SUPPORTING STATEMENT
Economic Development Administration
Data Collection for EDA’s Compliance with
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993
OMB CONTROL NO. 0610-0098
A. JUSTIFICATION
This is a request to extend approval of an information collection.
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) helps our partners across the nation (states, regions, and communities) create wealth and minimize poverty by promoting a favorable business environment to attract private capital investment and jobs through world-class capacity building, planning, infrastructure, research grants, and strategic initiatives.
EDA's strategic investments in public infrastructure and local capital markets provide lasting benefits for economically disadvantaged areas. Acting as catalysts to mobilize public and private investments, EDA's investments address problems of high unemployment, low per capita income, and other forms of severe economic distress in local communities. EDA also provides special economic adjustment assistance to help communities and businesses respond to major layoffs, plant shutdowns, trade impacts, natural disasters, military facility closures, and other severe economic dislocations. Through its investments, EDA helps fulfill the Administration’s goal to leave no geographic area or demographic sector of our nation behind in achieving the American dream.
EDA must collect data and report on the performance of the following principal programs:
(1) Public Works program promotes long-range economic development in distressed areas by providing investments for vital public infrastructure and development facilities.
(2) Economic Adjustment program offers flexible investments for communities facing sudden or severe economic distress, including revolving loan fund grants.
(3) Planning program supports local planning and long-term partnerships with State, planning organizations, District organizations and Indian Tribes that assist distressed communities with strategic planning and investment activities.
(4) University Center program is a partnership that draws on the expertise of local colleges and universities to help strengthen distressed communities as they strive to become economically self-sufficient.
(5) Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAA) program, authorized under the Trade Act of 1974, assists U.S. firms and industries which have lost domestic sales and experienced unemployment due to increased imports of similar or competitive goods, become more competitive in the global economy.
The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) requires Federal agencies to develop performance measures and report agency performance results to Congress and their stakeholders. To comply with that law, EDA must collect specific data from grant recipients to report on its performance in meeting its stated goals and statutory objectives. The
Congressionally-mandated reports are the Performance and Accountability Report and annual Budgets. Performance measures are designed to evaluate overall program performance and not the performance of individual grantees. The information collected at project completion and various stages thereafter will be used to enhance the management and performance of EDA programs.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
The information will be used by EDA personnel, stakeholders, and Congress to evaluate the agency’s performance. In compliance with the GPRA, the performance measures and results are published in required reports. The information will be used by EDA management to enhance the performance of its economic development assistance programs.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information technology.
EDA currently utilizes electronic forms (fillable PDFs) to collect data as part of its GPRA data collection process. Electronic forms are provided to recipients; however EDA also provides hard-copy forms to recipients in cases where submitting information via electronic forms is not feasible. EDA continues to explore ways to streamline data collection and reporting process to reduce administrative burden on recipients and staff.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
EDA reviews existing data collections to ensure that there is no duplication. The information requested is unique to EDA program performance goals and measures, and is not collected elsewhere.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.
There is no significant impact on small businesses or other small entities.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
EDA could not fulfill its statutory mandate. Due to reductions in staffing and budgetary constraints, EDA must rely on data collection in lieu of individual project site visits.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
Not Applicable.
8. Provide a copy of the PRA Federal Register notice that solicited public comments on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
The Federal Register Notice soliciting public comment was published on May 19, 2011 (Vol. 76, pg. 28951). No comments were received.
EDA solicited feedback on the proposed extension of its current GPRA forms via the Federal Register. Additionally, EDA consulted with its six Regional Offices to discuss the proposed extension to the Agency’s current GPRA forms. Based on this feedback, only two small modifications were made to the instructions to clarify how to enter data on the forms. No changes in the type or amount of information required to be collected were made.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No gift or payment is provided to any respondent.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
The information furnished does not require an assurance of confidentiality, none is provided, and may be supplied to individuals or organizations requesting such information under the Freedom of Information Act.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.
Not Applicable.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
Burden requirements for the various performance reporting forms are analyzed separately.
Public Works, and Economic Adjustment Infrastructure and Revolving Loan Fund Investment Reporting Form:
950 responses @ 8 hours/response = 7,600 burden hours
Total Labor Cost = $389,500
Economic Development District and Indian Tribe Reporting Form:
518 responses @ 6 hours/response = 3,108 burden hours
Total Labor Cost = $168,868
University Center Reporting Form:
51 responses @ 7 hours/response = 357 burden hours
Total Labor Cost = $18,768
Trade Adjustment Assistance Reporting Form:
11 responses @ 6 hours/response = 66 burden hours
Total Labor Cost = $3,586
TOTAL ESTIMATED BURDEN HOURS = 11,131
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record-keepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in
Question 12 above).
There are no known special equipment or maintenance costs that can be or have been shown to be directly associated with the burden related to this collection of information. Most respondents have established reporting relationships with the agency.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
The estimate annual cost to the Federal government is $413,100 based on 1,530 responses. The estimate is based on 6 hours per response of professional and support time at $45 per hour, including the cost of equipment, printing and overhead.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
The adjustment decrease in burden hours is to correct a miscalculation in the previous submission (11,318 was used; should have been 11,311; resulting in a -7). The adjustment decrease in burden cost is to remove labor cost which should not have been included in previous submission (-113,220).
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.
In compliance with the GPRA, the collected information will be published in aggregate form in the following publications: Performance & Accountability Report and annual budgets. Data will not be published by individual project.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
Not Applicable.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
Not Applicable.
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
EDA does not employ statistical methods to collect data using these forms.
| File Type | application/msword |
| Author | William P. Kittredge, Ph.D. |
| Last Modified By | gbanks |
| File Modified | 2011-09-05 |
| File Created | 2011-08-30 |