PORT ANGELES — A federal pilot program aimed at boosting economic development in distressed areas is set to begin this year and local communities will have the opportunity to provide input on how the program is directed.
Speaking to the Clallam County Economic Development Council on Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, said the program — known as the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program — has been given $200 million to help communities struggling with employment for prime-aged workers, those ages 25-54.
In the coming months, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) will issue requests for information to elicit feedback from communities about priorities for the program.
“The Economic Development Administration is intending to hold listening sessions around the country,” Kilmer told the EDC’s weekly “Coffee with Colleen” meeting. “I have asked them to have a session in our neck of the woods.”
According to the EDA, the recompete pilot program is “designed to alleviate persistent economic distress and support long-term comprehensive economic development and job creation in eligible areas through basic infrastructure and planning.”
The program would provide grants for between five and 10 years, Kilmer said, but what those grants would fund is still yet to be determined.
“There’s going to be a lot of flexibility to the local community,” Kilmer said. “This is a pilot program and they want it to be successful.”
Kilmer said Wednesday the EDA would issue request for information (RFI) notices to help shape what the program would look like.
EDC Director Colleen McAleer said the act was an opportunity for the community but had questions about how the program would work.
“I’m excited about this process, but we need to figure out, what are industry markers that we can pursue that would be an innovative change that would have more jobs that make $75,000 a year?” McAleer said.
Kilmer said that information would become clearer following the RFI process and listening sessions.
“EDA hasn’t said what they consider an eligible applicant,” Kilmer said. “You should think about what you want to communicate in a listening session.”
According to a Department of Commerce document set to be published in the Federal Register on Thursday, the EDA is seeking suggestions from local communities about the characteristics, design and administration of the program.
Questions listed in the RFI include what barriers should be addressed to increase job placement/retention and/or job creation; what unique challenges and opportunities are there in a specific community and how might EDA determine how large of an investment is necessary to meaningfully advance the economy of a local labor market.
“Given that each eligible community will bring its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, how should EDA evaluate whether any such investments, interventions, and/or policies would be most effective in an eligible community,” the RFI says.
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by email to recompete@eda.gov.
Kilmer said the EDA would provide technical assistance to local communities in applying for the program. Because the current program is only in the pilot phase, Kilmer said there may be additional opportunities for communities to apply for funding.
“It’s long-term support; there’s five years worth of grants,” Kilmer said. “To some degree, we’re playing the long game on this.”
Kilmer introduced a standalone Rebuilding Economies and Creating Opportunities for More People Everywhere to Excel Act, or Recompete Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2021 but was unable to pass the Senate.
The pilot version of the program contained in the act was passed as part of the 2022 Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors, or CHIPS and Science Act.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.
