The U.S. Department of Commerce is seeking public feedback on a pilot program that invests in American communities that need economic resources and support.
The Recompete Pilot Program (RPP), administered by the DOC's Economic Development Administration (EDA), "will make focused investments in distressed communities across the country, creating and connecting workers to good jobs and supporting long-term comprehensive economic development by helping to reduce the high, prime-age (25 to 54 years of age) employment gap," according to the EDA's Feb. 23 announcement.
The program was created under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and received $200 million of the $1 billion authorized for the initiative in the FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. It will "target areas that are among the most in need of economic resources, assets, and options to ensure that no one is left behind,” according to Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo.
“We will work alongside economically distressed communities to build and implement place-based, long-term and sustainable strategies to tackle their unique challenges," Castillo said in the announcement. "We look forward to hearing from stakeholders on the ground in communities about how we can best design this program to maximize the taxpayers’ investment in our nation’s future.”
The RPP's Request for Information (RFI) asks for public input on the program planning and design, including on how to best structure the program to effectively address a community's specific economic and employment challenges; establish markers to determine if the program is working; create a selection process for grant funding that is accessible, inclusive and competitive; and determine ways to best support areas with persistent economic distress.
“The Recompete Pilot Program is a key part of the Biden-Harris economic plan to invest in places and people that have been forgotten for too long," DOC Sec. Gina Raimondo said in the announcement.
"As we continue building an economy that works for everyone, this new program will supercharge our mission by creating jobs and supporting long-term economic success in distressed communities,” Raimondo said.
