Use the U.S. Economic Development Administration for most regional economic development, infrastructure, and innovation grant needs. If your project is transportation-focused, pursue Department of Transportation funding; if it's brownfields or environmental infrastructure, pursue EPA programs. Match your project type to the agency.
2U.S. Economic Development AdministrationBest fit for regional economic development, public works, resilience, and innovation projects seeking federal grant funding; recommended when you need broad economic development support. Caveat: focuses on regional and community-scale projects.84%
If you're pursuing an economic-development project in New York, the most effective approach is to work backward from the project and its outcomes rather than searching for a generic “economic development grant.”
1. Define the project before searching
Write a one-page project summary covering:
Applicant: municipality, county, nonprofit, economic-development organization, business, university, etc.
Location: city/town/county and state.
Project: what you will actually build, acquire, study, or implement.
Economic impact: jobs created/retained, private investment, businesses assisted, housing or infrastructure enabled, tax-base effects, etc.
Total project cost: including design, engineering, construction, equipment, professional services, and other eligible costs.
Amount requested: and how much matching/local/private funding you have.
Schedule: design, permitting, construction and completion dates.
Project readiness: site control, engineering, environmental work, permits, plans, cost estimates, and partners.
This matters because federal NOFOs specify their own eligibility and evaluation requirements; Grants.gov specifically advises applicants to verify eligibility before investing substantial effort in an application.
Absolutely. The most effective approach is to start with the project, not with a grant search. Federal and state programs often fund very specific outcomes—jobs, infrastructure, business expansion, workforce development, rural development, innovation, downtown revitalization, etc.
Start with grants.gov, the federal government's main grant-opportunity portal.
Useful search terms include:
economic development
economic adjustment
public works
infrastructure
workforce development
manufacturing
small business
entrepreneurship
brownfield
downtown revitalization
rural development
industrial site
technology
regional development
Don't search only for the phrase “economic development.” A project involving an industrial park, for example, may fit an infrastructure or site-development program rather than something explicitly titled an economic-development grant.
For economic-development projects specifically, also look at the eda.gov. EDA currently lists programs including Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance, Build to Scale, Planning/Technical Assistance/Research, University Centers, and Disaster Recovery.
3. Look at New York programs separately
For New York projects, use esd.ny.gov and examine the programs that correspond to the actual project.
For example, New York's current economic-development offerings include programs for:
County infrastructure
Shovel-ready industrial sites through FAST NY
Strategic planning and feasibility studies
Electric infrastructure/readiness
Other business, community and regional-development initiatives.
The appropriate program can change substantially depending on whether you're proposing, say, an industrial park, downtown redevelopment, business expansion, workforce facility, infrastructure project, or feasibility study.
If the applicant is a New York nonprofit or economic-development organization, there can also be additional state requirements such as Grants Gateway prequalification and other state registrations.
4. Build a grant “crosswalk”
Once you've identified 5–10 plausible programs, make a table like this:
Requirement
Your project
Grant requirement
Eligible applicant
County government
County eligible?
Geography
Albany County, NY
Eligible geography?
Project type
Industrial-site infrastructure
Eligible activity?
Total cost
$8 million
—
Grant request
$3 million
Award range?
Match
$5 million
Required match?
Jobs
150 projected
Evaluation criterion?
Private investment
$40 million
Required/encouraged?
Readiness
Engineering 80% complete
Required?
Deadline
—
Open/closed?
This quickly eliminates grants that sound relevant but don't actually fit.
5. Get registrations done early
For federal applications, organizational registration can involve SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and the application process can take time. Grants.gov recommends completing registration and other pre-application steps well before the deadline.
Then you'll generally:
Identify the specific funding opportunity/NOFO.
Confirm applicant and project eligibility.
Read the entire NOFO.
Register in the required systems.
Develop the project narrative and budget.
Gather supporting documentation.
Complete the required federal forms.
Submit through the system specified by the program.
Retain the tracking/submission information.
Grants.gov provides the application workflow and Workspace for applicable federal opportunities.
Don't start writing the proposal until you've read the NOFO's evaluation criteria. Your application should be organized around exactly what the agency says it will evaluate.
6. Make the economic case with numbers
For an economic-development project, a strong application generally needs more than “this will help the community.”
Quantify things such as:
Number of jobs created and/or retained
Average wages
Private capital investment
Number of businesses attracted or retained
New or improved infrastructure capacity
Increase in developable/shovel-ready acreage
New tax-base potential
Workforce trained
Businesses or residents served
Regional supply-chain effects
Timeline for achieving those outcomes
Also distinguish committed investment from projected investment. A letter from a company committing to locate at a site is different from an estimate that a company might eventually locate there.
7. Don't overlook the local funding stack
Economic-development projects are often assembled from multiple sources rather than funded by one grant.
A hypothetical $10 million project might combine:
Federal grant: $3 million
New York grant: $2 million
County/local contribution: $1 million
Private investment: $3 million
Other financing: $1 million
Whether that structure is permissible depends on the individual programs, including matching-fund and duplication-of-benefits rules, so check each award's requirements before counting a source toward your match.
8. Use the grant agency's staff strategically
For EDA in particular, the agency identifies Economic Development Representatives for states/districts and encourages applicants to contact the relevant representative regarding the program and application process.
The most useful question isn't usually “Will you fund my project?”
Instead, provide a concise project description and ask:
“Which current funding program appears most closely aligned with this project, and are there particular eligibility, cost-sharing, or application requirements we should address before submitting?”
That can save considerable time.
A practical next step
If you tell me (1) what the project is, (2) the location in New York, (3) who the applicant would be, (4) approximate total project cost, and (5) what you're trying to accomplish, I can research the current federal and New York programs that fit it, identify eligibility/match requirements and deadlines, and give you a shortlist with direct application links.
Finding and applying for federal and state economic development grants requires navigating a structured system of portals, agency guidelines, and rigorous compliance standards. Economic development projects generally target job creation, infrastructure improvement, business incubation, or regional innovation.
1. Find Federal Economic Development Grants
Federal funding for economic development is primarily channeled through agencies like the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) , the USDA Rural Development , and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Grants.gov: Search and find federal funding opportunities across all 26 federal grant-making agencies using the Grants.gov Search Grants tool. You can filter by eligibility, category, and agency.
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA): Review specific economic assistance programs—such as Public Works or Regional Innovation—by visiting the EDA Funding Opportunities page.
SAM.gov Registration: Before applying for any federal grant, your organization must be registered in SAM.gov to receive a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active status.
2. Find State Economic Development Grants
State grants are managed by state departments of commerce, economic development corporations, or state-specific community development agencies.
State Commerce Websites: Visit your state’s official government portal (e.g., California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, or Texas Economic Development). Most states maintain an active grants directory or business incentive database.
Local Regional Entities: Check with regional Councils of Governments (COGs) or local Economic Development Districts (EDDs), which often act as clearinghouses or co-applicants for state and federal funding streams.
3. Step-by-Step Application Process
Verify Eligibility: Review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) carefully. Federal and state economic development grants typically require applicants to be local governments, tribal nations, non-profit economic development organizations, or higher education institutions—rarely private for-profit entities directly, unless partnered with a public sponsor.
Prepare Pre-Application Materials: Gather project descriptions, alignment metrics with regional comprehensive economic development strategies (CEDS), feasibility studies, and robust budget estimates including matching fund commitments (many economic development grants require a 1:1 or partial local match).
Complete System Registrations: Ensure your accounts on Grants.gov or your state's respective electronic procurement/grant management portal are fully verified and active well before the submission deadline.
Draft and Submit via Workspace: Use collaborative platforms like Grants.gov Workspace to compile forms, attach narrative proposals, and officially submit the package prior to the exact deadline.
To help narrow down specific portals or programs, let me know:
What state and county is the project located in?
Is the applicant a local government, non-profit, or tribal entity?
What is the primary focus of the project (e.g., infrastructure, workforce training, business incubator)?
Finding and applying for economic development grants requires navigating a structured process at both the federal and state levels. These grants typically target infrastructure, business incubators, job creation, workforce training, and community revitalization rather than private personal enrichment.
Step 1: Prepare Your Organization and Project
Before searching for funds, ensure your foundation is set:
Establish Eligibility: Most economic development grants are restricted to local governments, tribes, non-profits, economic development organizations (EDOs), and higher education institutions. Private for-profit entities are occasionally eligible for specific sub-programs or state-level incentives, but rarely direct federal awards.
Obtain Unique Identifiers: For federal grants, you must register your organization on SAM.gov to receive a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration status, which can take several weeks.
Define the Project Scope: Clearly outline your project goals, estimated budget, matching funds (many economic development grants require a local match), and targeted community impacts (e.g., job numbers, infrastructure improvements).
Step 2: Search for Federal Grants
The federal government centralizes its funding opportunities primarily through official portals managed by agencies like the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and USDA Rural Development.
Search Grants.gov: Use the search tool to filter by categories like community development, business and commerce, or regional development.
Review the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA): Check active programs like Public Works, Economic Adjustment Assistance, or Build to Scale. Read the specific Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) carefully for strict qualification rules.
Explore USDA Rural Development: If your project is in a rural area, look into USDA Rural Development programs supporting business and community infrastructure.
Step 3: Search for State Grants
State-level economic development grants are often faster to secure and tightly aligned with regional priorities.
Identify Your State Agency: Look for your state's Department of Commerce, Economic Development Corporation (EDC), or Business Development Authority (e.g., Texas Economic Development, Empire State Development in New York).
Check State Portals: Most states maintain a centralized grants directory or small business portal. Search for terms like "state economic development fund" or "community block grants (CDBG)" administered locally.
Consult Regional Planning Councils: Local Councils of Governments (COGs) or Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) often track state and federal pass-through funds available to local sub-recipients.
Step 4: Apply Through Designated Portals
Federal Submission: Submit complete application packages through Grants.gov or specific agency portals like the EDA's EDGE Portal as outlined in the specific NOFO.
State Submission: Follow the specific guidelines of your state’s online grant management software, ensuring all compliance documents, budgets, and letters of support are attached before the deadline.
To help narrow down your search, please tell me:
What type of organization are you applying on behalf of (city government, non-profit, small business, etc.)?
Which state or region is the project located in?
What is the primary focus of the project (workforce training, public infrastructure, business incubation, etc.)?
If you’re pursuing an economic development project, the most effective approach is to start with the project and its outcomes—not simply search for “economic development grants.” Federal and state programs are usually tied to a particular purpose, applicant type, geography, and measurable outcome.
1. Define the project before searching
Write a one-page project profile containing:
Project: What exactly will be built, purchased, expanded, or implemented?
Location: City/county and, if relevant, census tract.
Applicant: City, county, nonprofit, tribal government, business, university, economic-development corporation, etc.
Total cost: Including design, construction, equipment, land, professional services, and other costs.
Amount requested: How much grant funding you need.
Match: Cash, private investment, other government funding, or allowable in-kind contributions.
Economic impact: Jobs created/retained, private investment leveraged, businesses assisted, tax-base effects, workforce outcomes, etc.
Timeline: Design, permitting, construction, implementation, and completion.
Partners: Businesses, universities, workforce organizations, local governments, utilities, community organizations, etc.
This information makes grant searches dramatically more targeted.
2. Start with federal programs
The main federal search portal is grants.gov. It lets you search funding opportunities by keyword, eligibility, agency, status, and other criteria. Grants.gov specifically notes that its organizational funding opportunities are generally for organizations and entities rather than individuals.
For economic-development projects, look particularly at:
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) — infrastructure, economic adjustment, regional development, innovation, planning, and related economic-development activities.
U.S. Department of Agriculture — particularly rural economic and community-development programs.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — community development, housing, infrastructure and revitalization programs.
Department of Energy (DOE) — energy, manufacturing, industrial, and clean-energy economic-development opportunities.
Department of Commerce — technology, manufacturing, trade, and regional-development programs.
Department of Transportation (DOT) — transportation infrastructure where the project has an eligible transportation component.
Small Business Administration (SBA) — certain ecosystem, technical-assistance, entrepreneurship, and small-business programs.
EDA is particularly worth investigating because its current funding portfolio includes Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance, Build to Scale, planning/technical assistance, and other economic-development programs.
EDA also maintains a federal economic-development resource matrix covering more than 130 federal programs, which can be useful for finding programs outside EDA itself.
3. If the project is in California
Since you're asking about state grants as well, California has a centralized California Grants Portal and the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) maintains programs relevant to businesses and economic development.
Depending on the project, investigate programs involving:
Business attraction and expansion
Infrastructure
Workforce development
Manufacturing
International trade
Small-business assistance
Community revitalization
Regional economic development
Tax incentives rather than conventional grants
For example, California Competes is a tax-credit program rather than a grant, so don't restrict your search to programs explicitly labeled "grant." GO-Biz currently lists California Competes and several other economic-development programs among its offerings.
4. Search using the project's purpose
Instead of searching only:
“economic development grant”
try combinations such as:
"industrial park" grant
"business expansion" infrastructure grant
"manufacturing" economic development
"job creation" grant
"workforce development" grant
"downtown revitalization" grant
"commercial corridor" grant
"water infrastructure" economic development
"industrial infrastructure" grant
"rural economic development"
"innovation ecosystem" grant
"small business" technical assistance
"site development" economic development
Then filter by eligible applicant. A grant available to a municipality may be inaccessible to a private company even if the proposed project itself fits perfectly.
5. Read the NOFO before spending time writing
This is probably the most important step.
For each promising opportunity, download/read the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and make a simple eligibility checklist:
Question
Your project
Is my organization eligible?
✓ / ✗
Is this type of project eligible?
✓ / ✗
Is my geographic area eligible?
✓ / ✗
Is the requested amount within the range?
✓ / ✗
Is matching funding required?
✓ / ✗
Are my costs eligible?
✓ / ✗
EDA specifically advises applicants to read the entire NOFO because it contains the technical requirements, eligibility requirements, and evaluation criteria.
Don't write a 30-page application until you've established that every fundamental eligibility requirement is satisfied.
6. Get your federal registrations in order early
For a federal application, you'll generally need to establish the appropriate organizational registrations, including:
SAM.gov registration
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
Grants.gov account/access
Authorized organizational representatives
Required organizational and financial information
Don't wait until the day before the deadline. Registration problems can prevent an otherwise complete application from being submitted.
Grants.gov's application process involves finding the opportunity, determining eligibility, registering, preparing the application in Workspace, and submitting it through the required system.
Also be careful about scams: EDA states that it does not charge applicants a processing fee for its grants.
7. Build the application around measurable economic outcomes
A strong economic-development application usually needs to make a logical chain:
Problem → Project → Activities → Outputs → Economic outcomes
For example:
An industrial site lacks adequate infrastructure
↓
Grant funds water/sewer/road improvements
↓
Site becomes development-ready
↓
Manufacturers can locate there
↓
$X million in private investment
↓
X new jobs + X retained jobs
Be specific where you reasonably can:
Number of jobs created
Number of jobs retained
Average wages
Private investment leveraged
Businesses attracted/expanded
Square footage developed
Number of entrepreneurs served
Number of workers trained
Increase in business capacity
Tax-base implications
Avoid unsupported projections. Explain the assumptions behind your numbers.
8. Don't overlook matching funds and "stacking"
A $5 million project doesn't necessarily need to be funded by one $5 million grant.
You might construct a financing stack such as:
Federal grant + state grant + local funds + private investment + loan + philanthropic funds
But you need to check each program's rules regarding:
Matching funds
Cost sharing
Other federal funds
Duplication of benefits
Eligible sources of match
Whether match must already be committed
EDA explicitly emphasizes coordinating and leveraging complementary public and private investments as part of broader economic-development strategies.
9. Use past awards as a research tool
One particularly useful technique is to look at previous recipients of the same program.
Ask:
What type of organization received funding?
What was the project?
How much did it receive?
What outcomes did it promise?
What geographic/economic circumstances existed?
What partners participated?
EDA publishes historical grant awards, including its 2026 grant history.
This can tell you much more about what a program actually funds than a generic grant description.
10. Get help from the economic-development ecosystem
For a substantial project, don't treat the grant application as a standalone document.
Potential partners include:
City/county economic-development staff
Regional economic-development organizations
State agencies
EDA's regional representatives
Workforce-development boards
Community colleges
Universities
Utilities
Chambers of commerce
Major employers
Site-development organizations
EDA maintains an Economic Development Directory with regional office and state-government contacts and other economic-development resources.
A practical workflow
I'd approach a real project like this:
Week 1
Define the project and budget.
Establish applicant eligibility.
Identify the economic-development problem.
Identify measurable outcomes.
Week 2
5. Search Grants.gov and relevant federal agencies.
6. Search the California Grants Portal/GO-Biz if applicable.
7. Identify 5–10 potentially relevant programs.
8. Eliminate programs where you fail a basic eligibility requirement.
Week 3
9. Read each NOFO carefully.
10. Examine prior awards.
11. Contact the relevant program/economic-development representatives.
12. Develop the funding stack and match.
Weeks 4+
13. Build the narrative and work plan.
14. Develop the detailed budget.
15. Gather partner commitments and supporting documentation.
16. Complete required registrations.
17. Conduct an eligibility/compliance review.
18. Submit well before the deadline.
If you tell me your project details
I can make this much more concrete. Give me (1) the city/state, (2) what you're trying to build or accomplish, (3) approximate project cost, (4) who the applicant would be—business, nonprofit, city, etc.—and (5) expected jobs/private investment, and I can research the currently available federal and California programs that potentially fit, including eligibility, funding amounts, deadlines, match requirements, and application links.
Finding and applying for economic development grants requires navigating both federal systems and state-specific economic engines. These projects typically support infrastructure, job creation, business incubators, or community revitalization.
Phase 1: Finding and Applying for Federal Grants
The federal government channels most economic development funding through agencies like the Economic Development Administration (EDA), USDA Rural Development, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Get Registered Early: Before applying for any federal grant, your organization must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) via SAM.gov and an active registration on Grants.gov . This process can take several weeks.
Review the NOFO: Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) carefully to confirm eligibility (e.g., local governments, non-profits, or tribal nations) and match requirements (many federal grants require local matching funds).
Submit via Agency Portals or Workspace: Use Grants.gov Workspace or specific agency portals (like the EDA's EDGE platform) to complete and submit your application package before the deadline.
Phase 2: Finding and Applying for State Grants
State grants are often faster to secure and better tailored to local regional priorities than federal awards.
Identify Your State Agency: Every state has a dedicated Department of Commerce, Economic Development Corporation, or Community Development Agency.
Connect with Local/Regional Economic Development Districts (EDDs): Reach out to your local regional planning commission or state EDA Economic Development Representative . They often maintain clearinghouses of active state-specific funding pools, tax credits, and block grants.
Explore State Portals: Visit your state government's official business portal (e.g., California Competes, Empire State Development in New York, or equivalent local programs) to review active state-funded grant calendars and application guidelines.
Prepare Local Stakeholder Support: State economic development reviewers heavily weigh job creation metrics, local capital backing, and letters of support from regional municipal leaders.
If you'd like to narrow this down, tell me:
What type of project are you planning (e.g., downtown revitalization, manufacturing infrastructure, workforce training)?
What state is the project located in?
Are you applying as a local government, non-profit, or private business?
I can provide specific programs and direct links for your exact scenario.
If you mean U.S. federal and state economic-development grants, the most effective approach is to start with the project—not with a grant database—and then match the project to programs.
1. Define the project in grant-ready terms
Write a 1–2 page project summary covering:
What: infrastructure, business expansion, workforce development, site preparation, broadband, downtown revitalization, technology commercialization, etc.
Where: city/county and specific site.
Who: applicant entity and project partners.
Why: economic problem or opportunity being addressed.
Jobs: jobs created/retained, wages, and timing.
Investment: total project cost and other committed/potential funding.
Timeline: design, construction, launch, and completion dates.
This makes subsequent grant searches much more productive.
2. Search federal programs
The main starting point is grants.gov, the federal government's central grant-opportunity portal. You can search by keywords, eligibility, agency, and other criteria. Grants.gov specifically recommends confirming eligibility before investing time in an application.
For economic-development projects, pay particular attention to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Its programs include:
Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance — infrastructure and economic-adjustment projects.
Build to Scale — entrepreneurial ecosystems and technology-driven businesses.
Planning, Technical Assistance and Research — planning and related economic-development activities.
University Centers and other specialized programs.
EDA maintains its current funding opportunities and program information here: eda.gov.
For example, Build to Scale is specifically designed to support organizations strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems and technology-driven businesses.
Don't search only for "economic development grant". Try combinations such as:
"economic development" + infrastructure
"job creation" + manufacturing
"site readiness"
"workforce development"
"downtown revitalization"
"brownfield redevelopment"
"rural development"
"commercialization"
"small business"
"broadband"
"port infrastructure"
"energy efficiency" + economic development
3. Search your state's programs
Every state has its own economic-development agencies and grant programs, often with opportunities that aren't obvious from Grants.gov.
If you're working in Washington, for example, the Washington State Department of Commerce is the state's primary economic-development agency and provides funding and other assistance through numerous programs.
One particularly relevant program is Washington's Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). CERB supports planning, economic development, and public infrastructure projects intended to promote business growth and job creation. Recent 2026 awards include both grants and low-interest loans.
CERB's Planning Program, for example, can provide up to $100,000 for eligible planning activities, with a required cash match of at least 20%. Eligible activities include feasibility studies, environmental work, capital-facility planning, permitting, engineering, site planning, and site-readiness activities.
Don't immediately apply to every program you find. Create a spreadsheet like:
Program
Project fit
Eligible applicant?
Maximum award
Match
Deadline
Readiness
Next step
Federal Program A
High
Yes
$X
20%
Date
The most important columns are eligibility, match requirements, deadline, eligible costs, and evaluation criteria.
A project can be an excellent economic-development project but still be ineligible for a particular grant.
5. Check eligibility before spending money on the application
Read the entire Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or state funding announcement.
Look specifically for:
Eligible applicants
Eligible geographic areas
Eligible project costs
Minimum/maximum award
Required match
Match restrictions
Cost-sharing rules
Required partnerships
Environmental requirements
Procurement requirements
Labor/wage requirements
Required economic-impact measurements
Application deadline
Evaluation/scoring criteria
EDA itself advises applicants to read the NOFO completely, including its technical requirements, eligibility provisions, and evaluation criteria.
6. Get federal registrations done early
For most federal organizational grants, you'll need:
Login.gov account
SAM.gov registration
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
Grants.gov registration/profile
Appropriate organizational authorization to submit the application
Grants.gov says SAM registration can take up to 10 business days, so don't wait until the application deadline.
Federal applications are generally assembled and submitted through Grants.gov Workspace, although some agencies use their own systems for particular programs.
7. Build the application around measurable economic outcomes
A strong economic-development application generally connects:
$4 million infrastructure investment
→ prepares 80-acre industrial site
→ attracts two manufacturers
→ $75 million private investment
→ 250 new jobs
→ increased local wages and tax base
Don't simply say the project will "create economic growth." Quantify what you can:
Jobs created
Jobs retained
Average/median wages
Private investment leveraged
Businesses assisted
Square footage developed
Acres made development-ready
New tax revenue
Number of workers trained
Businesses/households gaining access to infrastructure
Time to implementation
8. Treat matching funds as part of the project strategy
Many economic-development grants require a non-federal match or favor projects that leverage additional investment.
Potential sources can include:
Local government funds
State funds
Private investment
Foundation/philanthropic funding
Other eligible grants
Bonds
Contributions from project partners
Be careful: not every funding source qualifies as match, and some programs impose restrictions on federal funds being used as match.
9. Talk to the funding agency before submitting
For EDA in particular, the agency identifies Economic Development Representatives who can help prospective applicants understand the relevant programs and process.
For a state project, talk to the state's economic-development agency and your local economic-development organization as well.
A useful question isn't merely:
"Do you have grants available?"
Instead ask:
"We have a [type of project] in [location] costing approximately $X, expected to create/retain Y jobs and leverage $Z in private investment. Which of your current programs could potentially support the project, and what eligibility or readiness issues should we address before applying?"
That produces much more useful feedback.
10. Think about a funding stack, not one giant grant
A $20 million economic-development project might ultimately use several sources rather than one $20 million grant:
Federal grant + state grant + local contribution + private investment + loan/bond financing
That's often particularly important for infrastructure and large capital projects.
A practical workflow
If you're starting from scratch, I'd do this in order:
Write the 1–2 page project concept.
Identify the applicant — city, county, port, nonprofit, tribe, university, private company, etc.
Calculate total project cost and potential match.
Search Grants.gov and relevant federal agencies.
Search your state's economic-development agency.
Identify 5–10 potentially relevant programs.
Eliminate programs for which you aren't eligible.
Score the remaining opportunities internally based on fit, readiness, match, timing, and workload—without assuming that the biggest award is necessarily the most appropriate.
Contact program staff.
Build the application around the NOFO's evaluation criteria.
Get partner commitments and match documentation early.
Submit well before the deadline.
If you tell me (1) the state/city, (2) what the project is, (3) approximate project cost, (4) who would apply, and (5) expected jobs/private investment, I can research the currently open federal and state programs and build you a targeted grant matrix with eligibility, amounts, match requirements, deadlines, and application links.
For a state project, talk to the state's economic-development agency and your local economic-development organization as well.
A useful question isn't merely:
"Do you have grants available?"
Instead ask:
"We have a [type of project] in [location] costing approximately $X, expected to create/retain Y jobs and leverage $Z in private investment. Which of your current programs could potentially support the project, and what eligibility or readiness issues should we address before applying?"
That produces much more useful feedback.
10. Think about a funding stack, not one giant grant
A $20 million economic-development project might ultimately use several sources rather than one $20 million grant:
Federal grant + state grant + local contribution + private investment + loan/bond financing
That's often particularly important for infrastructure and large capital projects.
A practical workflow
If you're starting from scratch, I'd do this in order:
Write the 1–2 page project concept.
Identify the applicant — city, county, port, nonprofit, tribe, university, private company, etc.
Calculate total project cost and potential match.
Search Grants.gov and relevant federal agencies.
Search your state's economic-development agency.
Identify 5–10 potentially relevant programs.
Eliminate programs for which you aren't eligible.
Score the remaining opportunities internally based on fit, readiness, match, timing, and workload—without assuming that the biggest award is necessarily the most appropriate.
Contact program staff.
Build the application around the NOFO's evaluation criteria.
Get partner commitments and match documentation early.
Submit well before the deadline.
If you tell me (1) the state/city, (2) what the project is, (3) approximate project cost, (4) who would apply, and (5) expected jobs/private investment, I can research the currently open federal and state programs and build you a targeted grant matrix with eligibility, amounts, match requirements, deadlines, and application links.
If you're pursuing an economic development project—such as infrastructure, business attraction/retention, workforce development, redevelopment, broadband, manufacturing, or downtown revitalization—the key is to treat grants as a project-to-program matching exercise, rather than simply searching for "economic development grants."
1. Define the project before searching
Create a 1–2 page project summary containing:
Project: What exactly will be built, expanded, or funded?
Location: City/county/state and, if relevant, census tract.
Applicant: City, county, economic-development organization, nonprofit, tribe, university, business, etc.
Total project cost: Include a preliminary budget.
Amount requested: How much grant funding you need.
Match: Cash, other grants, private investment, in-kind contributions, etc.
Economic outcomes: Jobs created/retained, private investment, businesses assisted, tax base, wages, infrastructure capacity, etc.
Partners: Local government, employers, utilities, universities, workforce boards, community organizations, etc.
This information lets you quickly eliminate grants for which you aren't eligible.
2. Search federal grants
The central starting point is grants.gov. Federal opportunities specify eligible applicants, allowable activities, funding amounts, deadlines, evaluation criteria, matching requirements, and required application materials. Grants.gov specifically recommends confirming eligibility before investing substantial effort in an application.
For economic development, pay particular attention to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). EDA maintains current funding opportunities covering areas such as:
Public works and infrastructure
Economic adjustment
Regional economic development
Business and entrepreneurship ecosystems
Workforce-related initiatives
Planning and technical assistance
University/community economic development
Disaster recovery
EDA currently maintains a searchable list of funding opportunities and directs applicants to the applicable NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity).
EDA also publishes a Federal Economic Development Resources Matrix containing more than 130 federal programs that can support economic-development strategies. That's particularly useful when your project doesn't fit neatly into an EDA program.
GO-Biz currently highlights programs including California Jobs First, California Competes, Regional Investment Initiative, California Community Reinvestment Grants, and the State Trade Expansion Program.
Don't limit yourself to programs literally called "grants." Economic-development assistance can also come through tax credits, loans, loan guarantees, infrastructure programs, workforce programs, and public-private investment programs.
For example, California Competes provides a competitive income-tax credit for businesses locating, staying, or expanding in California; its evaluation considers factors such as job creation, investment, and regional importance.
4. Search by project activity, not just "economic development"
Try searches such as:
If your project involves…
Search for…
Industrial park
industrial infrastructure, site development, manufacturing
Downtown redevelopment
downtown revitalization, placemaking, community development
New manufacturing facility
manufacturing, supply chain, industrial development
This often uncovers programs administered by agencies you wouldn't initially associate with economic development.
5. Check eligibility before writing
This is one of the biggest grant-writing mistakes.
For every candidate program, answer:
Is my organization eligible?
Is this geographic area eligible?
Is this type of project eligible?
Are these costs eligible?
Is the requested amount within the program's range?
Is matching funding required?
Is the project sufficiently "shovel ready"?
Does the project's economic impact match the program's evaluation criteria?
Is there a deadline—or is the program open continuously?
Does the program require a particular planning document or regional strategy?
For federal grants, the NOFO is the controlling document. Grants.gov explicitly cautions that an applicant who isn't legally eligible should not proceed with the application.
6. Get your federal registrations done early
For a federal application, your organization generally needs:
SAM.gov registration
A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
Login.gov access
A Grants.gov applicant account
Grants.gov says organizations must register with SAM.gov and obtain a UEI before applying, and recommends doing this well before the deadline.
7. Build the application around the funder's scoring system
Don't start with, "Here's our great project."
Start with:
Here is the problem → here is the measurable economic need → here is our solution → here is why this program is the right federal/state investment → here are the measurable results.
A strong economic-development application typically establishes:
Need
→ What economic problem exists?
Project
→ What specifically will grant funds accomplish?
Readiness
→ Why can you execute it?
Economic impact
→ How many jobs? What private investment? What businesses? What wages? What infrastructure capacity?
Leverage
→ What other public/private dollars are being brought to the project?
Equity/community benefit
→ Who benefits, particularly underserved or economically distressed communities where applicable?
Sustainability
→ What happens after the grant ends?
Measurement
→ How will you prove the promised outcomes?
EDA, for example, provides applicant resources covering common federal forms such as the SF-424, SF-424A and budget narrative, and advises applicants to read the entire NOFO for technical requirements, eligibility, and evaluation criteria.
8. Look for partners and "stack" funding
A $10 million economic-development project might ultimately have:
$2 million federal grant
$1 million state grant
$2 million local contribution
$3 million private investment
$2 million loan
rather than trying to get the entire $10 million from one grant.
This is often much more realistic. EDA itself emphasizes coordinating and leveraging complementary public and private investments as part of regional economic-development strategies.
Also identify the relevant EDA Economic Development Representative for your state/district. EDA provides an Economic Development Directory specifically to connect applicants with regional and state economic-development resources.
9. Create a grant pipeline
I recommend keeping a spreadsheet with columns like:
Program | Agency | Eligibility | Project fit | Amount | Match | Deadline | Readiness | Probability | Contact | Status
Then score each opportunity from 1–5 on:
Project fit
Eligibility
Funding size
Competitiveness
Readiness
Economic impact
Match/leverage
Deadline feasibility
Focus your effort on the top 3–5 opportunities, rather than submitting mediocre applications to 20 programs.
10. Watch for scams
Be especially cautious of anyone claiming that you've "won" an EDA grant and need to pay a processing fee. EDA explicitly says it does not charge applicants a fee to obtain grants.
A practical starting strategy
If you tell me (1) what the project is, (2) where it is, (3) who the applicant would be, (4) approximate project cost, and (5) what you're trying to accomplish, I can do the next step for you: identify specific federal and state programs that fit the project, compare eligibility/funding/match requirements, and give you a prioritized application roadmap.
Finding and applying for federal and state economic development grants requires navigating specialized portals, meeting strict eligibility criteria (usually aimed at local governments, non-profits, or tribal entities rather than private for-profit companies), and aligning your project with specific public goals like job creation or infrastructure improvement.
Here is a step-by-step roadmap to finding and applying for these funds:
Phase 1: Preparation and Prerequisites
Before searching for grants, ensure your organization has the foundational administrative requirements completed:
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) & SAM.gov Registration : For federal grants, you must register your organization on SAM.gov to receive a Unique Entity Identifier. This process can take several weeks, so do it immediately.
Define Project Scope : Clarify whether your project focuses on infrastructure, workforce development, innovation/tech hubs, or small business gap financing.
Check Eligibility : Most economic development grants require applicants to be local municipalities, counties, economic development organizations (EDOs), tribal governments, or 501(c)(3) non-profits. Private businesses rarely receive direct grants, though they can benefit via sub-awards or regional programs.
Phase 2: Finding Federal Grants
Search Grants.gov : Use the Grants.gov Search Tool to look for active federal funding opportunities using keywords like "economic adjustment," "infrastructure," or "workforce."
Explore the Economic Development Administration (EDA) : The EDA is the primary federal agency for this sector. Review their active programs and guidelines on the U.S. Economic Development Administration Funding Page . Key programs include Public Works, Economic Adjustment Assistance, and regional Tech Hubs.
Check Other Relevant Agencies : Look into the USDA (for rural economic development), Department of Labor (for workforce training), and Housing and Urban Development (HUD - Community Development Block Grants).
Phase 3: Finding State Grants
Locate Your State’s Commerce or Economic Development Agency : Every state has a department dedicated to business and community growth (e.g., Business Oregon, Texas Enterprise Fund , PA Department of Community and Economic Development).
Contact Local Regional Entities : Reach out to your local Council of Governments (COG), Economic Development District (EDD), or Small Business Development Center (SBDC). These local bodies often manage state pass-through funds or know about localized state grants before they are widely publicized.
Phase 4: The Application Process
Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) : The NOFO is your rulebook. Pay extreme attention to matching fund requirements (many federal and state grants require a 20% to 50% local cash match), eligible costs, and strict formatting rules.
Prepare Supporting Data : Gather demographic data, labor market statistics, letters of support from local stakeholders, and a clear budget narrative proving project sustainability.
Submit via Designated Portals : Federal applications are typically submitted through Grants.gov or specialized portals like the EDA's EDGE system. State grants will use their own proprietary state grant management portals.
To help narrow down the exact programs you should target, tell me:
What state and county is the project located in?
What is your organization type (city government, non-profit, private business, etc.)?
What is the core focus of your economic development project (infrastructure, workforce training, downtown revitalization, etc.)?
Before searching, prepare a 1–2 page project summary covering:
Applicant: city, county, tribal government, nonprofit, economic-development organization, university, or private company
Location: city/county and state
Project: exactly what you want to build, renovate, launch, or implement
Total cost: e.g., $4 million
Grant request: e.g., $1.5 million
Match: cash, other grants, private investment, land, in-kind contributions, etc.
Economic impact: jobs created/retained, private investment, tax base, businesses served, wages, exports, etc.
Timeline: design → permitting → construction → operation
Partners: local government, employers, utilities, colleges, nonprofits, regional organizations
Readiness: site control, engineering, environmental review, permits, matching funds, letters of support
Why public funding is necessary: what cannot reasonably be accomplished with private/local resources alone
This information becomes the backbone of your grant applications.
2. Search federal grants
The primary federal starting point is grants.gov. Its current search system lets you filter opportunities by eligibility—including state, county, city, nonprofit, small business and other applicant types—and by agency and funding instrument.
For economic development specifically, pay close attention to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). EDA currently lists programs including:
Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance — infrastructure and projects addressing economic challenges
Build to Scale — entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems
Planning and Technical Assistance
University Centers
Disaster Recovery
Other specialized competitions
EDA maintains a current funding-opportunity database and identifies the applicable NOFO, eligibility requirements and application process for each program.
A particularly useful resource is EDA's Federal Economic Development Resources Matrix, which catalogs more than 130 federal programs that can support economic-development strategies across different agencies.
3. Don't search only for "economic development"
That's one of the biggest mistakes applicants make.
Depending on your project, search terms might include:
Economic development
Infrastructure
Industrial park
Business expansion
Manufacturing
Workforce development
Entrepreneurship
Small business
Rural development
Broadband
Water/sewer infrastructure
Transportation
Brownfields
Downtown revitalization
Tourism
Technology/innovation
Supply chain
Export development
Commercial redevelopment
Housing/workforce housing
For example, a $10 million industrial park might have several potential funding sources for roads, water, sewer, workforce training, site preparation and business attraction, rather than one grant covering everything.
4. Identify the state funding layer
If you're working in Arizona, the state's grant system is particularly important.
Arizona's Department of Administration directs organizations and governmental entities to its eCivis system for current state grant opportunities and applications.
You should therefore search both:
Federal opportunities through Grants.gov
Arizona opportunities through eCivis and relevant state agencies
For an Arizona economic-development project, I'd also investigate the state economic-development agency and the specific state agency responsible for the project's subject matter—for example, infrastructure, workforce, rural development, transportation, water, tourism, or business development.
5. Check eligibility before writing
This can save weeks.
For each promising opportunity, make a quick matrix:
Question
What to determine
Eligible applicant?
Can your organization actually apply?
Eligible location?
Does the geographic area qualify?
Eligible project?
Is your particular activity allowable?
Funding amount?
Does the grant size fit your project?
Match required?
How much and what forms are acceptable?
Deadline?
When is the application due?
Readiness?
Are design, permits, site control, etc. required?
Partnerships?
Are specific partners required?
Economic impact?
What outcomes will reviewers score?
Cost eligibility?
Which expenses can actually be reimbursed?
Don't start writing until you can answer these questions.
6. Build the application around the scoring criteria
A common mistake is writing a compelling description of the project but failing to explicitly answer the agency's evaluation criteria.
Instead, take the NOFO and create a table like:
Evaluation criterion
Your evidence
Job creation
350 permanent jobs
Private investment
$25M committed by participating companies
Regional impact
Serves 5 surrounding communities
Need
Existing industrial sites lack utilities
Readiness
Engineering 90% complete
Partnerships
City + county + community college + employers
Matching funds
$3M committed
Sustainability
Operating revenues cover ongoing costs
Then make sure the application directly addresses every criterion.
EDA specifically advises applicants to read the entire Notice of Funding Opportunity because it contains the technical requirements, eligibility rules and evaluation criteria.
7. Get registrations started early
Federal applications can require multiple registrations and credentials. EDA warns that completing the necessary federal registrations can take 25 or more business days, particularly for organizations that haven't previously gone through the process.
So don't wait until the week before the deadline.
For EDA programs, some applications also use EDA's EDGE system in addition to the requirements specified in the applicable funding announcement.
8. Look for "stacking" opportunities
For a significant economic-development project, you should generally think in terms of a capital stack, rather than trying to find one grant for the entire project.
For example:
$20M project
$5M federal economic-development grant
$3M state infrastructure grant
$2M local contribution
$5M private investment
$5M loan/bond financing
The important issue is whether each funding source permits the other sources to be used as match or leveraged funding. You need to verify this in each program's rules rather than assuming that you can combine grants.
9. Study previous awards
This is an underrated strategy.
EDA publishes its grant history, allowing you to examine what projects have actually received funding.
Look for projects similar to yours and record:
Applicant
Location
Project type
Award amount
Total project investment
Jobs created/retained
Matching funds
Partners
Language used to describe the economic impact
This can tell you whether your project is realistically competitive.
10. Get help before submission
For a major project, involve your regional economic-development organization, state economic-development officials, local government, potential private-sector partners, and the relevant federal agency's regional representative early.
EDA maintains an Economic Development Directory with regional and state contacts and other economic-development resources.
Also be wary of anyone claiming that you have "won" an EDA grant and asking for a processing fee. EDA explicitly warns that it does not require applicants to pay a fee to receive an award.
If you tell me (1) what the project is, (2) where in Arizona it will be located, (3) approximate project cost, (4) who the applicant would be, and (5) what you're trying to accomplish—jobs, infrastructure, business attraction, redevelopment, workforce, etc., I can narrow this down to specific federal and Arizona grant programs that fit the project, including current opportunities, eligibility, typical award sizes, matching requirements, deadlines, and where to apply.
Finding and applying for federal and state economic development grants requires navigating a structured, highly competitive process. These grants typically target local governments, tribal nations, non-profits, and regional economic development organizations rather than individual for-profit businesses, though businesses can benefit indirectly or partner on regional initiatives.
1. Identify Your Eligibility and Scope
Target Audience: Federal economic development grants rarely go to single commercial enterprises. They focus on infrastructure, job creation, innovation clusters, and distressed community revitalization.
USDA Rural Development: Offers grants for rural business development and community facilities.
SBA (Small Business Administration): Provides localized funding partner programs (though mostly focused on specialized technical assistance rather than direct project construction).
2. Search for Federal and State Grants
Federal Search Platform: Use Grants.gov as the primary centralized portal to search and filter federal funding opportunities by eligibility, category, and agency.
EDA Funding Opportunities: Review active Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) directly on the EDA Funding Page.
State Economic Development Agencies: State-level grants (often tied to block grants, state tax credits, or localized enterprise zones) are managed by individual state commerce or economic development departments. Find your regional connection through the State and Local Partners Directory or your specific state government portal.
3. Complete Necessary Registrations (Crucial First Step)
Federal grant applications require active institutional registrations that can take several weeks to process:
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): Obtained through SAM.gov , replacing the old DUNS number.
SAM.gov Registration: Your organization must have an active registration in the System for Award Management, which requires periodic renewal.
Grants.gov Account: Set up an institutional workspace profile linked to your SAM.gov credentials to submit applications.
4. Prepare the Application
Read the NOFO Thoroughly: Pay strict attention to matching fund requirements (many EDA and state grants require local match funding), formatting rules, and evaluation criteria.
Build Partnerships: Align your project with regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), as many federal programs prioritize projects embedded in an official regional strategy.
Draft the Proposal: Clearly outline measurable outcomes, such as projected job creation, private capital investment, and underserved demographic impact.
If you'd like to narrow this down, tell me:
What type of organization are you representing (e.g., local government, non-profit, or business partnership)?
Which state or region is the project located in?
I can help you pinpoint specific active funding programs or state offices.
