$15 Million Available to Help Spur Innovation and Job Growth

WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to drive innovation and regional collaboration, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce is launching a new competitive grant program aimed at spurring regional innovation to boost economic growth. $15 million is now available to communities across the country under the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) Regional Innovation Strategies Program competition through the i6 Challenge for startup innovation and commercialization, Science and Research Park Development Grants, and new Cluster Grants for Seed Capital Funds.

The America COMPETES Act of 2010 mandated the creation of a Regional Innovation Program within the Economic Development Administration in order to encourage and support the development of regional innovation strategies, including science and research parks and regional innovation clusters - networks of interconnected firms and institutions working to accelerate job growth, business formation and expansion, innovation, workforce training, and small business development. In 2012 the full House of Representatives adopted an amendment offered by Cicilline to strengthen prospects for funding the Regional Innovation Program, which was funded for the first time in the Fiscal Year 2014 Omnibus Appropriations bill.

“This is a terrific opportunity for Rhode Island to compete for federal funds that will help strengthen and develop regional innovation clusters to support entrepreneurship and create good paying jobs. My office is ready to help Rhode Island applicants navigate the grant process and I look forward to working with local officials and organizations to advance applications for these funds,” said Cicilline. 

In Congress, Cicilline has been a strong advocate for enhancing regional innovation programs. He is a cosponsor of the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act that will reauthorize the Regional Innovation Program for five years, create a network of regional manufacturing institutes across the country to support domestic production, drive innovation and expand workforce development.

Grant eligibility, matching-fund requirements, application and submission deadlines, and other information can be found at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=263990

Federal agencies will  hold webinars on Monday, September 8th at 3:00 p.m. ET and Wednesday, September 10th at 2:00 p.m. ET to answer questions about the FFO. 
 Click here to register for the Webinar on the 8th. 
 Click here to register for the Webinar on the 10th.