Opportunity Information: Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2021 2006827
Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2021 2006827
- The Department of Commerce in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2021 Build to Scale Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.024.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 23, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 29, 2021. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2021 Build to Scale Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA), through its Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The program is designed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems by funding efforts that help technology-based companies start, grow, and commercialize new products. The underlying policy focus is technology-based economic development that translates into measurable regional outcomes, including high-quality job creation, expanded economic opportunity, a stronger pipeline of innovative firms, and improved U.S. competitiveness. The opportunity is grounded in the federal emphasis on technology commercialization and entrepreneurship reflected in Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980.
In practical terms, Build to Scale is aimed at organizations that serve as builders of local and regional innovation infrastructure. That includes entities running accelerators or scale-up programs, groups coordinating entrepreneurship support networks, organizations helping founders access mentorship and technical expertise, and institutions building pathways from research to market. It also includes efforts that broaden access to investment capital, whether by strengthening investor networks, improving deal flow, supporting funding readiness for startups, or building the connective tissue that helps capital move efficiently across a region or an industry cluster. The program is meant to support connected, innovation-centric economies, meaning it values projects that link entrepreneurs, universities, investors, industry partners, and community resources into a functioning system rather than isolated, one-off activities.
EDA structured the 2021 Build to Scale Program around two separate competitions: the Venture Challenge and the Capital Challenge. While the notice text provided does not spell out every difference between the two tracks, the naming signals the overall intent. The Venture Challenge generally aligns with venture development activities, such as building or expanding programs that accelerate company formation and growth, strengthen commercialization pipelines, and improve the capacity of an ecosystem to turn innovation into scalable firms. The Capital Challenge is oriented toward increasing access to capital, such as initiatives that help unlock investment across a region or sector, strengthen investment networks, and reduce barriers that keep promising companies from securing the financing needed to grow. Applicants choose the competition that best matches the core purpose of their proposed project.
A key requirement is the cost share: applicants must provide a non-federal matching share of at least 50 percent of the total project cost. In other words, for every federal dollar requested, the applicant must commit at least one dollar from non-federal sources. This match requirement is central to the program because it demonstrates local commitment and helps ensure the funded work is supported by regional stakeholders with a direct interest in the outcomes.
The opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant under CFDA 11.024. The funding opportunity number is EDA-HDQ-OIE-2021-2006827. The posting (creation) date was February 23, 2021, and the original application deadline was April 29, 2021. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed is $1,500,000, and EDA anticipated making approximately 50 awards, indicating a national competition with multiple awards rather than a single large grant.
Eligibility is broad and includes public sector, higher education, nonprofit, and certain other organizational types that commonly anchor innovation ecosystems. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and additional eligible entities referenced under the opportunity's eligibility clarification. This mix reflects the reality that regional innovation capacity is often built through partnerships among government, universities, nonprofits, and industry-aligned organizations.
Overall, the 2021 Build to Scale Program is best understood as EDA's mechanism for investing in regionally grounded systems that help technology companies move from idea to market and from early traction to scalable growth. Successful proposals typically fit within a broader strategy for regional innovation and economic development, show strong partnerships, demonstrate credible pathways to commercialization and job creation, and present a clear plan to use federal dollars alongside substantial non-federal matching funds to produce durable ecosystem improvements.
2021 Build to Scale Program (EDA) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2021 Build to Scale Program?
The 2021 Build to Scale Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA), through its Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. It funds efforts that strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and help technology-based companies start, grow, and commercialize new products.
What is the main goal of Build to Scale?
The program aims to advance technology-based economic development and translate that work into measurable regional outcomes. The stated outcomes include high-quality job creation, expanded economic opportunity, a stronger pipeline of innovative firms, and improved U.S. competitiveness.
What kinds of projects does the program support?
Build to Scale supports projects that function as regional innovation infrastructure. Examples described in the opportunity include accelerators or scale-up programs, entrepreneurship support networks, mentorship and technical assistance systems for founders, and pathways that move research innovations toward market commercialization. It also supports efforts that broaden access to investment capital by strengthening investor networks, improving deal flow, and helping startups become funding-ready.
Who is the program designed to help?
The program is designed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems in ways that help technology-based companies and founders. In practice, funding flows to organizations that build and coordinate the systems entrepreneurs rely on, rather than to isolated, one-off activities.
What does EDA mean by a "connected, innovation-centric economy"?
Based on the notice summary, EDA values projects that connect entrepreneurs, universities, investors, industry partners, and community resources into a functioning system. The emphasis is on building regional connectivity and coordination, not standalone activities that are disconnected from the larger ecosystem.
What federal agency runs this program?
The program is operated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA), through EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
What is the legal or policy basis for this opportunity?
The opportunity reflects federal emphasis on technology commercialization and entrepreneurship and is connected to Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980.
What are the two competitions (tracks) within the 2021 Build to Scale Program?
EDA structured the 2021 program around two separate competitions: the Venture Challenge and the Capital Challenge. Applicants choose the competition that best matches the core purpose of their proposed project.
What is the Venture Challenge intended to support?
The Venture Challenge generally aligns with venture development activities such as building or expanding programs that accelerate company formation and growth, strengthening commercialization pipelines, and improving an ecosystem's capacity to turn innovation into scalable firms.
What is the Capital Challenge intended to support?
The Capital Challenge is oriented toward increasing access to capital. This includes initiatives that unlock investment across a region or sector, strengthen investment networks, and reduce barriers that keep promising companies from securing financing needed to grow.
How do applicants decide whether to apply under the Venture Challenge or the Capital Challenge?
Applicants select the competition that best aligns with the main purpose of the project. Projects centered on venture development and commercialization capacity generally align with the Venture Challenge, while projects centered on improving capital access and investment connectivity generally align with the Capital Challenge.
Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
Yes. Applicants must provide a non-federal matching share of at least 50 percent of the total project cost.
What does a 50 percent non-federal match mean in practical terms?
It means that for every federal dollar requested, the applicant must commit at least one dollar from non-federal sources. The match is described as a central requirement of the program.
Why is the matching requirement important to EDA?
The match requirement is intended to demonstrate local commitment and help ensure the funded work is supported by regional stakeholders with a direct interest in the outcomes.
What is the CFDA number for this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant under CFDA 11.024.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is EDA-HDQ-OIE-2021-2006827.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting (creation) date was February 23, 2021.
What was the application deadline for the 2021 opportunity?
The original application deadline was April 29, 2021.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed is $1,500,000.
How many awards did EDA anticipate making?
EDA anticipated making approximately 50 awards, indicating a national competition with multiple awards.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public sector entities, higher education institutions, nonprofits, and other eligible entities referenced in the opportunity's eligibility clarification. The eligible applicant types explicitly listed include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Are nonprofits eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The notice summary lists nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) as eligible.
Are tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
What kinds of outcomes are proposals expected to drive?
The program focus includes measurable regional outcomes such as high-quality job creation, expanded economic opportunity, a stronger pipeline of innovative firms, and improved U.S. competitiveness.
What characteristics are typically associated with strong proposals?
Based on the description provided, successful proposals typically fit within a broader regional innovation and economic development strategy, show strong partnerships, demonstrate credible pathways to commercialization and job creation, and present a clear plan to use federal funds alongside substantial non-federal matching funds to produce durable ecosystem improvements.
Is Build to Scale focused on individual companies or on regional systems?
The program is best described as an investment in regionally grounded systems. It supports organizations building the ecosystem infrastructure that helps technology companies move from idea to market and from early traction to scalable growth.
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