Collaborative Economic Development Regions

BACKGROUND

The economic recovery of New Hampshire communities is the top priority of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. While the state continues to emerge from the challenges of the global pandemic, it recognizes the challenges still affecting the economy.

The Collaborative Economic Development Regions (CEDRs) will work to develop solutions to these challenges by encouraging and supporting the collaboration of regional and local economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, non-profit agencies, and businesses. This is supported through the CEDRs $50,000 grant program, made possible through the American Recovery Plan Act.

Total funding available for eligible CEDRs is $200,000.

FUNDING GOAL

To assist each CEDR in developing and designing economic development strategies in response to the impact of the Covid-19 public health emergency.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for financial assistance, the applicant must:

  • Be an established organization open to multiple business sectors within a specific and defined region of New Hampshire
  • Be incorporated as a legal entity
  • Must not be subject to any legal impediment, including bankruptcy or liquidation
  • Demonstrate ability to complete the applicable service or activity.

Applications must represent a collaboration among two or more identified CEDR stakeholders or an individual CEDR stakeholder with full support of CEDR leadership. The lead applicant must act as lead agent. The application requires a proposed budget and scope of services within the funding goals.

The lead agent must demonstrate experience in managing funding, reporting, and contractual obligations, and must be able to successfully manage the partnership its internal staff resources.

Each regional collaboration is eligible for funding for this purpose. Funding requests are capped at $50,000 and final awards will be determined based on available funding. All funding resources must be expended by May 31, 2023. CEDR Regions are identified as:

  • Central-Southern Region
  • Northern Region
  • Seacoast Region
  • Southwest Region

In delivering the services and activities supported by the funding, the applicant will be required to share information provided by BEA in respect to mission and purpose of CEDR activities. This is to ensure a collaborative approach and response across all government funded CEDR support activities.

Applicants are encouraged to use New Hampshire-based companies for services rendered with funds. For application instructions click here.

ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES:

Services and activities that may be considered include:

  • Consultant fees to design, develop specific reports/programs
  • Additional services and activities that support the CEDR
    • Project or program manager to run administration of CEDR
    • Data collection
    • Marketing/public relations campaign
    • Grant writing and coordination activities

All eligible expenditures must be allowed under the American Recovery Plan Act and US Department of Treasury guidance for ARPA.

Funding available to each applicant will be at the discretion of the department relative to the needs of all eligible applicants.

INELIGIBLE EXPENSES

Examples of what funding cannot be used for include but not limited to:

  • Any services or activities that form part of routine business management and operations, or services or activities that sit outside of, or do not directly relate to the operations of the organization as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Servicing creditors or personal debts
  • Lobbying state or federal policymakers
  • Annual business tax or accounting services
  • Funding match for other programs