Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP)
PREP, funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, supports regional consortia to deliver research-driven business assistance and foster economic growth across key industries in Pennsylvania.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Due Dates: May 3, 2027 (Budget revision request deadline) | August 15, 2027 (Invoice submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: No set maximum; typical regional awards in the $300,000–$1,000,000 range per year, subject to annual state appropriation and network needs.
Summary: Supports consortia of Pennsylvania economic development organizations to enhance regional service delivery for businesses and entrepreneurs.
Key Information: Only one consolidated application per region; no matching funds required; eligible applicants are consortia of core service providers.
Description
The Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) initiative is a statewide program of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) designed to foster enhanced collaboration among economic development service providers. The program encourages the formation of regional consortia to deliver coordinated, client-focused business assistance, streamline referrals, and strengthen Pennsylvania’s economic development delivery system. PREP supports both new and existing businesses, with a particular emphasis on priority industries such as agriculture, energy, life sciences, manufacturing, robotics, and technology.
Eligible PREP activities include technical assistance, strategic planning, coordinated marketing, outreach, training, and integration of service delivery systems to ensure businesses are efficiently connected with the right resources. The program is integral to implementing Pennsylvania’s Ten-Year Strategic Plan for Economic Development.
