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EDA webinar answers applicant questions on phase skipping, matches, employer commitments and deadline
Summary
During the webinar EDA staff clarified application questions: applicants may start in any phase but must document prior work; employer commitment letters are preferred for verification; hyperlinks can be used but may not be reviewed; stipends paid with federal funds are not allowable (applicants can provide match instead); and the AI addendum deadline is July 10 at 4:59 p.m. Eastern.
EDA presenters used the webinar Q&A to clarify applicant questions about eligibility, allowable costs and evidence reviewers will use.
On submission timing, Carla Garrett confirmed the AI addendum deadline: "The deadline is July 10th at 4:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time." She said applicants should consult the AI addendum within the NOFO for specifics about timing and page limits.
Staff advised that applicants may propose to begin in any of the three phases (system development, program design or implementation) but must "sufficiently speak to" work already completed for earlier phases if they omit them from their application. For applicants proposing all three phases, Garrett recommended explicitly stating current knowledge and describing how planned system development will resolve outstanding questions.
On employer commitments and verification, EDA staff said signed, detailed commitment letters on company letterhead and signed by a senior official are the most effective evidence; EDA reserves the right to verify facts but cannot promise to contact every referenced employer. "A letter is definitely the better approach," a presenter said.
The panel addressed allowable match and costs: EDA noted federal funds cannot be used to pay participant stipends or wages, but applicants have used applicant match to cover such costs in past competitions. In‑kind contributions from employer partners are allowable when they clearly align to the project activities; EDA pointed applicants to the AI addendum and FAQs for precise match rules.
Presenters also said hyperlinks may be included in narratives but warned reviewers may not follow every link and page limits still apply. For applicants uncertain about legal or organizational status (for example, whether an economic development organization qualifies as a nonprofit or for‑profit entity for eligibility), EDA staff recommended sending specific questions to the OIE inbox for written guidance.
The webinar closed with a reminder that recordings and slides will be posted and that additional technical assistance webinars on budget best practices and data/evaluation are scheduled during the competition window.
