Disaster Recovery

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is the recognized leader of federal economic recovery and disaster resilience subject matter expertise and assistance. EDA facilitates the timely and effective delivery of federal economic development assistance to support long-term economic recovery strategic planning and project implementation. EDA assistance supports the restoration of economic activity and long-term economic growth in disaster-impacted communities and regions.

EDA is uniquely positioned to coordinate federal support for disaster recovery efforts through its extensive network of Economic Development Districts (EDDs), University Centers (UCs), and other stakeholders serving disaster-impacted communities and regions.

EDA’s disaster recovery portfolio is comprised of the following roles and responsibilities:

Economic Recovery Support Function (ERSF): EDA is the coordinating (or lead) federal agency of the Economic Recovery Support Function (ERSF). EDA manages this role on behalf of the Department of Commerce (DOC) under the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) and in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other interagency partners. The ERSF integrates the expertise of the federal government to help state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments, as well as private sector partners sustain and rebuild businesses, bolster employment, and develop economic opportunities that result in economically resilient communities after large-scale and catastrophic incidents.

Disaster Recovery Grantmaking: Since the early 1990’s, EDA has received a combined total of $4.71 billion in supplemental appropriations to support local and regional efforts to recover from natural disaster incidents. Of this amount, $3.21 billion (or 68%) was approved between FY18 and FY25 across four separate supplemental appropriations bills (FY18, FY19, FY23, and FY25, respectively).

EDA grants can be awarded to assist a wide variety of disaster recovery projects and activities, including economic recovery strategic planning grants and public works construction assistance. EDA’s flexible program resources are well-suited to address the needs and priorities identified by communities and regions recovering from natural disasters. ERSF Mission Assignments directly support EDA’s ability to promote its economic recovery program resources and generate a robust pipeline of competitive applications for high-impact projects and activities that support economic recovery and long-term economic growth.

Economic Recovery Strategies: Resilient, sustainable economic growth typically doesn’t occur by chance. It most often results from deliberate, intensive, and collaborative strategic planning work on the part of local and regional partners and stakeholders, including public sector officials, private and nonprofit sector leaders, and community-based organizations. EDA’s grantmaking is premised upon place-based strategy development, specifically the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process. Among other criteria, applications submitted to EDA for Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) and Public Works (PW) grants must document the relationship between the proposed project and the region’s current CEDS (or EDA-approved CEDS-equivalent plan) to be considered for funding.

EDA supports disaster preparedness and recovery strategies in a variety of ways:

• A Recovery Support Strategy is one of the main deliverables produced under EDA’s leadership during each ERSF Mission Assignment.
• The EDA CEDS Guidelines include a section on Economic Resilience.
• The CEDS and Hazard Mitigation Plan Alignment Guide (PDF) illustrates how economic development and hazard mitigation plans and projects can be collaboratively developed in complimentary fashion.

Additional information about EDA’s disaster recovery assistance is available on the following pages:

• ERSF Mission Assignments – Past and Present
• Disaster Supplemental Appropriations
• Disaster Recovery and Resilience Resources