FY 2026 Community Solutions Program
A cooperative agreement funds a U.S.-based organization to design and run a 3–4 month international exchange program placing 50–60 mid-career community leaders with American counterparts to learn U.S. approaches to regional economic development and local industry cluster strategies.
⚑ Cooperative agreement; recipient must implement the exchange program and likely coordinate closely with ECA. · Eligibility is not specified in the summary; check full NOFO for any applicant-class restrictions or required consortium/experience criteria. · Primary purpose is exchange/training and community economic development exposure, not research.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 53 partial | outside portfolio topics; signature methods: community engaged, policy analysis; social/behavioral work is substantial; funds training education, not research (capped) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 25 weak | technical depth: minor; funds training education (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 5 none | no commercialization signal |
Description
The Global Leaders Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks proposals for a cooperative agreement to design and implement the FY 2026 Community Solutions Program (CSP). The United States has a strong tradition of hard work, entrepreneurship, and local leadership that has powered economic growth. American communities succeed by building on what they do best — innovating, strengthening key industries, and coordinating business, workforce, and community leadership to deliver results. CSP invests in American and international community leaders interested in learning from proven U.S. approaches to regional economic growth. It will engage leaders, ages 27–39, who will work alongside American partners to understand how regional industry clusters and locally driven strategies expand opportunities that benefit the American people. During a three- to four-month exchange in the United States, approximately 50–60 participants will work directly with American counterparts on real-world economic growth initiatives across key sectors such as: culinary industries/farm-to-table; business and entrepreneurship; hospitality and tourism; technology and innovation, and others as proposed. Placements will demonstrate how U.S. communities organize around regional industry clusters to attract talent, secure investment, grow businesses, and strengthen local economies.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Eligibility
Please see full announcement.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs <allisonle@state.gov>
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