for the Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity is now June 3.

https://www.transit.dot.gov/HOPE

https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/applying/notices-funding/helping-obtain-prosperity-everyone-hope-program-fy2020-notice

Eligible OVRDC Counties that meet the criteria (not all counties are eligible):

39001 OH Adams County

39009 OH Athens County

39053 OH Gallia County

39079 OH Jackson County

39095 OH Lucas County

39105 OH Meigs County

39115 OH Morgan County

39131 OH Pike County

39145 OH Scioto County

39163 OH Vinton County

Open Federal Funding Opportunities:

Below is a list of previously highlighted funding opportunities that are still open. Enter the Opportunity Number in www.Grants.gov to see announcement details. You can also search Grants.gov for a full list of current federal opportunities, including programs not listed below.

Webinars

USDA Webinar: Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)

Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time

Join USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program for a webinar to learn how to apply for Rural Community Development Initiative Program grants. These grants are for qualified intermediaries to provide capacity-building assistance to help improve housing and community facilities, and to implement community and economic development projects in rural areas. Participants will learn about program requirements, scoring criteria and application deadlines. Register today!

Manufacturing USA Webinar on “Alliance Pathway” Input on NIST’s Process to Recognize Manufacturing Centers

Tuesday, April 16, 2020

Manufacturing USA Webinar April 16, Comments By August 25: The Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office at NIST, which coordinates with other federal agencies on Manufacturing USA, has issued a Request for Information (RFI).

The RFI seeks comments from the public on an “alliance pathway” where manufacturing centers outside of Manufacturing USA could be recognized by the Secretary of Commerce as centers for manufacturing innovation. In particular, the office requests feedback on risks, the proposed application process for alliance members, and responses to questions including eligibility and evaluation criteria, funding opportunities for alliance members, and requirements for the alliance members. Please see the RFI for additional details and submit your input here. In addition, please consider attending an upcoming webinar (next one on April 16). Stakeholder roundtable sessions will also be held across the country through June. Read more here. The comment period closes August 25, 2020.

CDBG Webinar Community Development Programs

• Webinar for CDBG Community Development programs application training on Weds. April 29 at 1pm.

Contact info for CDBG program Field Representatives prepared by the Office of Community Development, Community Services Division, Ohio Development Services Agency

Adams – Ben Kepple (614)466-1880

Brown – Ben Kepple (614)466-1880

Clermont – CDBG Entitlement County

Fayette – Ben Kepple (614)466-1880

Gallia – Haley Lupton (614)466-9105

Highland – Ben Kepple (614)466-1880

Jackson – Haley Lupton (614)466-9105

Lawrence – Haley Lupton (614)466-9105

Pike – Ben Kepple (614)466-1880

Ross – Ben Kepple (614)466-1880

Scioto – Ben Kepple (614)466-1880

Vinton – Haley Lupton (614)466-9105

Regional Priorities:  Broadband Expansion

BroadbandOhio Office Created  to Expand and Coordinate Access Across Ohio

Governor DeWine Creates BroadbandOhio to Support Expansion of High-Speed Internet

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Today, Governor Mike DeWine announced the creation of BroadbandOhio, an office dedicated to improving access to high-speed internet across Ohio. Establishing an office committed to increasing high-speed internet access across the state was a pillar of the Ohio Broadband Strategy that was released in December 2019.

BroadbandOhio will implement the Ohio Broadband Strategy and be the point of contact for all broadband projects in Ohio. The office will be charged with identifying high-priority initiatives and ensure their completion, as well as serve as a liaison among state agencies in order to implement the goals of the state in expanding access and supporting Ohioans who have been left without access to the modern economy, education system, and healthcare system due to their lack of high-speed connectivity.

Peter Voderberg has been named the Broadband Ohio office chief. Voderberg has worked in state government for many years, including in the Ohio House and Senate, and most recently served as an Assistant Policy Director in Governor Mike DeWine’s Office.

BroadbandOhio will also serve as a resource for local governments and private industry as they undergo their own expansion efforts. Lt. Governor Jon Husted said, “You cannot have opportunities in the modern economy or access to the modern education system or healthcare system without having access to broadband internet.”

In December, InnovateOhio, released the Ohio Broadband Strategy, which is a comprehensive plan to expand broadband access across Ohio. Among other things, the plan calls for the creation of a telehealth initiative, defines a pathway to expand access to state-owned rights of way, and utilizes the Common Sense Initiative (CSI) to improve the regulatory environment associated with expanding services.

BroadbandOhio will help coordinate these initiatives with InnovateOhio, and work with the General Assembly to develop a statewide grant program to address the high costs of expanding service in parts of Ohio. BroadbandOhio will be housed within the Development Services Agency.

Thank you and remember, we are all #InThisTogetherOhio. Be safe. Stay home and social distance from others. Wash your hands often. Help others and be #OhioStrong.

For the latest information on the CoVid-19 pandemic, please visit coronavirus.ohio.gov.