Notice2026-01295
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Regional Economic Development Data Collection Instrument
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentEconomic Development Administration
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites 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. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2904-2905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01295]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Regional Economic Development Data Collection Instrument
AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites 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. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before March 24, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
mail to Daniel Querejazu, Program Management and Analyst, Office of
Innovation and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Department of Commerce, at or to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#db8b899ab8b4b6b6beb5afa89bbfb4b8f5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="38686a795b5755555d564c4b785c575b165f574e">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference OMB Control Number 0610-0110 in
the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential Business
Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to Daniel Querejazu, Program Management and Analyst, Office of
Innovation and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Department of Commerce, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#256174504057404f445f50654041440b424a53"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bffbeecadacddad5dec5caffdadbde91d8d0c9">[email protected]</span></a> or 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) leads the Federal
economic development agenda by promoting innovation and
competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in
the worldwide economy. Guided by the basic principle that sustainable
economic development should be driven locally, EDA works directly with
communities and regions to help them build the capacity for economic
development based on local business conditions and needs. The Public
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA) (42 U.S.C. 3121 et
seq.) is EDA's organic authority and is the primary legal authority
under which EDA awards financial assistance. Under PWEDA, EDA provides
financial assistance to both rural and urban distressed communities by
fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and productivity through
investments in infrastructure development, workforce development,
capacity building, and business development to attract private capital
investments and new and better jobs to regions experiencing economic
distress. Further information on EDA programs and financial assistance
opportunities can be found at <a href="https://eda.gov/">https://eda.gov/</a> <a href="http://www.eda.gov">www.eda.gov</a>.
To effectively administer and monitor its economic development
assistance programs, EDA collects certain information from applications
for, and recipients of, EDA investment assistance. The purpose of this
notice is to seek comments from the public and other Federal agencies
on a request for
[[Page 2905]]
an extension without change to an information collection for recipients
of awards under the EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC).
EDA is no longer making awards under this program but needs to continue
to monitor performance under past awards.
The information collection employs an innovative mixed methods
approach to gather traditional metrics in addition to qualitative data
on all regions participating in the BBBRC program. Secondary data will
be gathered and monitored for each of the regions/awardees. A quarterly
questionnaire will be sent to each of the BBBRC coalition leads which
will gather the relevant data and stories for each of the 21 BBBRC
coalitions, resulting in coalition regional impact evaluation,
resources, and tools for regional economic development decision-makers.
This collection will explore several thematic areas for the BBBRC,
where each of the following areas are based on survey scope of work
themes:
1. Accelerating innovation in emerging technologies to gain an
understanding of the long-term impact on economic and social sectors;
2. Helping workers access information on new job opportunities, job
placement, and job training and prepare for and be hired into good
jobs;
3. Increasing new business growth and entrepreneurial activity
within the industry sectors;
4. Building critical infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer
miles, business and industries to allow for economic development and
growth; and
5. Helping businesses adopt new technologies so that they may enter
new markets, increasing their economic capacity and overall
sustainability.
Coalition leads will respond to the appropriate thematic area,
answering questions related to the following categories:
<bullet> Reflections and updates on the coalition implementation
process and progress;
<bullet> The ability to secure additional non-federal investments;
<bullet> Detailing the programs, trainings, and curricula
developed/launched for job training/workforce development;
<bullet> Development and growth surrounding infrastructure; and
<bullet> Job creation, wage growth, and existing employee growth
and development.
The collection instrument also includes questions related to the
overall programmatic experience such Community of Practice support.
II. Method of Collection
Data will be collected electronically.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0610-0110.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Recipients of the BBBRC awards, which may include
a(n): district organization; Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian
Tribes; state, county, city, or other political subdivision of a state,
including a special purpose unit of a state or local government engaged
in economic or infrastructure development activities or a consortium of
political subdivisions; institution of higher education or a consortium
of institutions of higher education; or public or private non-profit
organization or association, including labor unions, acting in
cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 21 respondents, responding
quarterly.
Estimated Time per Response: 2.5 hours/per respondent.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 210 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $12,768 (cost assumes
application of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics second quarter 2022 mean
hourly employer costs for employee compensation for professional and
related occupations of $60.80).
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: The Public Works and Economic Development Act of
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.).
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2026-01295 Filed 1-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-34-P
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