The EDA’s Historic Preservation Reviews

Cultural Resource Support for the U.S. Economic Development Administration

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the global economy. EDA provides grants and technical assistance to support local economic development efforts in communities across the nation, with a focus on fostering job creation, private investment, and sustainable economic growth. Through strategic investments and partnerships, EDA aims to enhance the resilience of American communities and contribute to a strong, diversified economy.

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The Challenge

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), was tasked with distributing significant funds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this effort, EDA launched the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, providing up to $1 billion in funding to regional coalitions across the United States. Given the strict timelines and complex regulatory requirements, particularly those involving environmental and cultural resource reviews under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, EDA enlisted The Catalyst Group to provide additional support in managing these processes.

The Solution

The primary objective of the Catalyst Group’s engagement was to support EDA in performing Section 106 consultations, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulatory frameworks while meeting the tight deadlines imposed by ARPA. Our approach involved a comprehensive project management plan, detailed site assessments, and continuous collaboration with EDA, State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs), and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs) to facilitate effective and timely consultations. The Catalyst Group undertook the following tasks for this large project:

Section 106 Consultation for 30 projects

Site Assessments

Mitigation Measures Development

Project Management and Reporting

Data Management and Documentation

Stakeholder Communication

Support the EDA in performing Section 106 consultations, and ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory frameworks while meeting the tight deadlines imposed by ARPA.

The Results

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Successful completion of Section 106 consultations

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Effective mitigation of adverse environmental impacts

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Cultural resource consultations were completed for 20 projects in 22 States in 4 months

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Obtained full concurrence from the respective State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices so that $1 billion in critical funding could be accomplished

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