Opportunity Information: Apply for EDA TECHHUBS 2025
The FY 2025 Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hubs) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), issued by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), is a competitive, place-based grant opportunity aimed at boosting U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. The program focuses on helping selected U.S. regions build the capacity to become globally competitive in critical, future-oriented technologies and industries within roughly the next 10 years. The underlying goal is to ensure that the companies, supply chains, and high-quality jobs tied to these technologies can start, scale, and stay in the United States, strengthening domestic manufacturing and accelerating the movement of advanced innovations from labs and prototypes into real-world deployment and production.
A defining feature of this NOFO is that it is extremely limited in eligibility: only 19 applicants can apply. Those eligible applicants are specific Tech Hub consortia that were designated as Tech Hubs in October 2023, received Consortium Accelerator Awards (CAAs), and have not received any other EDA Tech Hubs Implementation funding. In other words, this is not an open solicitation for new regions or first-time applicants; it is a targeted implementation-stage opportunity reserved for a small set of previously designated hub consortia.
The Tech Hubs Program is explicitly not designed to fund basic or fundamental research. Instead, it is structured to advance U.S. capabilities to commercialize, deploy, manufacture, and deliver technology at scale. That emphasis reflects the program’s practical orientation: translating innovation into production capacity, market-ready products, and workforce-ready career pathways, rather than supporting early-stage scientific discovery. The NOFO also signals an intentional shift from typical federal grantmaking norms by requiring applicants to show that proposed investments are a strong value for the taxpayer, effectively framing projects in terms of clear returns, measurable outcomes, and cost effectiveness.
Funding can support a broad range of activities, including both non-construction and construction components. EDA describes eligible activity types in several broad buckets: workforce development (such as training pipelines tied to the hub’s target industry needs), business and entrepreneur development (including supports that help firms start and scale), technology development and maturation (moving technologies closer to market readiness and adoption), infrastructure (construction) that enables the region’s tech ecosystem and production capacity, and governance (the coordination and management structures needed to run a complex multi-partner regional initiative). This flexible structure is meant to allow each designated region to assemble a portfolio of component projects that fit its industry focus, assets, and gaps.
The application process is a two-stage competition with multiple layers of review. In Stage I, Tech Hub consortia submit proposed component project portfolios that undergo technical and merit review using the criteria laid out in the NOFO. After that review, EDA will determine which component projects are invited to proceed to Stage II; notably, a consortium could have all, some, or none of its proposed projects advance. In Stage II, EDA uses an Investment Review Committee (IRC) to evaluate applications against program-specific requirements and award criteria, after which a Selecting Official makes final selections following the NOFO’s stated selection criteria. This structure effectively functions like a funnel: Stage I screens and refines the project set, while Stage II drives deeper due diligence and investment-style evaluation.
Only consortia are eligible to apply, as required under Section 28(c) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722a(c)). The NOFO requires that an eligible consortium include at least one member from each of five categories: (1) institutions of higher education, (2) state, territorial, local, or Tribal governments (or political subdivisions or a consortium of governments), (3) industry groups or firms in relevant technology, innovation, or manufacturing sectors, (4) economic development organizations or similar entities focused on strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology, or access to capital, and (5) labor organizations or workforce training organizations. This composition requirement is meant to ensure that each Tech Hub is anchored not just in research capacity, but also in industry demand, workforce systems, and regional implementation partners with the authority and networks to execute.
Operationally, applications must be submitted electronically through EDA’s Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE) portal at https://sfgrants.eda.gov/s/. The NOFO is categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: EDA TECHHUBS 2025) under CFDA 11.039, with activity areas spanning business and commerce, community development, employment and training, regional development, and science and technology-oriented development efforts. The stated award ceiling is up to $100,000,000, signaling that EDA expects substantial, implementation-scale proposals rather than small pilot projects. The closing date listed is November 7, 2025. Finally, the NOFO makes clear that EDA is not authorized under this program to provide grants or cooperative agreements to individuals, and any requests from individuals will not be considered.Apply for EDA TECHHUBS 2025
- The Economic Development Administration in the business and commerce, community development, employment, labor and training, regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2025 Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.039.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-09-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-11-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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FY 2025 EDA Tech Hubs Program (Implementation) - FAQs
1) What is the FY 2025 Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hubs) Program NOFO?
It is a competitive, place-based grant opportunity from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) intended to boost U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. The program supports selected U.S. regions in building capacity to become globally competitive in critical, future-oriented technologies and industries over roughly the next 10 years.
2) What is the main purpose of this funding?
The goal is to help ensure that the companies, supply chains, and high-quality jobs connected to critical technologies can start, scale, and stay in the United States. The program emphasizes strengthening domestic manufacturing and accelerating the transition of advanced innovations from labs and prototypes into real-world deployment and production.
3) Is this an open grant competition for any U.S. region or organization?
No. Eligibility is extremely limited. Only 19 applicants can apply, and they must be specific Tech Hub consortia that were designated as Tech Hubs in October 2023, received Consortium Accelerator Awards (CAAs), and have not received any other EDA Tech Hubs Implementation funding.
4) Who is eligible to apply?
Only eligible Tech Hub consortia may apply, as required under Section 28(c) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722a(c)). Individual organizations applying on their own (outside of an eligible consortium) are not eligible under the terms described.
5) How many applicants are eligible to apply?
Only 19 applicants can apply, and they are limited to those specific previously designated Tech Hub consortia meeting the listed conditions (designated in October 2023, received CAAs, and have not received other Tech Hubs Implementation funding).
6) Can individuals apply for funding under this NOFO?
No. The NOFO states that EDA is not authorized under this program to provide grants or cooperative agreements to individuals, and any requests from individuals will not be considered.
7) Does the program fund basic or fundamental research?
No. The Tech Hubs Program is explicitly not designed to fund basic or fundamental research. It is structured to strengthen the ability to commercialize, deploy, manufacture, and deliver technology at scale.
8) What types of activities can be funded?
The NOFO describes eligible activities across a broad range of implementation-oriented areas, including:
- Workforce development (for example, training pipelines aligned to target industry needs)
- Business and entrepreneur development (supports that help firms start and scale)
- Technology development and maturation (moving technologies closer to market readiness and adoption)
- Infrastructure (construction) that enables the region’s technology ecosystem and production capacity
- Governance (coordination and management structures for a multi-partner regional initiative)
9) Can the grant support construction projects?
Yes. Funding can support both non-construction and construction components, including infrastructure (construction) that enables a region’s technology ecosystem and production capacity.
10) What does EDA mean by a “component project portfolio”?
The application involves submitting a portfolio of component projects assembled by the eligible Tech Hub consortium. The portfolio approach is designed to let each designated region propose a set of projects that fit its industry focus, existing assets, and gaps.
11) How does the two-stage application process work?
The NOFO uses a two-stage competition with multiple layers of review:
- Stage I: The consortium submits proposed component project portfolios that undergo technical and merit review using the NOFO criteria. EDA then determines which component projects are invited to proceed to Stage II.
- Stage II: EDA evaluates applications using an Investment Review Committee (IRC) against program requirements and award criteria, and a Selecting Official makes final selections using the NOFO’s selection criteria.
12) Can a consortium have only some of its projects advance to Stage II?
Yes. The NOFO states that after Stage I review, EDA may invite all, some, or none of a consortium’s proposed component projects to proceed to Stage II.
13) What is the Investment Review Committee (IRC)?
In Stage II, EDA uses an Investment Review Committee (IRC) to evaluate applications against program-specific requirements and award criteria before final selections are made by the Selecting Official.
14) What consortium members are required to be included?
The NOFO requires that an eligible consortium include at least one member from each of these five categories:
- Institutions of higher education
- State, territorial, local, or Tribal governments (or political subdivisions or a consortium of governments)
- Industry groups or firms in relevant technology, innovation, or manufacturing sectors
- Economic development organizations or similar entities focused on strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology, or access to capital
- Labor organizations or workforce training organizations
15) Why does the NOFO require a consortium with these specific categories?
The composition requirement is intended to ensure each Tech Hub is anchored not only in research capacity, but also in industry demand, workforce systems, and regional implementation partners that have the networks and authority to execute a complex initiative.
16) What is the maximum award amount?
The stated award ceiling is up to $100,000,000, indicating that EDA expects substantial implementation-scale proposals rather than small pilot projects.
17) What is the funding opportunity number and program listing information?
The NOFO is identified as a discretionary grant opportunity with Funding Opportunity Number EDA TECHHUBS 2025 under CFDA 11.039.
18) What topic or activity areas does this opportunity cover?
The NOFO lists activity areas spanning business and commerce, community development, employment and training, regional development, and science and technology-oriented development efforts.
19) When is the application closing date?
The closing date listed is November 7, 2025.
20) How do applicants submit an application?
Applications must be submitted electronically through EDA’s Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE) portal at: https://sfgrants.eda.gov/s/
21) What is the program’s overall emphasis: research or implementation?
The emphasis is implementation and scale: commercialization, deployment, manufacturing, delivery capacity, and workforce-ready career pathways. The NOFO frames the program as moving advanced innovations into real-world deployment and production, rather than supporting early-stage scientific discovery.
22) Does the NOFO emphasize taxpayer value or measurable outcomes?
Yes. The NOFO indicates a shift from typical federal grantmaking norms by requiring applicants to show that proposed investments represent a strong value for the taxpayer, with clear returns, measurable outcomes, and cost effectiveness.
23) If our region was not designated as a Tech Hub in October 2023, can we apply?
Not under the eligibility description provided. The NOFO is reserved for specific consortia that were designated as Tech Hubs in October 2023, received CAAs, and have not received other EDA Tech Hubs Implementation funding.
24) If a consortium already received other EDA Tech Hubs Implementation funding, can it apply?
Not under the eligibility description provided. The eligible applicants must not have received any other EDA Tech Hubs Implementation funding.
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