Competitive Edge

Helping communities, businesses and elected officials with funding, legislation and issues related to engineering and planning projects.

Minnesota Legislative Update – May 17, 2013

May 17th, 2013
Minnesota’s Legislature still has work to do before wrapping up the legislature by midnight, Tuesday May 21, 2013. Minnesota’s constitution prohibits the legislature to work after that day. Several bills still on our radar but not yet decided on include the omnibus energy bill, omnibus legacy bill, omnibus jobs and economic development finance...

Six Questions to Ask Before Moving Forward with a Grant Application

May 15th, 2013
Many communities’ biggest hurdle when preparing for a project is obtaining funding. Below are six questions to ask before moving forward with a grant application. 1. Am I an eligible applicant? Many grants have specific guidelines for who may or may not apply. If your community is not categorized as an eligible applicant, search for other...

EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program

May 13th, 2013
The US Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program provides grants to support job creation and economic development in economically distressed areas. The funding level for FY 2013 has not yet been determined. Funds distributed through the program provide support to distressed communities to...

Acres for America Program

May 13th, 2013
Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have allocated $2.5 million to the Acres for America Program with the goal of reducing the footprint of Walmart’s facilities on at least an acre-by-acre basis through the development of permanent wildlife habitats. The 10-year, $35 million campaign to conserve wild lands and wildlife habitat...

Rural Energy for America Program