Opportunity Information: Apply for JOBSACCELERATOR2011
Apply for JOBSACCELERATOR2011
- The Economic Development Administration in the business and commerce employment, labor and training other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, A Coordinated Initiative to Advance Regional Competitiveness" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance 17.268 H 1B Job Training Grants 59.007 7(j) Technical Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 20, 2011 and posted on May 20, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 7, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Private institutions of higher education Small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments.
- Detailed information regarding eligibility is discussed at section IV of the Jobs Accelerator Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO), a link to which is provided below. For convenience, a non controlling synopsis of eligible applicants is provided below. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Pursuant to section 3 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3122) and EDAs regulation at 13 C.F.R. 300.3, the following entities are eligible to receive funding assistance from EDA a) District Organizations b) Indian Tribes or a consortium of Indian Tribes c) States, cities, or other political subdivisions of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions d) Institutions of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education or e) Public or private non profit organizations or associations acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State. EDA cannot provide assistance directly or indirectly to individuals or to for profit entities. Employment Training Administration (ETA). For the purposes of the Jobs Accelerator FFO, entities eligible to be the grantee organization for H 1B training funds are a) Business related nonprofit organizations b) Education and training providers c) Entities involved in administering the workforce investment system established under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act and d) Economic development agencies. Additionally, if the grantee organization is not itself an entity involved in administering the workforce investment system, the grantee organization is required to partner with such an entity. Also, regardless of which organization is the grantee, the grantee must partner with at least one employer or a consortium of employers. Small Business Administration (SBA). Under 7(j) SBA may provide financial assistance to public or private organizations to pay all or part of the cost of projects designed to provide technical or management assistance to 7(j) eligible small businesses. Because of the 7(j) eligibility criteria, each 7(j) Technical Assistance provider will be required to determine, document, and report on the eligibility of each recipient of services provided under this grant. In order to be eligible for SBA assistance under the Jobs Accelerator FFO, an applicant must a) Be a public, private, non profit, or for profit entity b) Have been in existence continually for at least the past three years c) Have experience dealing with issues relating to 7(j) eligible small business and d) Demonstrate that it has the capacity to provide assistance to 7(j) eligible small business.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge (often called the Jobs Accelerator) was a competitive, interagency federal grant opportunity designed to help regions strengthen their economies by accelerating the growth of high-potential industry clusters that the regions identified for themselves. Rather than funding one-off projects, the program focused on coordinated, place-based investments meant to close specific regional gaps and seize clear market opportunities within a cluster, tying together economic development, workforce development, and small business support. The overall intent was to produce measurable economic outcomes such as moving innovations to market, starting new businesses, expanding existing firms, creating jobs, and increasing exports.
A central feature of the opportunity was that it pooled complementary resources from across the federal government. The initiative was developed by the Taskforce for the Advancement of Regional Innovation Clusters (TARIC) and drew on the broader participation of 16 federal agencies and bureaus for a combination of funding and technical assistance. However, the direct grant funding in this solicitation was anchored by three main funding agencies: the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and, subject to appropriations, the Small Business Administration (SBA). The design was intentionally streamlined: applicants submitted a single coordinated application but were required to apply for all three funding sources offered under the Jobs Accelerator Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO), reflecting the program’s emphasis on comprehensive cluster strategies rather than isolated efforts.
Funding was intended to support approximately 20 clusters nationwide, selected through a competitive interagency review process. Total proposed direct federal support across the program was about $33 million, contingent on appropriations. Individual cluster awards were anticipated to fall roughly between $1.5 million and $2.2 million when combining the three agency components, with an award ceiling of $2.2 million noted in the opportunity details. Cost sharing or matching was required for a portion of the funding, reinforcing the expectation that regions and partners would bring their own resources and commitment alongside federal dollars.
The activities supported spanned three aligned dimensions. Through EDA, funding could support economic adjustment and regional economic development activities typically tied to cluster competitiveness, infrastructure, and strategic capacity. Through ETA, the program included H-1B job training grant funds to build or upgrade the workforce pipeline connected to the targeted cluster, ensuring that employers could find skilled workers and that residents could access better job opportunities. Through SBA, support was aimed at providing technical and management assistance to eligible small businesses under the SBA 7(j) authority, helping firms within the cluster improve their capabilities, compete, and grow. Beyond grant dollars, additional federal technical assistance was also expected to be coordinated for selected clusters where allowable under existing authorities, to reduce fragmentation and make federal support easier to navigate.
Eligibility was broad but depended on the specific rules tied to each funding stream, which is one reason applicants had to coordinate partnerships carefully. For EDA, eligible recipients generally included district organizations, federally recognized tribal governments or consortia, states and local governments (including special districts), institutions of higher education (or consortia), and public or private nonprofit organizations working in cooperation with local government officials. EDA assistance could not go directly or indirectly to individuals or for-profit entities. For ETA’s H-1B training component, eligible lead organizations included business-related nonprofits, education and training providers, entities involved in administering the workforce investment system under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act, and economic development agencies. If the lead applicant was not itself a workforce system administrator, it had to partner with one, and in all cases the grantee had to partner with at least one employer or a consortium of employers, underscoring the demand-driven nature of the training investments. For the SBA 7(j) technical assistance component, eligibility could include public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit entities, but the applicant had to have existed continuously for at least three years, have experience with issues relevant to 7(j)-eligible small businesses, and demonstrate capacity to deliver that assistance. SBA also required the technical assistance provider to determine, document, and report the eligibility of each small business served under the grant.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted May 20, 2011, with a closing date of July 7, 2011, and it anticipated 20 awards. It was classified as a discretionary grant opportunity supporting business and commerce, employment and training, and regional development. The solicitation referenced three CFDA numbers corresponding to the three aligned components: 11.307 (Economic Adjustment Assistance), 17.268 (H-1B Job Training Grants), and 59.007 (7(j) Technical Assistance). The lead agency listed was EDA, and the full announcement was made available via the EDA-hosted FFO document, with a contact email provided for access issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge (Jobs Accelerator)
What is the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge (Jobs Accelerator)?
The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge (often called the Jobs Accelerator) was a competitive, interagency federal grant opportunity designed to help regions strengthen their economies by accelerating the growth of high-potential industry clusters identified by the regions themselves.
What was the main goal of the Jobs Accelerator?
The program aimed to produce measurable economic outcomes tied to a regional industry cluster strategy, such as moving innovations to market, starting new businesses, expanding existing firms, creating jobs, and increasing exports.
How was this program different from a typical grant for a single project?
Rather than funding one-off projects, the Jobs Accelerator emphasized coordinated, place-based investments that addressed specific regional gaps and pursued clear market opportunities within a cluster. It was designed to connect economic development, workforce development, and small business support into a single strategy.
What is meant by an "industry cluster" in this opportunity?
In this opportunity, an industry cluster refers to a regional concentration of related firms and supporting organizations. The program focused on "high-potential" clusters that regions identified as priorities for growth and competitiveness.
Which federal entities were involved in the Jobs Accelerator?
The initiative was developed by the Taskforce for the Advancement of Regional Innovation Clusters (TARIC) and involved participation from 16 federal agencies and bureaus through a mix of funding and technical assistance.
Which agencies provided the core grant funding under this solicitation?
Direct grant funding in this solicitation was anchored by three main agencies: the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and (subject to appropriations) the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Did applicants submit separate applications to each agency?
No. The solicitation was intentionally streamlined. Applicants submitted a single coordinated application, but they were required to apply for all three funding sources offered under the Jobs Accelerator Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO).
Why did applicants have to apply for all three funding sources?
This requirement reflected the program's emphasis on comprehensive cluster strategies rather than isolated efforts. The intent was to align economic development activities (EDA), workforce training (ETA), and small business technical assistance (SBA) under one coordinated regional plan.
How many clusters were expected to be funded?
Funding was intended to support approximately 20 clusters nationwide through a competitive interagency review process.
What was the total amount of federal support proposed for the program?
Total proposed direct federal support across the program was about $33 million, contingent on appropriations.
How much funding was anticipated per selected cluster?
Individual cluster awards were anticipated to fall roughly between $1.5 million and $2.2 million when combining the three agency components, with an award ceiling of $2.2 million noted in the opportunity details.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required for a portion of the funding, reflecting the expectation that regions and partners would contribute their own resources and commitment alongside federal funds.
What kinds of activities could be supported through EDA funding?
Through EDA, funding could support economic adjustment and regional economic development activities typically tied to cluster competitiveness, infrastructure, and strategic capacity.
What kinds of activities could be supported through ETA funding?
Through ETA, the opportunity included H-1B job training grant funds to build or upgrade the workforce pipeline connected to the targeted cluster, helping ensure employers could find skilled workers and residents could access better job opportunities.
What kinds of activities could be supported through SBA funding?
Through SBA, support was aimed at providing technical and management assistance to eligible small businesses under SBA's 7(j) authority, helping firms within the cluster improve capabilities, compete, and grow.
Was technical assistance included in addition to grant funding?
Yes. Beyond grant dollars, additional federal technical assistance was also expected to be coordinated for selected clusters where allowable under existing authorities, to reduce fragmentation and make federal support easier to navigate.
Who was eligible to receive EDA funding under this opportunity?
For EDA, eligible recipients generally included district organizations, federally recognized tribal governments or consortia, states and local governments (including special districts), institutions of higher education (or consortia), and public or private nonprofit organizations working in cooperation with local government officials.
Are individuals or for-profit businesses eligible for EDA assistance?
No. EDA assistance could not go directly or indirectly to individuals or for-profit entities.
Who was eligible to lead the ETA H-1B job training component?
For ETA's H-1B training component, eligible lead organizations included business-related nonprofits, education and training providers, entities involved in administering the workforce investment system under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act, and economic development agencies.
Did ETA require partnerships with the public workforce system?
Yes. If the lead applicant was not itself a workforce system administrator, it had to partner with one.
Did ETA require partnerships with employers?
Yes. In all cases, the ETA training grantee had to partner with at least one employer or a consortium of employers, reflecting the demand-driven nature of the training investments.
Who was eligible for the SBA 7(j) technical assistance component?
For the SBA 7(j) technical assistance component, eligibility could include public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit entities, as long as the applicant met the program requirements described in the solicitation.
What organizational requirements applied to SBA 7(j) technical assistance providers?
The SBA applicant had to have existed continuously for at least three years, have experience with issues relevant to 7(j)-eligible small businesses, and demonstrate capacity to deliver the required technical and management assistance.
What responsibilities did SBA place on the technical assistance provider regarding small business eligibility?
SBA required the technical assistance provider to determine, document, and report the eligibility of each small business served under the grant.
Why was eligibility described as "broad but dependent on each funding stream"?
Because each of the three components (EDA, ETA, and SBA) had distinct eligibility rules. Applicants needed to coordinate partnerships carefully to meet the requirements of all three funding sources within one combined application approach.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 20, 2011, and had a closing date of July 7, 2011.
How many awards were anticipated in the solicitation?
The solicitation anticipated approximately 20 awards.
What type of grant opportunity was this?
It was classified as a discretionary grant opportunity supporting business and commerce, employment and training, and regional development.
What were the CFDA numbers associated with the three components?
The solicitation referenced three CFDA numbers: 11.307 (Economic Adjustment Assistance), 17.268 (H-1B Job Training Grants), and 59.007 (7(j) Technical Assistance).
Which agency was listed as the lead agency?
The lead agency listed was the Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Where could applicants access the full announcement?
The full announcement was made available via the EDA-hosted Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) document. The solicitation also provided a contact email for access issues related to the announcement.
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