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EDA official outlines readiness grants, eligibility and application steps for $1.45 billion disaster supplemental
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Summary
An Economic Development Administration official explained the FY25 Disaster Supplemental notice, saying approximately $1.45 billion is available and readiness grants (non‑construction) are expected to range from $250,000–$500,000; the webinar reviewed eligibility, match rules, required forms and submission via the EDGE portal.
An Economic Development Administration official said the agency’s FY25 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) makes approximately $1,450,000,000 available to communities with major disaster declarations in 2023 and 2024 and outlined the readiness grant path for prospective applicants.
The official said readiness grants are non‑construction awards intended to prepare communities to apply for and implement recovery funding. "Readiness project grant amounts are expected to range from 250,000 to $500,000," the presenter said, adding that typical periods of performance will be between 12 and 18 months though EDA may consider variations.
Why it matters: EDA framed the supplemental appropriation as aimed not merely at rebuilding but at transforming local economies to boost private investment, business formation and job creation. Readiness grants are designed to fund strategic planning, organizational capacity building and predevelopment costs such as preliminary engineering, environmental analyses and impact assessments that make projects investment‑ready.
Eligibility and applicant types: The presenter said eligible projects must be located in, primarily serve, or demonstrably benefit communities that received a FEMA major disaster declaration for qualifying events in 2023 or 2024 (applicants should check FEMA for location eligibility). Eligible applicants include EDA federal economic development districts, Indian tribes (and tribal enterprises), states/counties/cities/special purpose units of a state, institutions of higher education, public or private nonprofit organizations working with political subdivisions, and public‑private partnerships that submit signed partnership documentation. The official noted that individuals and for‑profit entities are not eligible under this NOFO.
Matching and funding rates: Applicants must have matching share funds (cash or in‑kind) available at time of application; those funds must be available, unrestricted and committed. The official said EDA generally expects to fund up to 80% of eligible project costs but may establish higher grant rates in limited circumstances.
Application process and required materials: Submissions must be made through EDA’s EDGE grants portal with applicants selecting the readiness pathway. Required federal forms named by the presenter include the SF‑424, the SF‑424 non‑construction budget form, CD‑511 if applicable, and the ED‑900 application narrative. Applicants must also upload a three‑page impact and engagement narrative (11‑point font, single spaced, 1‑inch margins), a budget narrative with cost details for each SF‑424 line item, documentation confirming matching funds, regional SEDS (or equivalent) documentation, and a PDF of the FEMA disaster declaration for the affected area. Where applicable, applicants should upload an approved indirect cost rate agreement and documentation related to a state single point of contact.
Evaluation and review: The official described a two‑step review—initial technical eligibility screening followed by an Investment Review Committee evaluation against criteria in the NOFO; the selecting official makes final grant determinations. The presenter pointed attendees to pages 38–39 of the NOFO for evaluation criteria and to Appendix 1 (pages 44–45) for the required outline and questions for the impact and engagement narrative. To be competitive, applications must clearly demonstrate knowledge of the community’s disaster recovery needs, feasible approaches that address capacity constraints, measurable success metrics and deliberate community engagement.
Practical guidance and support: The presenter advised applicants to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), register in SAM (System for Award Management), and begin these steps early. Attendees were directed to download the Grants.gov NOFO zip file to view form formats and to use EDA’s recorded EDGE webinar for portal navigation guidance. The speaker repeatedly encouraged applicants to contact their state Economic Development Representative (EDR) for technical clarification and to confirm project alignment with EDA objectives.
Next steps and resources: The official closed by reminding participants that readiness applications will be accepted until funding is exhausted, noting EDA anticipates high demand, and reiterating links to the NOFO, FAQs, EDGE guidance and additional webinars on the agency’s FY25 Disaster Supplemental web page.
The webinar did not include a formal Q&A transcript here; interested applicants are directed to the NOFO, FAQs and their EDR for follow‑up technical questions.
