i6 Program. As of November 2017, the Economic Development Administration has invested over $42 million into the i6 Challenge competition. The funding is used to build regional capacity to translate ideas and inventions into products, services, companies, and jobs. EDA invested $7 million in 2014, $7 million in 2015, $13 million in 2016, and $13 million in 2017. Overall, $42 million has been invested by EDA with local match of $54 million that equates to a total, leveraged investment of $96 million into the i6 program. The 2014 and 2015 i6 Grantees have created 952 jobs and assisted over 1,000 entrepreneurs and innovators. The i6 Challenge provides funding to programs that offer a range of services that support innovation-based, high-growth entrepreneurship and startup acceleration through services such as technology advisements, market evaluation, business planning, mentorship, and access to early-stage capital. For more information, please visit https://www.eda.gov/oie/ris/i6/.