EDA Build to Scale (B2S) Program
Competition-specific federal grants across Venture Challenge and Capital Challenge; award bands and matching requirements are stated in each NOFO. · US Economic Development Administration (EDA) — Department of Commerce
The Economic Development Administration's Build to Scale program funds organizations that build regional innovation ecosystems and scalable-startup capacity, via the Venture Challenge (accelerators/ecosystem builders) and Capital Challenge (early-stage capital formation). Awards go to ecosystem builders (universities, EDOs, nonprofits, accelerators), not directly to individual startups. Current lifecycle: closed. Real economics: Competition-specific federal grants across Venture Challenge and Capital Challenge; award bands and matching requirements are stated in each NOFO..
Tier 2 · ranked #27edabuild-to-scaleecosystemregional
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Key facts
| Funder | US Economic Development Administration (EDA) — Department of Commerce |
| Amount | Competition-specific federal grants across Venture Challenge and Capital Challenge; award bands and matching requirements are stated in each NOFO. |
| Decision time | EDA publishes an anticipated review and award schedule in each NOFO; no evergreen decision time applies. |
| Eligibility | Eligible EDA recipients: institutions of higher education, nonprofits, EDOs/consortia, and certain public/quasi-public entities building startup ecosystems. Not a direct grant to for-profit startups. |
| Restrictions | Recipients provide federal financial and performance reports, document required matching share, meet milestones and comply with 2 CFR 200 and EDA award terms. Support is restricted to the approved work plan, eligible costs and award period; unsupported, unrelated, double-funded or noncompliant expenditure is excluded. |
| Status | closed |
Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.
Application process
- Review the current EDA NOFO and select competition track
- Complete SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations
- Submit project narrative, regional evidence, budget and match commitments
- Federal merit review and due diligence
- Award negotiation
Background
US Economic Development Administration (EDA) — Department of Commerce operates EDA Build to Scale (B2S) Program. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. EDA publishes Build to Scale awardees by competition year. The program supports both scalable ecosystem programs and capital-access infrastructure. Awards require evidence of regional need and committed matching resources.
How the application really works
Review the current EDA NOFO and select competition track → Complete SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations → Submit project narrative, regional evidence, budget and match commitments → Federal merit review and due diligence → Award negotiation
Tips
- Show direct fit with technology entrepreneurship.
- Show direct fit with regional innovation ecosystems.
- Show direct fit with capital access.
Watch out for
- Current lifecycle is closed.
- Recipients provide federal financial and performance reports, document required matching share, meet milestones and comply with 2 CFR 200 and EDA award terms.
- Support is restricted to the approved work plan, eligible costs and award period; unsupported, unrelated, double-funded or noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
Track record
- EDA publishes Build to Scale awardees by competition year.
- The program supports both scalable ecosystem programs and capital-access infrastructure.
- Awards require evidence of regional need and committed matching resources.
The reviewed official corpus does not publish an applicant denominator and comparable selection rate.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this actionable now?
- closed. Annual federal NOFO with a fixed Grants.gov deadline; the reviewed competition has closed and no later NOFO was verified.
- What is the real economic value?
- Competition-specific federal grants across Venture Challenge and Capital Challenge; award bands and matching requirements are stated in each NOFO.
- Who is eligible?
- Eligible EDA recipients: institutions of higher education, nonprofits, EDOs/consortia, and certain public/quasi-public entities building startup ecosystems. Not a direct grant to for-profit startups.
- How does selection work?
- Review the current EDA NOFO and select competition track; Complete SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations; Submit project narrative, regional evidence, budget and match commitments; Federal merit review and due diligence; Award negotiation. EDA publishes an anticipated review and award schedule in each NOFO; no evergreen decision time applies.
- What burden and restrictions apply?
- Recipients provide federal financial and performance reports, document required matching share, meet milestones and comply with 2 CFR 200 and EDA award terms. Support is restricted to the approved work plan, eligible costs and award period; unsupported, unrelated, double-funded or noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
- What evidence exists?
- EDA publishes Build to Scale awardees by competition year. The program supports both scalable ecosystem programs and capital-access infrastructure. Awards require evidence of regional need and committed matching resources. The reviewed official corpus does not publish an applicant denominator and comparable selection rate.
Related grants
Sources
- www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale — Official program, tracks, eligibility and award history (checked 2026-08-10)
- www.eda.gov/funding/funding-opportunities — Official current EDA opportunity lifecycle (checked 2026-08-10)
- www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/354983 — Official federal notice and application materials (checked 2026-08-10)