2021-27446. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies

The Department of Commerce will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on October 13, 2021 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

Agency: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Commerce.

Title: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies.

OMB Control Number: 0610-0093.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Request: Regular submission; Extension without change of a currently approved information collection.

Number of Respondents: 527.

Average Hours per Response: 480 hours for the initial CEDS for a District Organization or other planning organization funded by EDA; 160 hours for the CEDS revision required at least every 5 years from an EDA-funded District or other planning organization; 40 hours per CEDS update and performance report; and 40 hours per applicant for EDA Public Works or Economic Adjustment Assistance with a project deemed by EDA to merit further consideration that is not located in an EDA-funded District.

Burden Hours: 31,640 hours.

Type of response	Number of respondents	Average hours per response	Estimated burden hours
Initial CEDS	3	480	1,440
Revised CEDS	77	160	12,320
CEDS Updates/Performance Reports	385	40	15,400
CEDS by applicants not in EDA-funded District	62	40	2,480
Total	527		31,640

Needs and Uses: To effectively administer and monitor its economic development assistance programs, EDA collects certain information from applications for, and recipients of, EDA investment assistance. A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) emerges from a continuing planning process developed and driven by a public sector planning organization by engaging a broad-based and diverse set of stakeholders to address the economic problems and potential of a region. The CEDS should include information about how and to what extent stakeholder input and support was solicited. Information on how the planning organization collaborated with its diverse set of stakeholders (including the public sector, private interests, non-profits, educational institutions, and community organizations) in the development of the CEDS should be included. In accordance with 13 CFR 303.7(b), a CEDS must contain a summary background, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis, Strategic Direction/Action Plan, and an Evaluation Framework. In addition, the CEDS must incorporate the concept of economic resilience ( i.e., the ability to avoid, withstand, and recover from economic shifts, natural disasters, etc.). A CEDS is required for an eligible applicant to qualify for an EDA investment assistance under EDA's Public Works program, Economic Adjustment Assistance program, and certain planning programs, and is a prerequisite for a region's designation by EDA as an Economic Development District (see 13 CFR part 303, 13 CFR 305.2, and 13 CFR 307.2). EDA collects information under this information collection to ensure compliance with EDA's CEDS requirements.

Affected Public: (1) Cities or other political subdivisions of a State, including a special purpose unit of state or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities; (2) States; (3) institutions of higher education; (4) public or private non-profit organizations or associations; (5) District Organizations; and (6) Indian Tribes.

Frequency: Planning Organizations must submit a new or revised CEDS to EDA at least every five years, unless EDA or the Planning Organization determines that a new or revised CEDS is required earlier due to changed circumstances.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority: The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq).

This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB Control Number 0610-0093.

Sheleen Dumas,

Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Commerce Department.