Southwest Border Regional Commission - Economic and Infrastructure Development Grants

The mission of the Commission is to provide grant funding and programs to economically distressed and persistent poverty communities to carry out infrastructure improvements and economic development across the Southwest region, which encompasses some

Authorized in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 ("The Farm Bill"), SBRC focuses on addressing economic development and poverty issues in its 93 counties across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The Southwest Border Regional Commissions funds enable state and local governments and non-profits to invest in the region's economic development. In considering programs and projects to receive assistance, SBRC follows procedures insuring consideration of the following factors: (1) relationship of the activity, project or class of projects to overall regional development; (2) per capita income, poverty, unemployment, and outmigration rates in an area; (3) other financial resources available to carry out the project(s) or activities, with emphasis on ensuring that projects are adequately financed to maximize the probability of successful economic development; (4) importance of the activity, project or class of projects in relation to the other projects or classes of projects; (5) projections that the project for which assistance is sought will improve, on a continuing rather than a temporary basis, the opportunities for employment, the average level of income, or the economic development of the area to be served by the project; and (6) extent to which the project design provides for detailed outcome measurements by which expenditures and the results of the expenditures may be evaluated. No financial assistance can be used to assist an entity in relocating from one area to another. SBRC will allocate at least 50 percent of funds to economically distressed and persistent poverty counties to ensure the economic development and sustainable growth of communities across its region. All proposed projects or activities must align with the SBRC Five-Year Strategic Plan and the State Economic and Infrastructure Development Plan and Strategy Statement where the project is located.

1.) State governments of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas 2.) Local governments within the commission's region 3.) Other political subdivisions of States (institutions of higher learning, regional planning commissions, specialty districts, and authorities of the state) 4.) Federally recognized Indian Tribe - Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Chapter 33), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)). See annually published Bureau of Indian Affairs list of Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services 5.) Nonprofit entities. The term' nonprofit entity' means any organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code. The nonprofit entity must be able to demonstrate they have federal grant experience, federally acceptable accounting practices and principles, and organizational capacity related to economic development.

Funds awarded under this listing must benefit individuals and communities located in the SBRC region of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. A complete listing of the regional footprint can be found on sbrc.gov.

SBRC funds are only available to participating member states, local governments, non-profit entities, and Native American entities for projects within the SBRC region or serving the SBRC region. Eligible entities may not be conduits for private-sector entities. No financial assistance will be authorized to assist relocation from one area of the region to another. SBRC funds cannot be used to "supplant" existing federal or state funding streams. SBRC funds may be used to match other federal programs, but the total federal funds in the project can not exceed 80% of the total project cost.

The EID Grant supports projects in SBRC communities to address infrastructure and economic development needs. Eligible project categories and uses include. Basic Public Infrastructure means constructing, altering, or repairing facilities, systems, or structures owned or available for public use that catalyze economic development. Includes core infrastructure, such as water and wastewater; critical infrastructure required to maintain public health and economic vitality; and community infrastructure required to improve economic outcomes. Projects include collection and distribution systems, water treatment plants, and other infrastructure that collects treats, and delivers water and wastewater services; power generation and transmission and storage; solid waste to include recycling, disposal, and waste-to-energy systems; and heat and cooling distribution systems. Telecommunications infrastructure means construction, alteration, or repair to accommodate or connect with a telecommunications network, including lines, equipment, apparatus, towers, antennas, and cyberinfrastructure and other systems necessary to transmit information. Transportation infrastructure means construction, alteration, or repair for the purpose of transporting people and goods, including fixed installations and rights of way. This includes roads, railways, airways, waterways, canals, airports, railway stations, bus stations, parking, seaports, and land ports. Healthcare infrastructure means construction, alteration, or repair for the purpose of providing health and support services, including infrastructure improvements to medical facilities and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Non-infrastructure. Health and Support Services Access and Outcomes, activities designed to train, recruit, and retain health professionals in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. Access to health and support services includes costs of basic healthcare facilities, telemedical services, acquisition of equipment, devices, and vehicles. Activities to assess, evaluate, monitor, and respond to acute threats and chronic challenges to public health. Information systems, research for innovative solutions to community health problems. Basic health care includes treatment of mental illness and substance misuse, nutrition and food security programs, disease prevention, and management. Workforce Development means job training or employment-related education for a specific employer or industry to fill immediate job openings or retain current jobs. Training and education may include industry-recognized certifications, customized training, and apprenticeship programs. Entrepreneurial and Business Development means development activities that support new business creation, retention or expansion of businesses. Funding for start-up or expansion projects, such as business incubators or industrial parks, must have committed business tenants. Business incubation means a support process that accelerates the successful development of start-up and early-stage companies by providing entrepreneurs with an array of targeted resources. The program supports public-private partnerships with industry groups, chambers of commerce, and universities to encourage regional investment. Outdoor recreation, tourism, preservation, and access, including access roads, trails, and signage. Programs that plan, develop, and manage outdoor recreation and tourism that increase economic development and mitigate visitors' impact on natural areas. Community cleanup projects, including removing debris from public spaces and waterways and cleaning up vacant lots and blighted properties. Community Development means activities supporting economic development, and preventing or eliminating slums and blight, including planning and administrative activities, public improvements, housing-related activities, public services, community facilities, and acquisition, demolition, and disposition of real property.

The grant agreement stipulates the time period for completion of the project. All projects must be completed within four years from the date of the grant award.

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Information regarding the preapplication process can be found in program announcement. This program is excluded from coverage under Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

Applicants are encouraged to work closely with the State Member offices and Local Development Districts to ensure the project proposals demonstrate local support and align with state and SBRC strategic plans found in sbrc.gov. Grant administration costs are eligible under the EID Grant Program, and an applicant may apply in partnership with a Local Development District to assist in qualified grant administrative work. Applicants are required to submit a pre-application via sbrc.gov. Applicants with additional questions may submit them to info@sbrc.gov.

Generally, the proposals are reviewed by commission staff and each Member State's staff. SBRC has established a technical review process to evaluate all applications objectively. The criteria adhere to the Commission's statutory purpose, strategic goals, and state and federal administration priorities. Final decisions about awards are approved by the Commission, which comprises the Federal Co-Chair and the Governors' offices of the Southwest Border Regional Commission.

The award procedure and application process for each SBRC program may vary year to year due to timing of appropriations and other legislative circumstances. Application guidelines and other program materials will be posted on sbrc.gov

Once a grant is awarded and the project is underway, the applicant may run into obstacles. Such obstacles will be evident in the quarterly reporting. It should be determined by the 2nd quarter of year three if a one-year extension should be granted.