- Granting Agency: Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
- Appropriation Amount: $240,000,000
- Grant Amount: Award Ceiling $10,000,000, Award Floor $100,000, 0% to 20% match depending on economic impact, EDA Grant Officers in the regional office will consider on a case by case basis
- Announcement Date: July 22, 2021
- Closing Date: January 31, 2022
ARPA Tourism NOFO – This NOFO posting is for the EDA Competitive Tourism Grants ONLY.
Purpose: Assist communities and regions in recovery from the coronavirus pandemic’s significant negative impact on the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors. EDA’s ARPA Tourism NOFO is designed to provide a wide-range of financial assistance to communities and regions to rebuild and strengthen their travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industry through various infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects. Under this NOFO, EDA solicits applications under the authority of the Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, which is flexible and responsive to the economic development needs and priorities of local and regional stakeholders.
Eligible Expenditures: EDA will fund travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation projects that include non-construction and construction activities. For the most part, this component is intended to fund projects that are focused on new and expanded infrastructure, projects with a multi-state or national focus, and projects in regions most adversely affected by damage to the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors from the coronavirus pandemic.
Through this program, EDA can support both the development of travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation pandemic recovery strategies and the implementation of recovery projects, including in communities adjacent to National Park Service units, State Parks, National Marine Sanctuaries, and other natural destinations. This includes construction activities where the project is owned by the Eligible Applicant such as:
• Water and stormwater/wastewater improvements,
• Pier construction and improvements,
• New outdoor recreation and trail infrastructure and public access enhancements,
• Nature-based infrastructure projects to improve access to recreation,
• Cultural, arts, and tourism facilities (e.g., visitor or tourist information centers),
• Workforce training facilities and capacity building programs,
• Accessibility enhancements, and
• Country-wide or multi-state travel, tourism, or outdoor recreation promotion.
Eligible Applicants:
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
State governments
Special district governments
Private institutions of higher education
Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
City or township governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
County governments
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education