Recompete Pilot Program FAQs

In December 2022, President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 into law, appropriating $1.6 billion to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 programming. The appropriation includes $500 million for launching the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hubs) program and $200 million for launching the Recompete Pilot (Recompete) program authorized under the CHIPS and Science Act.[1] 

Q: What is the purpose of the Recompete Pilot Program? 

A: The Recompete program will invest in distressed communities across the country to create, and connect workers to, good jobs—and make a discernible, long-run impact in these communities. The Recompete program specifically targets areas with low labor participation, particularly by those considered in the prime ages for sustained employment (ages 25-54) - otherwise known as an area with a high prime-age employment gap - and strives to make targeted interventions to spur economic activity in such areas. 

Q: Why was EDA appropriated funding for this program? 

A: EDA is the only federal government agency focused exclusively on economic development. Building on two years of progress toward restoring and strengthening the U.S. economy, EDA will continue to make significant, strategic, place-based investments in America’s regions, industries and workers to boost innovation, entrepreneurship, regional coordination and access to good-paying jobs. 

Q: How much funding is allocated for this program? 

A: Congress appropriated to EDA $200 million for the Recompete Pilot Program. 

Q: Which organizations can apply for this funding? 

A: The Recompete program is designed to alleviate persistent economic distress and support long-term comprehensive economic development and job creation in eligible areas through basic infrastructure and planning, while the Tech Hubs program relies on many of those assets already existing. By statute, eligible entities for the Recompete program include: 

  • a unit of local government; 

  • the District of Columbia; 

  • a territory of the United States; 

  • a Tribal government; 

  • political subdivision of a State or other entity, including a special-purpose entity engaged in economic development activities; 

  • a public entity or nonprofit organization, acting in cooperation with the officials of a political subdivision of a State or other entity described in the previous bullet; 

  • an economic development district (as defined in section 3 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3122); and 

  • a consortium of any of the specified entities described above which serve or are contained within the same eligible area. 

Eligible areas under the Recompete program include: 

  • A local labor market that: 

    • has a prime-age employment gap (workers age 25-54) equal to not less than 2.5 percent; and 

    • meets additional criteria as the Secretary of Commerce may establish. 

  • A local community that: 

    • has a prime-age employment gap equal to not less than 5 percent; 

    • is not located within an eligible local labor market that meets the criteria described in the local labor market definition; 

    • has a median annual household income of not more than $75,000; and 

    • meets additional criteria as the Secretary may establish. 

Q: What is the timeline for announcing the associated Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs)? 

A:  The NOFO will be released in the first half of 2023.  Sign up for EDA’s communications which will include updates on RFIs, NOFOs and awardee announcements.