PIEDMONT OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR Region 9 Project Application

OVERVIEWSubmit this application to propose a project for advancing opportunities outlined in the Region 9 Growth & Diversification Plan Update (Aug. 2019).

QUALIFY

To be eligible, applicants must have already submitted a Pre-Application and discussed it with the Region’s GO Virginia Director on behalf of the GO Virginia Council. Early conversations are encouraged.

SUBMIT

Submit the application and related documents as email attachments to the contact below. Be sure to: Complete the application without text formatting such as bullets, bold, italics, tables, etc. Comply with character limitations noted in the application Before submitting, you may delete the first four pages of this packet, but don’t delete the actual

questions from the application. They help guide reviewers.

BEST PRACTICES Prepare – Review the GO Virginia Region 9 Growth and Diversification Plan Update (Aug. 2019)

and this entire packet, before writing an application Clarity –Answer questions by presenting the most important information in the first paragraph

followed by key supporting information. Flag any attachment that could provide the reviewers more details by referencing “see attachment”.

Concise – Only approach maximum word counts when necessary.

2020 DEADLINES January 7 | March 31 | May 26 | September 8

CONTACT Shannon HollandGO Virginia Director, Region 9Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development1001 Research Park Boulevard, Suite #301, Charlottesville, VA 22911434.979.5610 ext. 103sholland@centralvirginia.org

www.GOVirginia9.org

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GO Virginia is a statewide economic development initiative that incentivizes collaboration between business, higher education, and local government to grow and diversify regional

economies through grants.

Grant Opportunities Identified in Region 9 Growth Plan UpdateThe Region 9 Council is seeking grant proposals that support opportunities identified in the Region 9 Growth & Diversification Plan Update. In general, projects must be framed in one of the specific project types and focus on target industry. Each of the bullets below represents an identified opportunity.

Talent Development Support development of a regional workforce project to

convene stakeholders for developing regional target sector based strategies.

Support growth of Information Technology, as well as all other target sectors, through a Tech Talent pipeline initia-tive.

Evaluate how credentialing, apprenticeship, and /or internship programs for target industries could support higher paying jobs and/or growth of the traded sector.

Continue supporting and monitoring Talent Development projects including George Washington Carver-Piedmont Technical Education Center (GWC-PTEC), Central Virginia Cybersecurity, and Crafting Higher Paying Jobs and Adult Beverage Exports.

Growing Existing Businesses Support growth of the biotechnology and biomedical

cluster to attain a critical mass of enterprises, talent and intellectual property.

Support development of a large amount of new square footage serving the biotech industry in a strategically con-centrated area including wet lab space.

Identify scale-up opportunities in other targeted sectors, such as export growth for Food & Beverage Manufactur-ing, Light Manufacturing, and Information Technology.

Monitor the opportunity for supporting broadband initiatives as the access to broadband is a critical need in most Region 9 localities.

Startups/Innovation/Commercialization Facilitate initiatives that advance opportunities outlined in the

TEConomy Region 9 Assessment.

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Region 9Piedmont Opportunity Corridor

Project Types

Talent Development

Growing Existing Businesses

Startup/Innovation/Commercialization

Site Readiness

Target Industries

Financial & Business Services

Food & Beverage Manufacturing

Information Technology &Communications

Light Manufacturing

Biomedical & Biotechnology

Who can apply?How much funding is available?

How do to apply?When are upcoming deadlines?

What projects have been funded?Find out more at:

www.GOVirginia9.org

TARGETING

Review the opportunity for developing a plan to set aside specific Per Capita funds to invest in the entrepreneurship ecosystem as outlined by the GO Virginia Board.

Support development of a rural entrepreneurship coalition in rural counties.

Sites Encourage and support the creation of a Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (RIFA) or equivalent regional

collaborative partnerships, as appropriate to support regional site development. In collaboration with partners, outline a regional approach to

addressing the region's site readiness needs by advancing sites through the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP).

Support and encourage the continued development of the regional business park in Louisa County.

Advance further development of current sites and seek opportunities for regional collaboration on new sites.

Other Review the 2019 Central Virginia Partnership Strategic Plan to

identify areas for collaboration and efficiencies to drive the creation of high paying jobs and grow the traded sector in Region 9.

Explore opportunities to assess and support the development of emerging industries that could help the region grow high paying jobs and expand the traded sector (i.e. Hemp Industry, Renewable Energy Industry, and Environmental Sustainability Industry).

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Region 9Piedmont Opportunity Corridor

Grant Match Requirements

In most cases, project proposals must include matching funds on a dollar for

dollar basis (1:1) from non-state resources, including two or more local governments that commit funds of at

least $50,000 or 20% of request, whichever is greater

It’s complicated. Call us.

www.GOVirginia9.org

Available funding:$1,000,000 for Regional Project

$29,000,000 for Inter-Regional Projects Statewide, GO Virginia has funded 51 projects totaling

$20,000,000 and leveraging $30,000,000 in non-state funds. Region 9 has awarded 8 projects totaling $1,895,000 and

leveraging $4,308,000 in non-state funds.

Grant Scoring CriteriaVirginia Growth and Opportunity Fund (GO Fund)Grant Scoring CriteriaIn determining the eligibility of the region and the amount of monies to be awarded for grant requests, the Board and the regional councils shall follow these weighting criteria. The Board reserves the right to not make an award to proposed grant requests that have a low score in one of more of the following areas:

Economic Impact – 35% 1. Project application outlines the expected return on investment of the proposed project and the timeline for achieving

that return.2. Project application demonstrates the proposed project's alignment with and how it will address the prioritized needs

and opportunities of the growth and diversification plan.3. Grant requests that have a larger impact with regard to the creation of higher paying jobs and economic diversification,

based on a return on investment model, in a smaller economic region shall receive higher scores.4. Project outlines both behavioral as well as anticipated tangible results that will come from the collaboration.

Regional Collaboration – 30% 1. The number and percentage of localities within the region that are participating in the proposed project and the portion

of the region’s population represented by the participating localities.2. Participation of localities or regions (including interstate collaborations) that are outside the applying region.3. Cost efficiencies, repurposing of existing funds, leveraging of existing assets, or other evidence of collaboration that can

be demonstrated as a result of the proposed project.4. The amount of involvement in the project by businesses, colleges and universities, and other public and private entities

within the region in the conceptualization of and the implementation of the project.5. The amount, timing, and form of the proposed project match that outlines the depth of the commitment by the public

and private funding partners to the effort.6. Inventory existing grant requests or programs with similar goals to ensure the proposed project is not duplicative of, but

additive to, other efforts to support economic diversification and the creation of more higher-paying jobs.

Project Readiness – 20% 1. Project application demonstrates that the project partners have the capability to successfully execute the project.2. Project application demonstrates that the regional council has consulted with subject matter experts regarding the

efficacy and viability of the proposal3. Project application outlines how the project may be coordinated with existing efforts in the region.4. Project application fully analyzes the barriers to successful implementation and other associated risks along with a plan

to overcome them.5. Project application reviews any prerequisite activities undertaken by the collaborating parties to increase efficiency

with regard to program delivery and to ensure a deeper and consistent level of support for the project once launched.6. Project application demonstrates the project partners, including the lead public or private administering entity, have

sufficient financial management and personnel to ensure compliance with the grant agreement.

Project Sustainability – 15% 1. Plan for how a project will be sustained after grant funds are exhausted.2. Demonstrated ability to meet the project performance metrics and to take remedial actions in the event those

measures are not achieved.3. Demonstrate leverage above the required amounts from any source.

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Region 9

PROJECT APPLICATION

PROJECT NAME:

PROJECT INFORMATION

Organization Name:

Project Primary Contact: First Name:Last Name:Title:Email:Work Phone:

Project LocationAddress:Zip Code (+4):City:

Primary Service Area

Please list ALL localities that will be in your project's primary service area. When adding a County, it is not necessary to also add a Town that lies within that county.

County/Counties:

City/Cities:

Town/Towns:

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BUDGETA. Table

TOTAL REQUESTED $0.0

GO Virginia

Amount Other Funding TotalCOST/ACTIVITY CATEGORYAdministration* (8% limit)

Other

Program Operations AcquisitionArchitectural and Engineering FeesClearance and DemolitionConstructionContract ServicesEquipmentFringe BenefitsLegal ExpensesMachinery/ToolsPlanning/AssessmentRent/LeaseSalariesSite WorkStudiesTrainingTravelOther - specify

TOTAL

* Calculate 8% of GO Virginia Program Operations funds requested to include in the “Other” row of Administration. This amount is to be included in the Total Requested calculation and the matching funds requirement. These funds are made available to the Central Virginia Partnership for grant contract management and reporting.

B. Narrative:Please provide a narrative for your budget. (2,000 character limit, including spaces)

Budget AttachmentsBudget Overview: Sources and Uses Template

QUESTIONSImportant!

Questions have a 6,000 character limit, including spaces. Complete answers without formatting - no bold, no italics, no tables, no bullets, etc.

ECONOMIC IMPACT 1. Provide a detailed overview of the proposed project and project activities included in the project budget. If the full project scope goes beyond the reflected budget, please provide a breakdown of the current and later phases of project activities.

2. Identify the project goals, approach, and outcomes, and how the project relates to Region 9’s Economic Growth and Diversification Plan Update (Aug. 2019) and the goals of GO Virginia.

3. Describe the project timeline and the specific project milestones that will be used to track project progress and fund disbursement. Address the project administrator’s ability to meet these milestones and to take remedial actions in the event that are not achieved.

4. Provide a description of the performance metrics that will be used to quantify success, both quantitative and qualitative, and how the metrics were developed. Describe the Return on Investment (ROI) methodology and calculated ROI and the timeline for achieving the expected ROI. Include an explanation and source of any data used as the basis for ROI and outcome projections.

Economic Impact Attachments: Executive SummaryProject Timeline and Milestones including an expected Drawdown Schedule Performance Metrics (selected from the GO Virginia Projects Metrics List)Return on Investment (provide calculation worksheet or use GO Virginia template)

REGIONAL COLLABORATION5. Describe the service area of the project. Identify localities participating in the project (financially or administratively) as well as those localities that are served by the project.

a. What portion of the region’s population is served by the project? How was this figure calculated? b. Does the application request a waiver of the local match requirement? ($50,000 or 20% provided

by participating localities, whichever is greater). c. Are there localities or other GO Virginia regions (including interstate collaborations) that are

outside the applying region that are participating in the project? If so, describe the nature of the collaboration and the anticipated impact.

6. Identify cost efficiencies, repurposing of existing funds, leveraging of existing assets, or other evidence of collaboration that can be demonstrated as a result of the project.

7. Discuss existing grant requests or programs with similar goals and indicate how the proposed project is not duplicative of, but additive to, other efforts to support economic diversification and the creation of higher-paying jobs. Have existing efforts been successful and sustainable?

For enhanced capacity building projects only, discuss how the enhanced capacity building effort could contribute to the success of associated future grant requests and how the project could be replicated or used across multiple grant requests and/or regions.

Regional Collaboration Attachments:Letters of Financial CommitmentLetters of SupportIn-kind Contribution Commitment Forms

PROJECT READINESS8. Describe all partner organizations involved with the implementation of the project, including the entity’s role, financial or in-kind commitment, and capacity to successfully execute their duties as they relate to the project. These may include but are not limited to school divisions, community colleges, public and private institutions of higher education, economic and workforce development entities, local governments, regional organizations, planning district commissions, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector entities.

9. Discuss any major barriers to successful implementation and other associated risks along with a plan to overcome them. How will the project administrator address these barriers?

10. Discuss how the regional council and project developers have consulted with subject matter experts regarding the efficacy and viability of the proposal. Provide an overview of the feedback from the subject matter experts, and how their feedback validated the approach and methodology for the project.

11. Discuss how the regional council and project developers have consulted with local government entities regarding the strategy and implementation of the project.

12. Discuss prerequisite activities undertaken by the collaborating parties to increase efficiency with regard to program delivery and support for the project once launched.

13. Identify the total project budget and the sources and uses for matching funds and leverage.a. Does the project have the required $1:1 match? If so, what are the sources/uses for these

funds?b. Does the project have the required 20% (or $50,000 if request is less than $250k) local match? If

so, what are the sources/uses for these funds?c. Are any additional funds or in-kind contributions serving as leverage for the project? If so, what

are the sources/uses for these funds?

PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY14. Discuss how the program will achieve stable, long-term sustainability beyond the initial funding period? Have any funding sources been secured to continue implementing the program or strategy following the exhaustion of these funds?

ATTACHMENT SUMMARYTemplates for some attachments are available to download at www.GOVirginia9.org

REQUIRED Executive Summary (1 page) Budget Overview: Sources & Uses -

Template Project Timeline and Milestones including

an expected Drawdown Schedule Performance Metrics (selected from the GO

Virginia Projects Metrics List Template) Return on Investment (provide calculation

worksheet or use GO Virginia template) Letters of Financial Commitment Letters of Support In-Kind Contributions Form - Template

OPTIONAL Waiver Request Resume for Project

Managers