Opportunity Information: Apply for POWER2015
Apply for POWER2015
- The Economic Development Administration in the 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 Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Implementation Grants" 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 17.277 WIOA National Dislocated Worker Grants / WIA National Emergency Grants 23.002 Appalachian Area Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 11, 2015 and posted on May 11, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 10, 2015. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Special district governments City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments.
- Applicants are welcome to apply to any combination of funding from EDA, ETA, SBA, and ARC (for projects located within the Appalachian Region ). Since each agency has distinct eligibility requirements, applicants with strong and diverse partnerships will be best suited to seek funding from multiple funding sources. Applicants should pay close attention to the eligible applicant portion of the funding from the different agencies since eligibility varies by program. For specific details of eligible applicants for each program please see Section III of the full opportunity available under the related documents tab. EDA applicants should apply using the application package available through this grants.gov posting. Other applicants must refer to section V.B for specific submission requirements for other participating agencies. EDA Applicants must provide third party data that clearly indicates that the relevant Region is subject to one (or more) of the following economic distress criteria (i) an unemployment rate that is, for the most recent 24 month period for which data are available, at least one percentage point greater than the national average unemployment rate (ii) per capita income that is, for the most recent period for which data are available, 80 percent or less of the national average per capita income or (iii) a Special Need, as determined by EDA. Applicants will also need to demonstrate a nexus with coal economy closures (including official announcements of future closures) for events since 2011.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Implementation Grants (Funding Opportunity Number: POWER2015) is a competitive federal grant opportunity designed to help communities and workers harmed by shifts in the coal industry and the broader power sector. The program recognizes that major changes in how the United States generates and uses electricity, including expanded natural gas production, cheaper renewable energy, stronger energy efficiency, flat electricity demand, and updated clean air standards, have reduced coal-related employment and destabilized local economies that depended on coal for well-paying jobs and long-term growth. The central purpose of POWER is to help those places respond with practical, locally driven strategies that create new economic pathways and get displaced workers back into stable employment.
POWER is set up as an interagency initiative that aligns resources from several federal partners, primarily the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA), the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Rather than funding isolated projects, the initiative is looking for coordinated efforts that connect economic development and workforce systems and that clearly build from existing local or regional strategic plans. In plain terms, applicants are expected to show how their proposed activities fit into a broader, coherent plan for revitalization, not just a standalone idea. Projects are favored when they demonstrate a direct line between the funded work and measurable outcomes such as economic diversification, job creation, and job training or reemployment for dislocated workers.
The grants support implementation activities, meaning the focus is on putting plans into action. Eligible activities described in the opportunity include helping communities design and carry out programs that respond to affected workers and businesses, strengthening or building emerging industry clusters, and preparing and training the current workforce for new jobs in high-growth or in-demand sectors. The intent is to develop coordinated regional approaches that lead to a more skilled workforce and real job opportunities, especially in places facing coal mine or coal-fired power plant closures and related supply-chain impacts. Alongside implementation funding, the POWER initiative also notes that EDA planning assistance is available, and additional participating federal agencies (beyond the core four) may provide technical assistance, outreach, and in some cases preference points that could help grantees compete for other federal funding.
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a grant instrument. It was posted May 11, 2015, with an original and final closing date of July 10, 2015, and an archive date of August 9, 2015. The maximum award amount listed is $1,000,000, and the opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources consistent with the rules of the specific funding program(s) they apply under. The funding aligns with multiple CFDA programs, including 11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance (EDA), 17.277 WIOA National Dislocated Worker Grants (ETA), and 23.002 Appalachian Area Development (ARC), reflecting the cross-agency structure of POWER.
Eligibility is intentionally broad across common public and nonprofit entities, including state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits). A key point, however, is that each participating agency has its own eligibility rules and application mechanics. Applicants are encouraged to form strong partnerships and may apply for any combination of funding from EDA, ETA, SBA, and ARC (with ARC limited to projects located within the Appalachian Region). Because eligibility varies by program, applicants need to closely review the specific requirements in the full notice, particularly Section III for eligibility by program and Section V.B for submission requirements for agencies other than EDA. For EDA funding specifically, applicants submit through the Grants.gov package tied to this posting.
EDA applicants must also document that the target region meets at least one economic distress criterion, such as sustained unemployment at least one percentage point above the national average over the most recent 24-month period, per capita income at or below 80 percent of the national average, or another EDA-defined special need. In addition, applicants must demonstrate a clear nexus to coal economy closures, including official announcements of future closures, tied to events occurring since 2011. This requirement is meant to ensure that POWER funds are directed to places with verifiable coal-related economic disruption rather than general economic challenges.
Overall, POWER Implementation Grants are meant to fund coal-impacted communities that are ready to execute real, coordinated solutions: building resilience, diversifying local and regional economies, strengthening workforce pipelines, and accelerating new job creation. The program emphasizes collaboration across economic development, workforce training, and small business support, with the expectation that funded projects will show how multiple systems and partners will work together to produce tangible employment and growth outcomes. For more information, the opportunity points to EDA's POWER webpage (http://www.eda.gov/power/) and indicates that questions can be routed through the POWER email dropbox or through agency-specific contacts listed in the full announcement.
POWER Implementation Grants (POWER2015) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the POWER Implementation Grants opportunity (POWER2015)?
The Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Implementation Grants (Funding Opportunity Number: POWER2015) is a competitive federal grant opportunity intended to help communities and workers harmed by shifts in the coal industry and the broader power sector. It focuses on helping coal-impacted places carry out practical, locally driven strategies that create new economic pathways and return displaced workers to stable employment.
What problem is POWER intended to address?
POWER is designed to respond to reduced coal-related employment and economic disruption in places that historically depended on coal for well-paying jobs and long-term growth. The opportunity notes several drivers of change in the power sector, including expanded natural gas production, cheaper renewable energy, stronger energy efficiency, flat electricity demand, and updated clean air standards.
What is the central purpose of POWER Implementation Grants?
The central purpose is to support implementation of coordinated, locally driven revitalization strategies that diversify economies, create jobs, and support job training and reemployment for dislocated workers in coal-impacted communities.
Which federal agencies are involved in the POWER initiative?
POWER is described as an interagency initiative that aligns resources across several federal partners, primarily the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA), the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Is POWER funding meant for standalone projects or coordinated efforts?
The initiative emphasizes coordinated efforts rather than isolated projects. Applicants are expected to show how proposed activities fit into a broader, coherent local or regional plan for revitalization, rather than presenting a standalone idea.
What types of outcomes does POWER prioritize?
Projects are favored when they demonstrate a clear connection to measurable outcomes such as economic diversification, job creation, and job training or reemployment for dislocated workers.
What does "Implementation Grants" mean in this program?
Implementation means the program is focused on putting plans into action. The opportunity is oriented toward executing strategies and activities, not just creating plans.
What kinds of activities are supported under POWER Implementation Grants?
The opportunity describes eligible implementation activities such as: designing and carrying out programs that respond to affected workers and businesses; strengthening or building emerging industry clusters; and preparing and training the current workforce for new jobs in high-growth or in-demand sectors.
Does the program focus on specific geographies or types of coal impacts?
The intent is to support coordinated regional approaches in places facing coal mine or coal-fired power plant closures, including related supply-chain impacts.
Is planning assistance available, or only implementation funding?
Alongside implementation funding, the opportunity notes that EDA planning assistance is available. The notice also mentions that additional participating federal agencies may provide technical assistance and outreach.
Can POWER participation help applicants compete for other federal funding?
Yes. The opportunity states that additional participating federal agencies (beyond the core four) may provide technical assistance, outreach, and in some cases preference points that could help grantees compete for other federal funding.
What type of federal funding is this (formula vs. discretionary)?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What funding instrument is used?
The opportunity uses a grant instrument.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the deadlines?
It was posted on May 11, 2015. The original and final closing date was July 10, 2015. The archive date was August 9, 2015.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is $1,000,000.
Is there a cost-share or matching requirement?
Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement. Applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources consistent with the rules of the specific funding program(s) they apply under.
Which CFDA programs are associated with POWER2015?
The opportunity aligns with multiple CFDA programs, including 11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance (EDA), 17.277 WIOA National Dislocated Worker Grants (ETA), and 23.002 Appalachian Area Development (ARC).
Who is eligible to apply for POWER Implementation Grants?
Eligibility is described as broad and includes state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits).
Do all participating agencies have the same eligibility rules?
No. A key point in the opportunity is that each participating agency has its own eligibility rules and application mechanics. Applicants are encouraged to review the program-specific requirements in the full notice.
Can an applicant seek funding from more than one agency under POWER?
Yes. The opportunity indicates applicants may apply for any combination of funding from EDA, ETA, SBA, and ARC, subject to each agency's rules.
Are there limitations on ARC funding?
Yes. ARC is limited to projects located within the Appalachian Region.
Where in the notice should applicants look for eligibility and submission details?
The opportunity directs applicants to closely review the full notice, particularly Section III for eligibility by program and Section V.B for submission requirements for agencies other than EDA.
How do applicants submit applications for EDA funding under POWER2015?
For EDA funding specifically, applicants submit through the Grants.gov package tied to this posting.
Are there special eligibility requirements for EDA applicants beyond general applicant eligibility?
Yes. EDA applicants must document that the target region meets at least one economic distress criterion and must demonstrate a clear nexus to coal economy closures tied to events occurring since 2011.
What economic distress criteria does EDA reference in this opportunity?
The opportunity lists examples including sustained unemployment at least one percentage point above the national average over the most recent 24-month period, per capita income at or below 80 percent of the national average, or another EDA-defined special need.
What does it mean to show a "nexus" to coal economy closures?
Applicants must show that the region is experiencing verifiable coal-related economic disruption, including official announcements of future closures, tied to events occurring since 2011. This is intended to ensure POWER funds go to coal-impacted places rather than general economic challenges.
What does the program mean by "locally driven" strategies?
Based on the opportunity description, "locally driven" means strategies that build from existing local or regional strategic plans and coordinate local and regional partners, rather than being isolated activities that do not connect to a broader revitalization approach.
What kinds of partnerships does POWER encourage?
POWER encourages strong partnerships and collaboration across systems such as economic development, workforce training, and small business support, with an expectation of coordinated regional approaches.
Where can applicants find more information about POWER?
The opportunity points to EDA's POWER webpage at http://www.eda.gov/power/.
How can questions about the opportunity be submitted?
The opportunity indicates that questions can be routed through the POWER email dropbox or through agency-specific contacts listed in the full announcement.
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