The U.S. Department of Commerce’s EDA is offering the Space Coast RIC Grant to stimulate economic diversification and job creation in Florida’s Space Coast region.

1. District Organization (as defined in 13 C.F.R. § 304.2);
2. Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes;
3. State, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions;
4. Institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or
5. Public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State.

See section 3 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3122) and 13 C.F.R. § 300.3.

Under the Space Coast RIC Competition, eligible applicants must propose projects that help catalyze the advancement of Central Florida’s key regional industry clusters. EDA is not authorized to provide grants directly to individuals or to for-profit entities.

EDA will coordinate this competition with members of the Presidential Taskforce on Space Industry Workforce and Economic Development, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Labor (DOL), and other agencies to leverage federal resources and expertise for the benefit of Space Coast RIC Competition winners.

The culmination of the Space Shuttle Program poses significant economic challenges for Florida’s Space Coast region. However, the region is connected to a tremendous range of economic assets that can serve as the foundation for future business activity. The region’s local economic development organizations, in coordination with federal, State, and local officials; Space Shuttle Program contractors; and other key stakeholders, have worked collaboratively to develop strategies for retaining aerospace workers in the region. Investing in RICs is anticipated to promote a cohesive and reinforcing network of economic activity. A strategic plan developed by Enterprise Florida, a public-private partnership charged with promoting State-wide economic development, identified eight significant economic clusters, five of which this competition shall focus on as having the potential to sustain and spur economic growth in the Space Coast region:

1. Aviation and Aerospace,
2. Cleantech,
3. Homeland Security/Defense,
4. Information Technology, and
5. Life Sciences.

These promising RICs offer tremendous opportunities to not only retain the Space Coast’s current workforce, but to accelerate the diversification of the regional economy. These industry clusters capitalize on the region’s powerful and unique economic assets. By encouraging applicants to think of creative and workable ways to improve the region’s economy, the Space Coast RIC Competition is designed to catalyze the advancement of Central Florida’s key RICs to drive economic growth and job creation. This initiative will build on and complement existing efforts and ensure collaboration with public, private, and nonprofit partners in the region. Applicants are expected to leverage regional strengths, capabilities, and competitive advantages.

Please see the full federal funding opportunity (FFO) announcement under “Full Announcement Link” below for complete information regarding the competition and to help ensure your application is timely received by EDA.