Build to Scale (B2S)
Federal Agency
Sub-Department
Economic Development Administration (EDA)
Purpose
Build to Scale provides flexible financial support for projects that enable entrepreneurs to face and overcome the particular challenges and barriers they face in a specific region and technology area.
Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements
Project eligibility specifications vary by program (Venture Challenge, Capital Challenge, and Industry Challenge).
Decarbonization Considerations
This funding can support the public infrastructure needed to create new or enhance existing programs for clean energy, hydrogen, battery storage, or electric supply chain opportunities. Explore integrating new clean energy and EV supply chain manufacturing hubs/business parks into comprehensive economic development plans as part of your diversification strategy. Where possible, consider whether partnerships with universities, community college, and industry could be leveraged to launch an economic diversification and workforce development strategy to promote and enhance the growth of emerging clean energy industries and retain local talent.
Equity Considerations
This is an opportunity to enhance supply chains, attract new energy and transportation sectors, and provide job training for out of work energy and industry professionals or those looking to transition to clean energy, electrification, and EV supply chain related industries.
Helpful Tips
Unlike many EDA programs, this program does not require eligibility through regional distress criteria. Applicants should still emphasize, if possible, how such funding can be a transformative investment for their community to further technology-based economic development initiatives that accelerate high-quality job growth, create more economic opportunities, and support the future of the next generation of industry-leading companies. Public-private partnerships to accelerate entrepreneurship and company growth are also encouraged to apply.
Other Notes
View past Build to Scale awardees here: https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale/past-grantees This iteration of Build to Scale combines the former Venture Challenge and Capital Challenge into a single Implementation Challenge