Funding Wizard

EDA’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is committed to furthering technology-based economic development initiatives that accelerate high quality job growth, create more economic opportunities, and support the future of the next generation of industry leading companies. To advance these goals, EDA awards grants through the Build to Scale Program for activities designed to develop and support regional innovation initiatives. EDA thereby advances the growth of connected, innovation-centric economies that increase job growth, enable the workforce of tomorrow, enhance global competitiveness, and foster global competitiveness through technology commercialization and entrepreneurship as described in Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (hereafter “Section 27”). The Build to Scale Program invites organizations who are aiding companies in developing the next generation of technologies to apply for funding. These organizations may be operating initiatives to unlock investment capital across a region or sector, operating programs to accelerate company growth, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, and/or enabling technology commercialization. Under the Build to Scale Program, EDA is soliciting applications for two separate competitions:(1) the Venture Challenge,(2) the Capital Challenge Applicants must provide a matching share from non-Federal sources of at least 50 percent of the total project cost; i.e., applicants must match each Federal dollar requested with at least one dollar of local match.

A Green Business Program is a community building program. A Green Business recognition program is a positive bridge between government agencies and businesses. It can be a powerful incentive for businesses to take advantage of government assistance to conserve resources and save money. It also engages the public to patronize businesses that operate more sustainably. The Green Business Program can also help government agencies meet City/County sustainability goals through GHG reductions, resource conservation mandates. These goals might those mandated in a Climate Action Plan or outlined in solid waste diversion or water conservation targets. A Green Business Program can also improve environmental compliance by encouraging businesses to adopt numerous “beyond compliance” related to waste reduction, pollution prevention, and water conservation.

Here’s some of what you get from CAGBN if your region is selected for funding:

• $30,000 first year funding;
• Training, mentorship and support;
• Waive your first year member fees to the network;
• Recruitment resources;
• Marketing: adwords, key business outlets, social media;
• Window Clings, certificates to give to certified businesses;
• Web based tracking system (green business program in-a-box);
• Sector specific checklists;
• Collaboration with peers and;
• Likely ongoing funding that exceeds member dues.

Created by the U.S. Federal Government in 2000 as part of the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act, the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program encourages investment in low-income communities. Through the NMTC Program, real estate projects or businesses in a low-income community are able to generate capital by providing investors- typically a bank or financial institution- a tax credit as an additional incentive for capital investment.