STEM Talent Challenge

FY 2023 Informational Webinar

www.eda.gov/funding/programs/stem-challenge
 Program Eligibility & Funding

 Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) Basics

 STEM Talent Challenge Origins and Design

 Program Goals and Implementation

 How to Apply

 Previous Grantee Highlights

 Frequently Asked Questions

Topics to be Covered
 Cities, counties, states, other political subdivisions of a state, and 

Native American tribes

 Non-profit organizations

 Public-private partnerships

 Federal Laboratories or science/research parks

 Institutions of higher education

 Economic Development Organizations

 A consortium of the aforementioned

Eligible Entities

NOFO Section C.1
Funding Specifics

 A total of $4.5 million has been appropriated for this year’s 

challenge ($2 million from FY 22 appropriation and $2.5 million 

from FY 23 appropriation)

 Applicants may request up to $500,000 for program 

implementation

A 1:1 (50% of total project budget) minimum match is 

required

NOFO Section B.2

INNOVATION 

NEEDS

Entrepreneurship 

Support
Regional 

Innovation 

Economy and 

Future Growth

STEM 

Talent

Talent 

Development 

Strategies
 Needs assessment should show that regional businesses have an 

immediate need for skilled workers to fill quality jobs

 Needs assessment can be formal or informal - a formal needs 

assessment could be CEDS or equivalent planning document; 

informal could be a survey conducted of area employers, potentially 

documented by targeted letters of support

Projects should be responsive!

Training development should be clearly tied to regional employer needs

Pre-application Needs Assessment

NOFO Section D.2.iii.a.2.b
Program Goals

Proposed projects should aim for the following 

outputs
 Projects should include training models that provide workers with 

the experience and skills they need to succeed in real-word job 

situations

 These could include Registered-apprenticeships, fellowships, 

internships, etc. but are not limited to existing industry definitions 

- Experimentation and innovation are encouraged

Training should clearly align with the talent needs of those driving innovation 

in the region and should result in job placement for participants in high- wage employment in high-growth industries

STEM Work-Based Learning and 

Training

NOFO Section A.3
 Projects should increase regional innovation capacity by 

connecting innovative employers in the region with workforce and 

talent development leaders or training providers

 Projects should enable region’s technology startups and 

innovative companies to hire locally, grow their teams, and scale 

their businesses faster

Increase Regional Innovation 

Capacity

NOFO Section A.3
 Projects should focus on enabling all members of a community to 

have equitable access to and participate in the innovation 

economy

 Projects should seek to provide historically underserved and 

underrepresented communities with access to training and other 

tools to success. 

 Applicants should have relevant employer partners who are 

willing to demonstrate commitments to hiring program 

participants and to promoting DEIA in their workplace

Increase Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, 

and Accessibility in STEM

NOFO Section A.3
How to Apply

The basics on how to submit an application and 

how it will be scored
 April 11, 2023 – FY 23 STEM Talent Challenge Applications Open

 June 12, 2023 – Applications Close

 Summer 2023 – Application Review and Award Selection

 Summer - Fall 2023 – Awards Announced

 November 1, 2023 – FY 23 Awarded Projects Begin

Challenge Timeline
 All applications must be submitted through www.sfgrants.eda.gov

(EDGE)

 Registration with EDGE is required

 SAM.gov registration (and a UEI) is necessary to register with EDGE

 You will register one Authorized Representative for your organization; 

this will be the only official who has authority to submit applications

 The required electronic file format for attachments is PDF and, where 

appropriate, Microsoft Excel

Electronic Submission

NOFO Section D.2
Applications must consist of a 

(maximum) 10-page project 

narrative, budget narrative, a 

series of standard forms, and 

additional supporting 

documents

See NOFO for complete application 

requirements.

https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/

stem-challenge
Application Components

PROJECT DESIGN AND SUBSTANCE FORMS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Project Narrative SF-424

Budget Narrative & Staffing Plan SF-424A

Matching Share Commitment Letters CD-511

State/Local Government Support (if 

applicable)

SF-LLL

(Optional) Letters from Employers SPOC, Org Docs, NICRA (if applicable)

(Optional) Letters from Project Partners Project Service Area and FIPS Codes

See NOFO for more information on these components

NOFO Section D.2.ii
 Section 1: Project Description and Overview

1a. Executive Summary – (max) 250 words

1b. Vision, Mission, Goals, Roles 

 Section 2: Regional Innovation Resources and Talent Needs

2a. Project Service Area

2b. Needs Assessment

 Section 3: Proposed Solution and Scope of Work

3a. Problems and Solutions

3b. Achievability

3c. Impacted Groups

3d. Proposed Scope of Work

Project Narrative Format

NOFO Section D.2.iii.a.1
 Section 4: Collaboration

4a. Partnerships

4b. Outreach

 Section 5: Measurable Goals and Impacts

5a. Data Infrastructure

 Section 6: Sustainability Plan

Project Narrative Format (Continued)

NOFO Section D.2.iii.a.1
Budget documents (SF-424A and budget 

narrative) should be consistent (same numbers!) 

and reflect a holistic budget – including match as 

a part of your total project budget. 

A budget template is included on the 

STEM Talent Challenge website
Match Requirements

1:1 Funding Match is required

Federal 

Share

Matching 

Share

Overall 

Project 

Cost

NOFO Section D.2.iii.c
Funds must be committed to the 

project for the period of 

performance, available as 

needed, and not be conditioned 

or encumbered in any way 

Applicants must show that funds 

are available at the time of 

application by including signed 

Commitment Letters from ALL 

SOURCES of match
 Required if applicant is a non-profit organization, non-public 

institution of higher education, public-private partnership, science 

or research park, Federal lab, or EDD

 Must include one or more letters or resolutions showing that the 

application is supported by one or more states, political 

subdivisions of a state (i.e. city, county), or native organizations 

that will be served under the proposed project

Government Support Letters

NOFO Section D.2.iii.d
 Applicants must identify their proposed primary service area(s) by 

county or counties.

Counties should be identified by both name and 5-digit FIPS codes

• See 2020 State, County, Minor Civil Division, and Incorporated 

Place FIPS Codes available at 

https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/demo/popest/2020-fips.html.

• List of FIPS Codes should be uploaded as an attachment to 

the SF-424

Project Service Area and FIPS Codes

NOFO Section D.3.ii.d
 Applicants can include letters from employer partners to further show that their project is likely to be successful and to result in quality jobs for 

program participants

 These letters could reflect an employer’s commitment to serving as a 

work-and-learn partner and/or to hiring program completers

 While optional, letters and/or committed jobs from employers can show that a project is needed by regional employers and could help an application score more favorably in merit review

Letters from Employers

NOFO Section D.2.iii.e
 Applications under this NOFO will be reviewed against the following seven 

criteria. All criteria are scored on a 5-point scale

Evaluation Criteria

Summary of Criteria

Strength of Regional Partnerships and Assets

Proposed Solution

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

Measurable Goals and Impacts

Continued Impacts

Budget and Staffing

Alignment with STEM Talent Challenge Goals

NOFO Section E.1
Previous Grantee 

Highlights
University City Science Center –

Philadelphia, PA

Building an Understanding of Lab Basics (BULB)

UCSC utilized STEM Talent Challenge funding to expand their 

BULB pilot program, a combination of hands-on training and workbased learning, designed to prepare participants for careers in the 

Biotech Industry.

The program launched in July 2021. As of 9/30/2022 the 

program has served 48 participants, engaged 19 companies, 

and resulted in 9 jobs. 
Howard Community College –

Columbia, MD

A Response to the Cyber Workforce Demand in Central Maryland

Howard Community College expanded its cybersecurity work-andlearn program to reach new employers and participants, particularly 

those from underrepresented populations. The program included 

customized training packages combining certification with hands-on 

work-based learning through apprenticeships and internships.

The program launched in February 2021. As of 9/30/2022 the 

program has placed 52 students into internships and 

apprenticeships.
Rung for Women –

St Louis, MO

Women in Geospatial Careers

Rung for Women has partnered with Maryville University and 

Greater St. Louis, Inc. to help meet the needs of employers utilizing 

geospatial technology. Training consists of the hands-on Geospatial 

Analyst program, which is backed by employers providing 

commitment to hire graduates.

The program began in February 2022, and as of 9/30/2022, 3 

(of 4) geospatial graduates have been placed in target careers.
Frequently Asked 

Questions
 Maximum funding request has doubled from $250,000 to 

$500,000

 Submission is now through EDGE rather than Grants.gov

 All projects should aim to accomplish all three program goals 

(STEM work-based learning and training, increase regional 

capacity to hire in innovative industries, increase DEIA in STEM 

fields)

 Focus on job placement outcomes; employer letters (including 

commitments to hire) are now encouraged

What has changed from the previous 

challenge?
 Organizations who received awards under previous STEM Talent 

Challenge competitions are eligible to apply for this year’s 

challenge if they will have completed all activities – including final 

reporting – of the previous award prior to November 1, 2023 – the 

start date of the new award. 

My organization received a previous year 

EDA STEM Talent Challenge Grant. Are 

we eligible to apply again?
 Yes, just as in the FY21 competition, STEM Talent Challenge 

funding can be used to directly support program participants 

through incentive methods such as wages or stipends.

 Funding can also be spent on wraparound services, such as 

childcare, transportation, and other costs associated with 

attending training. Costs associated with housing (i.e., rent, 

utilities, etc.) are generally not allowed. 

Can this funding be used to directly 

support program participants, such as 

through participant wages or stipends?
 A minimum 1:1 match is required for all applications. This means that 

for ever $1 of federal funding requested, you must bring $1 of matching 

funds, either cash or in-kind

 Matching funds should be documented through a commitment letter 

even if all match is coming from the applicant. These letters should 

include the numeric value of the contribution and a valuation for any inkind contributions (i.e., how you got the value you listed). They should 

also state that the funds are committed, available, and unencumbered. 

 Applicants are allowed to bring more match than the minimum if this is 

needed for the project, but there is no benefit in scoring to bringing 

more than the required match

How much match is required, how 

should it be documented, and is there a 

benefit to “over-matching”?
For additional questions, reach out to us 

at oie@eda.gov and visit 

www.eda.gov/funding/programs/stemchallenge