Infrastructure and Economic Development Quarterly Newsletter
October 9, 2020 | Lewis-Burke Associates LLC |
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In this Issue:
A VIEW FROM WASHINGTON
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATES
FEDERAL AGENCY AND ADMINISTRATION UPDATES
WHAT WE'RE READING
A VIEW FROM WASHINGTON
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have set unique priorities and courses of action with distinct impacts on the transportation, infrastructure, and economic development sectors. Provided below are overviews of the candidates’ known stances in these areas, which could shape congressional action in the year ahead and beyond.
Transportation and Infrastructure
A second term of the Trump Administration and a Biden White House would share a similar emphasis on the importance of promoting U.S. infrastructure but differ vastly in the approach and details. President Trump would maintain the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) focus on prioritizing federal transportation and infrastructure funding to projects in rural areas. DOT will also continue eroding environmental permitting requirements it sees as restraining infrastructure development while promoting activities that accelerate the deployment of automated vehicles.
The Trump Administration is not expected to insert itself into attempts by Congress to pass a multi-year surface transportation bill assuming Republicans maintain control of the Senate. Contours of a FAST Act reauthorization will mirror the current framework of the Senate’s bipartisan America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act (ATIA, S. 2302). While the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee approved the bill in August of 2019, it has yet to be considered by other committees of jurisdiction such as the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which is responsible for policy governing DOT’s research and development programs.
A Biden Administration would embrace federal transportation and infrastructure investments as the means to two main ends: growing job opportunities that support an economic recovery from the impacts of the current pandemic and combating climate change. Efforts to achieve both will rely on deploying next generation technologies and innovations and expanding DOT’s emphasis on the transportation sector’s contribution and vulnerability to climate change. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) indicated the Biden Campaign has expressed interest in prioritizing passage of the Chairman’s surface transportation reauthorization bill (INVEST in America Act) included in the House Democrats’ Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2) passed by Congress this summer. Lewis-Burke’s analysis of the Chairman’s bill can be found here.
Economic Development & Innovation
The general philosophy of the Trump Administration has been to seek ways to eliminate barriers to innovation and start-up growth and lower direct federal investments in economic development initiatives. Biden, on the other hand, sees the federal government as an important partner in fostering innovation and economic development and would push for a more active role in stimulating growth. This is most clear in each of the candidates’ views for top-line investments in major federal programs. For instance, the Trump Administration’s budget requests have proposed eliminating the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and programs like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), while Biden has proposed doubling funding for EDA and quadrupling funding for the MEP.
As far as regional development initiatives, the Trump Administration would likely continue to strengthen private sector-driven Opportunity Zones, including continuing to prioritize these designated regions in making awards for existing federal programs without creating new funding streams. Opportunity Zones are intended to aid distressed communities, but some critics have argued they have led to increased gentrification and done little to meaningfully help underserved areas. Conversely, Biden’s plan would call for an ambitious array of direct federal investments to spur regional innovation, most of which would be targeted toward distressed areas. Some examples include providing more EDA investments in areas with persistent poverty; creating a new fund for anchor institutions like universities in underserved communities; funding new research incubators at minority serving institutions and other public spaces; launching a $5 billion fund for innovation and entrepreneurship outside of America’s biggest cities; and directing federal investments in public-private partnerships in more than 50 “overlooked” communities. Beyond place and community-specific investments, Biden has proposed the expansion of existing innovation programs, including a “scaled-up” Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to provide seed funding for new start-ups.
Of course, both candidates’ plans will be contingent upon support from Congress. Even when Republicans held the House and the Senate, EDA continued to receive funding despite the President’s attempts to eliminate the agency over the last four years. Further, while there is a chance some of the many ideas proposed by the Biden campaign could work their way into a future recovery package to jumpstart the economy following the COVID-19 outbreak, it would likely take a Democratic sweep of both chambers of Congress to fully implement his campaign’s strategy. Lewis-Burke will continue to monitor these proposed initiatives as additional details emerge and the outcome of the election is known.
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATES
Continuing Resolution Passed, Extends FAST Act for One Year
Last week, President Trump signed a Continuing Resolution (CR) into law to avert a government shutdown and maintain agencies’ budgets at fiscal year (FY) 2020 funding levels through December 11, 2020. Included in the Continuing Resolution (CR) is a one-year extension of federal surface transportation programs authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). The FAST Act was set to expire on October 1, 2020 and will now continue through October 1, 2021.
Lewis-Burke will continue monitoring efforts by Congress to craft a compromise surface transportation reauthorization and how a Trump or Biden Administration influence those discussions.
Innovation Hubs Trending in Congress
Lewis-Burke has been closely tracking a growing legislative trend of bills that would provide significant funding for the creation of large-scale innovation hubs throughout the nation. These bills follow the release of an influential report late last year, covered previously in this newsletter, by Brookings/ITIF. The report noted that 90 percent of the nation’s innovation capital is centered in about five metro areas and, in turn, advocated for massive federal investments in new innovation hubs to make growth more equitable. The latest example of legislation in this space is the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act, a bill proposed by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), which among other things, would invest $80 billion in federal funds over nine years in selected Innovation Centers. This was preceded by the Endless Frontiers Act, which includes provisions to invest $10 billion to establish regional technology hubs as a part of its larger scope to solidify U.S. leadership in science and technology.
In addition to hub-based investments, there have recently been other bills that would provide significant research and innovation support, including the America LEADS Act. The American LEADS Act, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), would provide $350 billion for several initiatives to bolster American competitiveness in the global economy. Although there has been some bipartisan support for the Endless Frontiers Act, most of these bills have been largely driven by congressional Democrats and they could potentially see increased attention should Democrats retake the Senate and the White House. For instance, the innovation hub bills count Senate Democratic leaders as sponsors and the Biden campaign cites Senator Brown (D-OH) as a collaborator on manufacturing and R&D strategy. Lewis-Burke will continue to track movement on these bills in the new Congress and monitor future legislation that aims to address the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the innovation economy.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Seek Feedback on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
On September 23, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing to evaluate the merits of, and potential improvements to, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. The DBE program was initiated in 1983, with the intent that 10 percent of DOT procurement funds for highway and transit assistance be used and spent through DBEs. Then, as a part of the program’s reauthorization, in 1987 the program expanded to include women-owned businesses as a presumed disadvantaged group but has not been readdressed since.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who presided over the hearing, drew attention to how the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, and an economic slowdown, have disparately impacted African American, Latino, and other minority groups.
Witnesses offered many concerns with the current DBE program, detailing their own encounters with discrimination in accessing capital, securing contracts, and exclusion from planning stages of projects. Their accounts provided the Committee insight into ways to improve DOT’s DBE program and ease complications that minority- and women-run businesses face when attempting to garner federal assistance.
Sources and Additional Information:
House Passes Grid Security Bill
On September 29, the House passed the Grid Security Research and Development Act (H.R. 5760), sponsored by Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA) and Randy Weber (R-TX), which would authorize an interagency research and development program to advance electric grid cybersecurity, physical security, and resiliency. Specifically, it would authorize $850 million over the next five years for cybersecurity test beds, education and workforce training programs, and new research, development, and demonstration activities. However, Congress would still have to appropriate annual funding for these new activities. The bill is not likely to become law by the end of the year, but certain provisions may be included in an energy package taken up by Congress during the lame duck session. Text of the bill can be found here.
FEDERAL AGENCY AND ADMINISTRATION UPDATES
NSF Launches Deep Tech Incubation Series
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) has launched a four-part webinar series in which leaders in the development of “deep tech” innovations share their insights and thoughts on the future of their unique incubation ecosystem. Deep tech refers to transformative industries that often take time to get from lab to market. These are priority areas for federal research support and there is strong interest at NSF in sharing best practices and impressions from those intimately involved in this space from industry, academia, the entrepreneurial community and beyond.
The monthly webinars began in September with a discussion over how COVID-19 could impact deep tech startups and will be followed with sessions on deep tech incubation fundamentals, the nexus between academia and deep tech incubation, and the role of venture capital and corporate partnerships. The next webinar takes place on October 16 and will feature “leading experts from the nation's top deep tech incubators and accelerators who will share tips, lessons learned, and best practices for deep tech startups and venture development organizations.” Additional information, as well as ways to participate, can be found on the NSF landing page for the events.
DOD Announces Winners of Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program
The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) announced six grants under the newly established $25 million Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP). The DMCSP, authorized in the fiscal year (FY) 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, is designed to spearhead long-term investments in “critical skills, facilities, research and development, and small business support” to strengthen manufacturing capabilities and national security in designated defense manufacturing communities. The DMCSP aims to recognize communities where local stakeholders are able to utilize long-term planning to attract and expand defense manufacturing through private and public investments. The six winners are listed below:
- $5 million to Catalyst connection for the Artificial Intelligence in Metals and Manufacturing Consortium in the Pennsylvania-West Virginia- Ohio region;
- $5 million for the Ohio Defense Manufacturing Community to provide Industry 4.0 assistance and training to small- and mid-sized manufacturers;
- $5 million for the Utah Defense Manufacturing Community for support in developing defense manufacturing apprenticeship programs and retraining workers displaced by COVID-19;
- $4.9 million to support the California Advanced Defense Ecosystems & National Consortia Effort to advance manufacturing in microelectronics, 5G, and space;
- $3.7 million for the Alabama Defense Advanced Manufacturing Community, through the University of Alabama Huntsville, focused on aviation, missiles, and ground vehicles systems in collaboration with local military installations; and
- $1.4 million to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to transform the supply chain through new digital manufacturing and design platforms.
Though it is not clear if Congress will allocate funding for the program this fiscal year, the legislation establishing the program had strong bipartisan support and program managers running the program indicated that there may be interest from Congress in further supporting additional competitions in the future. Interested parties should review the winners of this competition to understand what program managers may be looking for in future iterations. More information on the DMCSP can be found here, and information about OEA can be found here.
EDA Announces 2020 Build to Scale Awardees
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently awarded Build to Scale (B2S) grants to 52 organizations. These awardees are the first under the Build to Scale program, which is a redesign of EDA’s annual Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) competition. B2S is meant to grow regional economies through support of scalable start-ups. It continues the goals of the original RIS program of stimulating entrepreneurship, supporting cluster-based economic development, job growth in emerging sectors, and the translation of discoveries from the lab to the marketplace. While the goals of the RIS program were maintained, there were two major changes to the B2S program. First, EDA introduced a two-step application process, requiring proposers to first submit a concept proposal before submission of a full application. Secondly, B2S changed the core competitions under RIS, altering two standing initiatives and adding a third. The competitions that applicants could apply to during the 2020 cycle were the Venture Challenge (previously the i6 Challenge), the Capital Challenge (previously the Seed Fund Support program), and the Industry Challenge, which was new for B2S and in partnership with the Department of Energy. The biggest change was to the Venture Challenge, which added two tiers of funding based on the maturity and proven effectiveness of a proposal. Awardees were from 36 states and included non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and organizations focused on entrepreneurship. The next competition under this new format is expected early next year. Applicants hoping to apply should start by reviewing funded awards under the inaugural B2S to prepare. Additional information on the B2S program is available here.
SPOTLIGHT
This section of the newsletter will provide an expanded look at a major area of national interest, including the current state of play and potential future developments. This edition’s spotlight is on 5G expansion.
Federal Government Projected to Prioritize 5G, National Connectivity in Coming Years
The federal government is anticipated to significantly ramp up investments and policy efforts to advance the development and deployment of next generation wireless technologies, known as 5G. 5G represents a plethora of technological advancements in wireless networks that will allow for a significant improvement in data speed, volume, and latency (delay in data transfer), ultimately enabling a number of emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, telemedicine, and virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR). Due to the economic opportunities from new industries enabled by 5G, and a number of national security concerns about China’s ongoing efforts to deploy its own 5G networks around the world, advancing 5G has become a shared priority across both parties in Congress as well as policymakers across the White House and the federal agencies. President Trump, who has made advancing 5G a key research and development (R&D) priority in his administration, has proposed developing a national 5G network. Former Vice President Joe Biden has also stated his administration would seek to scale up R&D investments in 5G as well as other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology.
Recent policy efforts have been driven in equal measures by the White House, a number of federal agencies, and a number of Congressional champions for 5G. Policymakers have focused on a number of issues critical to developing and deploying 5G across the nation including:
- Ensuring the security of 5G networks, in light of concerns that Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE beholden to a 2017 national security law that compels them to cooperate with Chinese intelligence. This has raised the necessity of ensuring U.S. leadership in 5G, while also necessitating the Department of Defense (DOD) to prepare its networks to be able to operate in untrusted environments.
- Addressing workforce shortages hindering the deployment of 5G, such as trained tower climbers to install and maintain 5G equipment.
- Developing Spectrum Sharing technologies and policies to address concerns from experts that the electromagnetic spectrum is becoming increasingly congested. DOD, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have emphasized that dynamic spectrum sharing will be able to agencies and the private sector more efficiently use and share spectrum.
- Advancing emerging technologies such as Open Radio Access Networking (Open RAN) and millimeter wave technologies (mmWave). Open RAN may help establish open, standards-based interoperable architectures that all companies can leverage, rather than having 5G networks rely on equipment from a single vendor such as Huawei. MmWave refers to the use of high-frequency spectrum bands (above 24 GHz), which allow much faster data speeds but are much more prone to obstruction.
- Expand rural connectivity through emerging 5G technologies or by expanding broadband access. Until recently, the FCC, did not even have situational awareness on which areas have broadband access, which was addressed in the Broadband DATA Act. This will continue to be a priority in the ongoing 5G and telecommunications policy debates.
A number of legislative proposals and pending efforts will determine future investments made by the federal government, including:
- The White House’s National Strategy to Secure 5G. This document was mandated by the Secure 5G and Beyond Act, which was introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and key members on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), and signed into law by President Trump on March 23. Although the document itself does discuss new specific efforts or investments, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) was tasked with developing a specific implementation plan. NTIA has not yet released a draft implementation plan, but solicited comments earlier this summer.
- The USA Telecommunications Act, introduced by then SSCI-Chair Richard Burr (R-NC) and Ranking Member Mark Warner (D-VA); with a similar bill from House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), and other Committee members. The original bill would, among other actions, establish a $750 million Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund to help advance Open RAN and ultimately reduce reliance on a single wireless equipment vendor such as Huawei. A version of the USA Telecommunications Act has been included in the Senate’s version of the FY 2021 NDAA, though with a smaller topline funding level for the fund. The House and Senate are still negotiating the final version of the NDAA.
- A number of bipartisan bills that would invest significant amounts of funding towards emerging technologies including 5G and next generation wireless. This includes the Endless Frontiers Act (S. 3832), which would authorize a $100 billion increase in funding over five years for the NSF to invest in key technologies, including “advanced communications technologies” relevant to national security and economic competitiveness, and establish programs to help regions develop industrial hubs around these technologies. Another bill, the Industries of the Future Act (S. 3191), would direct the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to compile a detailed plan to increase investments R&D investments in industries of the future, including next generation wireless networks, by $10 billion by 2025. Despite strong bipartisan support, these bills will not likely be passed by Congress during this session, but indicate a growing consensus over the need to invest billions of dollars in critical technologies to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. Congress may be more willing to consider large scale efforts like these during the next Administration.
How fundamental research will play a role in advancing 5G going forward is still to be determined. DOD has invested $200 million in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and requested $449 million in FY 2021 for a new Next Generation (NextG) Information Communications Technologies (ICT) initiative, though the vast majority of this funding will go to advanced testing of 5G-enabled applications at specific military installations. It is expected NSF will continue to play a significant role in fundamental R&D, with its ongoing Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) program, a $100 million program funded equally by NSF and an industry consortium, and a new Spectrum Innovation Initiative. Early this year, NSF released a solicitation under this initiative for a National Center for Wireless Spectrum Research, with letters of intent due February 1, 2021. Other agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Intelligence Community also have strong interests in advancing 5G. More insight into the government’s research priorities in this area will found in the new Administration’s FY 2022 budget request that will be released next spring.
Sources and Additional Information:
FUNDING/ ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EDA Releases new STEM Talent Challenge Program
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) released the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Talent Challenge, a new initiative from the agency that seeks to bolster workforce development through the creation and implementation of programs that support high-growth, high-wage entrepreneurial ventures, and industries in emerging technology sectors. The STEM Talent Challenge encourages the creation or expansion of models to address unmet needs, including “competency-based work-and-learn models across the continuum ranging from externships, to fellowships, internships, cooperative education, and apprenticeships.” Experimentation and innovation are strongly encouraged in the development or expansion of initiatives through the program.
The STEM Talent Challenge will be administered by EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE), which manages programs like Build to Scale (formerly “Regional Innovation Strategies”) that seek to advance regional innovation and entrepreneurship through support for startups and other industries in emerging sectors. The solicitation notes that the STEM Talent Challenge would complement this mission by focusing more on improving and expanding the human capital needed to sustain growth of new regional technology ecosystems and address pervasive talent gaps. Examples of transformative industries that could be targets for the STEM Talent Challenge listed in the solicitation include “artificial intelligence and machine learning, advanced manufacturing and robotics, space exploration and commerce, bioscience, quantum information science, and aqua- and agricultural technologies.”
The Challenge will support two primary activities: Planning and Development and Program Implementation, though the Planning and Development activities are not required and only encouraged as part of a submission if no such workforce development plan exists. If applicable, Planning and Development activities could include conducting analyses of local strengths and workforce needs and developing strategies to address them. Program Implementation includes implementing new or expanding existing education and training models that may result in nationally recognized credentials. Programs should include on-the-job training and classroom instruction and leverage partnerships with local innovation leaders to ensure needs are met.
Examples of desired outcomes could include relevant STEM workforce training, strong partnerships with local high-growth industries and startups (business incubators and accelerators are encouraged to apply), bolstering diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM, and building relevant computational literacy.
Cost-Sharing: At the time of the submission, applicants must demonstrate a matching cost-share from a non-federal source. The amount EDA grants cannot exceed 50 percent of the total cost of each project. In-kind contributions may be used for the required matching share. EDA will evaluate all in-kind contributions, and applicants are strongly encouraged to work with the appropriate EDA representative to determine how in-kind contributions may be utilized to satisfy the matching requirement.
Total Funding and Award Size: EDA will allocate $2 million for grants funded at up to $300,000 per individual award, of which no more than $50,000 can be budgeted for Planning and Development activities. Initial performance periods are expected to be 18 to 24 months.
Dates: Applications are due October 14, 2020. An informational webinar is on the EDA webpage with more information on the webinar on the STEM Talent Challenge: https://www.eda.gov/oie/stem/.
Eligibility and Limitations: States, Indian tribes, cities or other political subdivisions of a state, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, public-private partnerships, science or research parks, federal laboratories, economic development organizations, and consortia of the previously mentioned, are all eligible to apply.
Sources and Additional Information:
DOT Releases Inclusive Design Challenge Prize Competition
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has opened Stage I of the Inclusive Design Challenge announced by Secretary Elaine Chao in October at the Access and Mobility Summit. Part of a $50 million investment in accessibility research and development, this $5 million prize competition is seeking innovative, inclusive design features to “enable people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities” to use automated vehicles, automated driving systems (ADS) and ADS-dedicated vehicles (ADS-DV) that are operated exclusively at SAE Levels 4 and 5. Possible tasks that designs should address include:
- Locating an ADS-DV;
- Entering an ADS-DV;
- Securing Passengers and Mobility Equipment;
- Inputting Information;
- Interacting with the ADS in routine and emergency situations; and
- Exiting an ADS-DV.
The inclusiveness of designs will be partially evaluated by the range of disabilities and needs that the proposed technologies will address. Proposers should focus on addressing physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities, or a combination thereof.
Stage I (Proof-of-Concept) of the competition will consist of proposers submitting written technical proposals of inclusive design solutions. Proposals are due October 30, 2020. Semifinalists are anticipated to be announced in January 2021. Stage II (Prototype/Demonstration) will commence when semifinalists are announced and will include a stakeholder meeting in Summer 2021. Final prototypes will be demonstrated in June 2022 with final winners announced in July 2022.
DOT will be funding these activities out of the $100 million appropriated by Congress in fiscal year 2018 for highly automated vehicle research and development.
Eligibility: The Challenge is open to academic, research, and business communities including, but not limited to, universities, research institutions, technology companies, and entrepreneurs.
Award Information: The Challenge will offer a total of $5 million in prizes. The ten (10) semi-finalists selected from Phase I will receive $300,000 toward their prototype. The Stage II (Prototype/Demonstration) winner will receive $1 million, second place will receive $700,000, and third place will receive $300,000.
Deadlines: Stage I Proposals must be submitted by October 30, 2020.
Sources and Additional Information:
DOL Releases H-1B One Workforce Grant Program
The Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) recently released a $150 million funding opportunity announcement (FOA) to support workforce strategies in the IT, advanced manufacturing, and transportation sectors. Applicants are directed to form public-private partnerships to engage industry through sector partnerships. These public-private partnerships, “referred to as H-1B One Workforce Partnerships,” will support the preparation of a skilled workforce within an economic region. Given the impact of COVID-19, applicants are encouraged to include online, distance, and other technology-enabled learning in their proposals.
Training models supported by the grant include incumbent worker training, Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, pre-apprenticeship programs; work-based learning activities, paid internships; and “classroom, competency-based, and online training strategies,” among other models. Included among the eligible lead applicants are education and training providers, institutions of higher education, Manufacturing Extension Partnerships, state and local Workforce Development Boards, and economic development agencies, among others. Required partners for the H-1B One Workforce Partnership, are businesses, education and training providers, and workforce development entities. Applicants are required to partner with at least five employers or an industry/trade association. The FOA notes the importance of “leveraged resources” and employer partners. Applicants must target one of the following geographic scopes: local/regional, statewide, or national. Proposals that include a qualified Opportunity Zone in their service area will receive two points toward their overall application score.
Applicants must choose to design programs to target occupations in an H-1B industry (Option 1) or H-1B occupations for which a significant number of H-1B visas has been certified, even if that occupation is not in one of the identified H-1B industries (Option 2). Under Option 1, H-1B industries identified as permissible for applicants to target include IT and IT-related industries, Advanced Manufacturing, Professional Services (encompassing engineering and surveying occupations). Applicants that propose to train individuals in occupations that fall outside of these industries (Option 2), must provide data showing that they are occupations for which a significant number of H-1B visas have been certified.
The FOA states, “Applicants must propose projects that comprise all of the following activities:
- Build new or expand existing sector partnerships that develop a workforce strategy across state and regional workforce and related sector agencies, including employers within the proposed sector-based initiative(s) and education and training entities;
- Establish new or expand career pathways in the proposed sector-based initiative(s) that focus on the skills, competencies, and credentials needed for jobs within the targeted H-1B industries and occupations;
- Offer high-quality training options (such as work-based learning training models) to prepare individuals to successfully move into middle- to high-skilled employment within the targeted H-1B industries and occupations;
- Ensure that participants receive the supportive services necessary to participate fully in employment and training activities;
- Develop a new or leverage an existing system for reviewing and collecting data, and monitor results to assess program performance; and
- Create a new or leverage an existing infrastructure to successfully sustain the program components and partnerships after the life of the grant.”
Projects must develop career plans for participants, provide a range of training and education services, and incorporate an upfront assessment component. Applicants are encouraged to co-enroll participants in other federally funded training programs, such as those supported by the Departments of Education, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, and others. Up to 10 percent of grant funds may be used to provide supportive services for participants, which include, but are not limited to transportation, childcare, housing, and needs-related payments.
Organizations may be involved as partners on multiple applications. All participants must be at least 17 years of age and not currently enrolled in secondary school within a local educational agency. “Those of particular interest in this FOA are those that are unemployed and underemployed.”
Total Funding and Award Size: DOL intends to award approximately $150 million in grant funds to make approximately 15 to 30 grants. The estimated range of awards is $500,000 to $10 million.
Cost Sharing: This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Applicants are required to generate leveraged funds equal to at least 25 percent of the total requested amount of the grant award to supplement grant activities. Applicants must count and document as leveraged resources any cash or in-kind commitments. Examples include Pell/Title IV financial aid, GI Bill benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program education and training funds, state and local funding, and private sector investment funds, among others. This also includes funds and other resources leveraged from businesses, education and training providers, and/or federal, state, and local government programs (e.g., staff, time, services, products, and other non-cash resources).
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until November 12, 2020, at 4:00pm EST.
Period of Performance: The period of performance is 48 months. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.
Sources and Additional Information:
NSTC Releases Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem Prize Competition
The Lab-to-Market (L2M) subcommittee of National Science and Technology Council’s (NSTC) Committee on the Science and Technology Enterprise recently announced a prize competition to showcase successful examples of innovation ecosystems and promote future commercialization efforts. The goals of the competition are to support regional innovation communities that are inclusive of underrepresented groups; highlight novel responses to address the impacts of COVID-19 on startup development; and “to enhance the connection and integration of Federal resources that support innovation ecosystems.”
Up to $325,000 will be made available for cash prizes under the competition. Prizes will be made according to the following categories:
- Super Connector – “Prizes of $10,000 for current efforts successfully including networks of underrepresented communities in the R&D innovation ecosystem.”
- Ecosystem Responder – “Prizes of $10,000 for timely and effective responses to the pandemic environment.”
- Visionary – “Prizes of $25,000 for the most creative and actionable ideas that build an inclusive R&D innovation ecosystem.”
Applicants must submit a ten-slide presentation (not to be made public) and a 90 second video (to be made public). Suggested content for the submissions is provided in the full solicitation, including descriptions of how the prize funding will help advance the applicant’s goals and L2M priorities. Applicants may have multiple submissions to different categories but there is a limit of one award per applicant for this competition. Letters of support are optional.
U.S. based academic institutions, U.S. citizens, for-profit institutions, non-profit institutions, and non-federal government entities are eligible to apply. Submissions are due October 14, 2020. Additional information on the competition including the full solicitation and a recently recorded webinar can be found at: https://www.sbir.gov/L2M.
WHAT WE'RE READING
Deep Dive on Economic Inequality
In September, Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions (GPS) released a report called Closing the Racial Inequality Gaps: The Economic Cost of Black Inequality in the US. The report examines several potential impacts racism and discrimination have had on the economy in the United States. In total, the report estimates that the nation has lost up to $16 trillion in GDP due to inequities that range from lack of venture support for Black businesses to wage, housing, and education discrimination. The report notes that COVID-19 has further accentuated these disparities and concludes with a number of suggestions for government, corporate, and individual action. Economic inequality has been a major theme in policy-making and on the campaign trail and findings from this report could be cited in future initiatives. The report can be found here.
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