EDA webinar: how to craft the overarching narrative for FY25 Disaster NOFO Path 3
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Summary
EDA presenters advised applicants to treat the overarching narrative as a concise, evidence-based strategy that ties together 3–5 component projects (totaling roughly $20M–$50M), follow a strict 10‑page limit, and demonstrate feasibility, measurable outputs and strong interconnections to win funding.
Justin Tooley, director for the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Economic Development Administration, led a technical‑assistance webinar for serious applicants to the FY25 Disaster Notice of Funding Opportunity (Path 3, Industry Transformation). Tooley said Path 3 expects a portfolio of three to five interconnected projects with total funding needs typically in the $20,000,000 to $50,000,000 range and reminded applicants the overarching narrative deadline is Tuesday, March 3 at 5 p.m. Eastern.
Why it matters: Path 3 funds portfolios intended to transform regional economies after disaster. Tooley told attendees the overarching narrative is "your opportunity to tell us how will EDA funding fundamentally accelerate the economic trajectory of your region and lead to transformation," and reviewers will use that narrative to judge whether a coalition’s projects are coherent, feasible and measurable.
What reviewers will score: Presenters said three readers will evaluate each application. About two‑thirds of the score focuses on the application’s articulation of disaster impacts, project strategy and feasibility; coalition strength is scored separately; and one‑third of the total score covers performance goals and measures of success. Presenters emphasized reviewers look for specific, defensible numeric goals rather than broad ambitions.
How to structure the narrative: Grace Klein, who Tooley identified as a member of his team, summarized the narrative sections applicants should include: an executive summary with a project title, a clear description of pre‑ and post‑disaster economic conditions, the industry sectors the projects will support, detailed descriptions of each component project (who will deliver activities, who will use outputs, where projects will occur), and an outputs‑and‑outcomes table that aligns baseline metrics, immediate outputs, intermediate outcomes and long‑term goals.
Interconnections and metrics: Presenters said Path 3 requires projects that reinforce one another. Examples given include pooling equipment for workforce training that benefits multiple projects, handoffs from a testbed to firm growth spaces, or shared convening and marketing costs. For metrics, they urged numeric, defensible targets and alignment of the same measure across component projects so totals and subtotals are consistent.
Practical tips and limits: Tooley and Klein gave several concrete rules: "Don't use jargon" and avoid anecdotal claims; ground the narrative in assets and evidence. On page limits, Tooley said, "Our hard and fast rule is 10 pages. Do not add an eleventh page," and recommended placing brief footnotes or parenthetical citations on the same pages rather than appending an 11th page. For required tables, Tooley advised they be legible but to "stay within the page limit" and to use tables to economize narrative space rather than repeat content.
Capacity and governance: On project leadership, presenters said multiple approaches are possible. Asked whether each component needs a distinct principal investigator, Tooley said both single‑PI and multiple‑PI structures are seen in practice but cautioned one entity carrying the whole portfolio must demonstrate sufficient capacity and coalition credibility.
Submission and follow‑up resources: Presenters reiterated that component project applications carry budgets and are submitted in the EDGE system; coalition leads submit the overarching narrative as its own application. They said the webinar recording and slides will be posted to the Disaster supplemental pages on the EDA website and that applicants should consult their regional Economic Development Representative (EDR) for follow‑up. A subsequent webinar will address coalition governance and technical EDGE submission steps.
What comes next: Applicants should use the remaining weeks before the deadline to refine a cohesive, evidence‑based narrative, align outputs and metrics across projects, document capacity and risk mitigation, and verify that all required NOFO forms and match documentation are included. If funded, awardees should expect semiannual reporting on performance measures.
