The U.S. Economic Development Administration recently announced it is accepting applications for its 2023 STEM Talent Challenge.
The competition aims to provide support to programs that train science, technology, engineering, and math talent and drive innovation economies in various regions throughout the United States, according to an April 11 EDA news release.
"The $4.5 million competition will provide funding for programs that help build a robust STEM workforce in emerging and transformative sectors such as aerospace, aeronautics, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, among others," the release reported.
Competition applicants can request up to $500,000 to implement a 24-month workforce program that aligns with their region's innovation economy, according to the release. Competitive applications will need to demonstrate how their program will develop or expand the STEM workforce capacity in their region to support entrepreneurial ventures, industries of the future and innovation-driven businesses.
Eligible applicants for the STEM Talent Challenge include cities, counties, states, Tribal Nations, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, federal laboratories or science/research parks, institutions of higher education, Economic Development Organizations and consortia with government support, the release said.
The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. EDT June 12, according to the release.
According to the notice of funding opportunity, applicants must provide matching share equal to at least 50% of the total project cost.
The challenge is administered by EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is authorized under Section 30 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Act of 1980, the release said.
This challenge builds on the office's Build to Scale Program, which builds regional economies through scalable startups. Through this program, EDA arranges a number of national grant competitions to increase the ability and capacity for regions to build environments "that support innovators, entrepreneurs and startups that are growing technology-driven businesses, creating high-skill, high-age jobs and building the industries of the future," according to the EDA website.
