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EDA STEM Talent Challenge for AI and Emerging Technology Workforce Development is sponsored by U.S. Economic Development Administration (Department of Commerce). The EDA STEM Talent Challenge supports organizations creating and implementing STEM talent development strategies that complement their respective region's innovation economy, particularly in emerging and transformative sectors including artificial intelligence and machine learn…
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The STEM Talent Challenge is a national competition that first began in 2020. It is designed to further those programs that support training science, technology, engineering, and math talent in order to fuel regional innovation economies. Funding is not available to continue support for this program and no further competitions are planned.
This change has no impact on current awards. The U. S Economic Development Administration’s STEM Talent Challenge**aims to build STEM talent training systems to strengthen regional innovation economies.
**In 2023, the program awarded 11 grants totaling $4. 5 million to organizations that are creating and implementing STEM talent development strategies that complement their region’s innovation economy.
Projects aim to identify opportunities in high-growth potential sectors, and to expand and empower the innovation economy workforce, including by: * Engaging regional entrepreneurs, innovators, and the organizations that support them to assess and forecast current and future talent needs and to develop collaborative solutions with work-based programs; * Building highly skilled talent and connecting it to highly technical opportunities that foster professional development and provide continuing advanced skills training to develop the technical and scientific workforce that regional innovation initiatives need; * Strengthening collaboration among entrepreneurs, industry leaders and employers, educational organizations, established corporations, economic and/or workforce development organizations, and the public sector to enable better access to skilled workers and to develop demand-driven workforce pipelines for the innovation economy; and * Placing new employees into immediate job openings with regional employers in need of STEM talent.
View the FY23 STEM Challenge grantees here. The STEM Talent Challenge is authorized under Section 28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. § 3723).
* FY23 STEM Talent Challenge NOFO (PDF) * BLOG:$4. 5 Million STEM Talent Challenge Funding Opportunity Launched to Build a Robust STEM Workforce for Emerging and Transformative Innovation Sectors * Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) * Project Service Area and FIPS Code Template (XLSX) * Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan Template (XLSX)
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and workforce development boards. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $500,000 per award for 24-month workforce programs. Requires one-to-one matching funds (applicants must match each dollar requested with at least one dollar of applicant match). Part of $25 million in EDA workforce-specific AI funding. Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is September 30, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
The EDA STEM Talent Challenge supports organizations creating and implementing STEM talent development strategies that complement their respective region's innovation economy, particularly in emerging and transformative sectors including artificial intelligence and machine learning, advanced manufacturing and robotics, space exploration, bioscience, quantum information science, and agricultural technologies. The program strengthens regional innovation ecosystems by building STEM talent training pipelines to help communities prepare for AI-driven economic shifts, with $25 million redirected specifically for workforce AI funding.
The EDA STEM Talent Challenge is a competitive grant program from the U.S. Economic Development Administration that funds organizations building STEM talent training systems for regional innovation economies, with a strong focus on emerging technology sectors including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and aerospace. Awards of up to $500,000 support 24-month programs across four thematic areas: workforce forecasting (engaging regional entrepreneurs and innovators to assess and forecast talent needs), training and upskilling (career preparation for the technical and scientific workforce), talent attraction and retention, and ecosystem coordination. The program requires a 1:1 funding match from applicants. In the most recent round, EDA awarded 11 grants totaling $4.5 million. The EDA has also separately redirected $25 million in workforce-specific AI funding to help communities prepare for AI-driven economic shifts, signaling growing federal emphasis on AI workforce readiness. The STEM Talent Challenge operates in periodic competition rounds; prospective applicants should monitor the EDA website and subscribe to the EDA newsletter for upcoming deadlines.
The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to four (4) Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) that will provide entrepreneurial development services to Native American communities, focusing on supplying services to socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing SBA resources. Eligible applicants must be Tribal Colleges and Universities as defined in the Higher Education Act HEA 316 (U.S.C. 1059c). Funding Opportunity Number: SB-GC7J-23-002. Assistance Listing: 59.007. Funding Instrument: G. Category: BC,ED. Award Amount: Up to $250K per award.
The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to two (2) private, non-profit organizations that will provide entrepreneurial development services to women, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing WBCs for the District of Columbia (DC) and the State of Oregon. There will be one award for each location. Eligible applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax exempt status from the U.S. Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service and must provide services to the District of Columbia (DC) and State of Oregon. Funding Opportunity Number: SB-OEDWB-23-002. Assistance Listing: 59.043. Funding Instrument: G. Category: BC,CD,RD. Award Amount: $75K – $150K per award.
Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The USDA SBIR/STTR programs support small businesses in creating innovative, disruptive technologies with commercial potential or societal benefit, including projects dealing with agriculturally-related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies. Specialty tubing could be relevant for agricultural equipment or renewable energy systems.