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Office of Public Engagement Monthly Newsletter |
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Welcome to the Office of Public Engagement’s monthly newsletter!
For inquiries, please email BusinessLiaison@doc.gov
On May 27, the 14 partners of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) –Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Viet Nam – announced the substantial conclusion of the negotiations of a first-of-its-kind international IPEF Supply Chain Agreement at the IPEF Ministerial Meeting in Detroit, Michigan. Completing negotiations on the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement is a major achievement in support of the President’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and a win for consumers, workers, and businesses in the United States and throughout the region.
The proposed Agreement aims to increase the resilience, efficiency, productivity, sustainability, transparency, diversification, security, fairness, and inclusivity of their supply chains through both collaborative activities and individual actions taken by each IPEF partner.The IPEF partners will now take steps, including further domestic consultations and a comprehensive legal review, to prepare a final text for signature. More here.
This comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) concluding the third negotiating round for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) in Singapore from May 8-15 where the IPEF partners continued to make strong progress on a wide range of issues across the four pillars.
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“While digital technology offers vast opportunities for individuals and businesses, it's important that these opportunities are realized in a fair and inclusive way. The Talent for Growth Task Force will combine experiences from both sides of the Atlantic and promote the development of the talent and skills needed to achieve it"- Secretary Gina Raimondo
On May 17, Secretary Gina Raimondo, European Commission (EC) Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, and EC Commissioner Nicolas Schmit launched the first meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Talent for Growth Task Force, comprised of government and private sector leaders focused on ensuring millions of workers in both the U.S. and Europe are equipped with the training and skills they need to thrive in an economy transformed by technology.
One of President Biden’s top priorities is to ensure America’s workers can access the good jobs created by this Administration’s historic investments in manufacturing, semiconductors, and clean energy. These investments need complimentary talent development systems, and the Task Force was created to help catalyze businesses, labor, and organizations that support training to act to build lifelong training for our working-age populations.
During this inaugural Take Force meeting, Secretary Raimondo challenged the Task Force Members to be ambitious. Click here to learn more.
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The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) hosted the National AANHPI Business Summit on May 17. During this business summit, MBDA and the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) focused on expanding opportunities to Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander minority businesses.
This business summit uplifted and commemorated the contributions and achievements of the AANHPI business community and its entrepreneurs. The summit also featured elected officials, dignitaries, and corporate partners, to discuss access to capital, access to technology, and opportunities within the CHIPS & Science Act. In addition to Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves, MBDA was joined by Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American Pacific Islander Liaison Erika Moritsugu, State Department Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Dilawar Syed, Chiling Tong, President & CEO of National ACE, and Ying McGuire, President and CEO of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (NMSDC).
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"This year’s record-setting SelectUSA Investment Summit has shown why the United States has remained the top destination for global investment for over a decade, and why the incredible investments we're making under President Biden's leadership, including through the CHIPS Act, Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help keep us at the top for the next decade and beyond.”- Secretary Gina Raimondo
Housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce, SelectUSA promotes and facilitates business investment into the United States by coordinating related federal government agencies to serve as a single point of contact for investors. SelectUSA assists U.S. economic development organizations to compete globally for investment by providing information, a platform for international marketing, and high-level advocacy. SelectUSA also helps investors find the information they need to make decisions; connect to the right people at the local level; navigate the federal regulatory system; and find solutions to issues related to the federal government.
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In May, the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit came to a close, marking the largest Investment Summit in SelectUSA history, with 4,900 attendees spanning 83 international markets represented.
The 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit by the Numbers:
- 4,900+ attendees
- Representation from 55 U.S. states and territories
- 83 international markets represented
- 2,300+ foreign investors
- 16 U.S. state and territory governors (AZ, DE, IN, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NC, OK; TERR: AS, GU, MP, PR, and VI)
- Governors from all 5 U.S. territories attended in person for the first time ever
- 6 Cabinet members (Commerce, State, Energy, Education, Transportation, and USTR)
- Top White House Senior Advisors and Administration officials
- 230+ speakers
- Over 600+ economic development organization representatives attended
- 21 U.S. Ambassadors and Chiefs of Mission led foreign delegations to the Investment Summit
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U.S. Departments of Commerce, Labor, and Education Announce SelectTalentUSA, New Partnership to Increase Quality Jobs through FDI
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su announced the launch of SelectTalentUSA, a joint initiative to help build a pipeline of skilled workers to meet the growing workforce needs of foreign multinationals as they establish new – or expand existing – operations in the United States. The new partnership seeks to help foreign investors build local and state partnerships, adapt their traditional talent-development approaches to the United States, and harness America’s unique comparative advantage—its diverse and skilled workforce.
SelectTalentUSA supports the Departments’ efforts to promote foreign direct investment (FDI) that creates good-paying jobs in America. Encouraging these kinds of investments is an essential part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to create an equitable economy for workers and families and revitalize communities that have been overlooked or left behind. The initiative also responds to the challenges that foreign investors face as they enter the United States, by providing information and connections on how to access and leverage the diverse American workforce.
Deputy Secretary Don Graves joined The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and over 40 member companies and industry partners hosted a Celebration of Construction on the National Mall on May 14.
The latest innovations in the industry were showcased, including electric and hydrogen powered construction equipment, recyclable materials and waste reduction opportunities, and the technology to sustainably build modern infrastructure in America. Deputy Secretary Graves highlighted the Department of Commerce's Million Women in Construction initiative which is committed to doubling the number of women in the construction industry over the next decade. See Deputy Secretary Graves' remarks in the video here!
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“The Tech Hubs program is a critical piece of President Biden’s Investing in America strategy, and will help us create ecosystems of innovation to strengthen economic opportunity in communities around the country that have historically been overlooked,” - Secretary Gina Raimondo
On May 12, the Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), today launched the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) competition. This program will create tech hubs in regions across the country by bringing together industry, higher education institutions, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners to supercharge ecosystems of innovation for technologies that are essential to our economic and national security. The program was authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act and is a key part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda, stimulating private sector investment, creating good-paying jobs, revitalizing American manufacturing, and ensuring no community is left behind by America’s economic progress.
The Tech Hubs Program is intended to advance the capacities of places to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy these technologies. Key priorities that guide the program include:
- Expanding regional economic opportunity and democratizing technology innovation.
- Driving economic opportunity and inclusive economic growth.
- Building a skilled, diverse workforce and supply chain,
Learn more about Tech Hubs in our interview below and read more about Tech Hubs and the first funding opportunity at TechHubs.gov
Want to learn more about EDA’s TECH HUBS program and the initial $500 Million investment in American tech jobs and innovations?
Watch the Tech Hubs overview webinar below, and explore Fact Sheets, FAQs, and so much more at TechHubs.gov
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DOC Personnel Spotlight: Jonathan Lovitz
Bureau: Economic Development Agency (EDA)
Q: What is your role at the Economic Development Agency (EDA)? How did you come to this work?
A: My name is Jonathan Lovitz (he/him), and I am the Director of Public Affairs and Senior Advisor at the Economic Development Administration (EDA). I have the exciting and inspiring job of telling the real stories of real opportunity for America’s economy. My office sits right at the intersection of policy and communications and collaborate with both to help ensure we are correctly communicating the benefits of these programs and simultaneously address the nuances of these programs, which can be a challenge.
Q: How did you come to this work?
A: Prior to EDA, I spent nearly a decade in service to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC), fighting for a more inclusive economy for all. I helped write, advocate for, and pass the more than twenty-five federal, state, and city laws & policies opening up billions of dollars in economic opportunity to minority small business owners, veterans, those with disabilities, and LGBTQ-owned businesses. This work allowed me to collaborate more closely with the federal government, specifically through established MOUs with different agencies.
Colleagues at the White House introduced me to the EDA and I immediately loved how we are directly engaged in the real lives of Americans. We help fund programs that fix pipes and bring clean water to their kids. We’re investing in job creation focused on STEM and technology to build a better future. We’re making down payments on tomorrow’s economy, today.
Commerce is where the action is right now. In this first part of the Biden Administration, we are turning ideas into action. At Commerce, we have policy people and businesspeople, and we are uniquely poised to deliver and execute this message and go the final mile in pushing out these ideas into action at every street corner in America.
Q: Can you share a definition of EDA for our readers?
A: At its core, EDA is tasked with the sole responsibility of investing funds in America that create growth. Our mission is to equip and prime this country to engage in a growing and modern economy. This includes big picture projects, such as public works like roads and bridges and projects dedicated to building a pipeline to the future, such as tech hubs, helping revolutionize how we establish industries for the next 100 years. That's everything from priming the pump for employment, investing into universities and talent pipelines, funding research that helps ensure that we're delivering equitable results, and so much more.
Q: What does the application process look like for the recently rolled out Tech Hubs program? What is the timeline?
A: The program launched on May 12 to tremendous fanfare. Regional economies are very excited about what could be ahead. In the first initial window for applications goes through August 15. In phase one, there will be designated regions called tech hubs as well as several strategic planning grants that help those communities prepare for phase two, which is the rollout of large investment investments of support to turn those tech hubs into huge job creating opportunity regions.
Q: What should stakeholders know about the work that your team does? What is an unexpected impact from the Tech Hubs program that would surprise readers?
A: I think this is the concept of “if you build it, they will come” on a massive federal scale. And that's what's so exciting about this opportunity. You can engage a community of sectors and experts - more than any federal program I've seen in a very long time—to think big and boldly about their future. Every sector plays a role in the consortium needed to make these things happen.
Everything we do at EDA is part of the concept of place -based economic development, where we empower localities to use their unique resources and connections to make the most impact. We can advise, we can help frame the program and give you the money and resources to do it - but it has to be your local network that knows the economic landscape best to make the magic happen. And that's what separates this room that separates us from a lot of other programs is the dependence on regional expertise.
And just think about what happened to the American Rescue Plan. EDA oversaw $3 billion of investment in almost 800 projects that resulted in almost 200,000 jobs and $20 billion dollars in private investment in those communities. Imagine what's possible when we take this to an even larger national scale and get the full support of the appropriations behind this.
Q: How would you encourage private sector partners to collaborate? Is there a primary email where EDA can be contacted?
A: I would encourage stakeholders to visit eda.gov, which is your gateway to all things tech hubs and economic development. Not only should you be checking out techhubs.gov, which will flow through EDA, but also check out our webinars and our interactive “Ask Me Anything” sessions that we're having with the experts to help you understand the application process. And most importantly: don’t hesitate to ask for help. EDA is here for you and your community.
If you have questions, we've got a team of experts at techhubs@eda.gov. It's like the butterball hotline for innovation. Don't try to cook this alone. You've got help.
Q: Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
A: For me, what's most exciting about tech hubs is viewing it as our “once in a generation moonshot at innovation.” Let’s dream big and get to the heart of American innovation. This will impact so many of people, create more jobs, and put people to work in industries they never dreamed of. We are investing in our future, and we now have an opportunity to build it in the most effective and equitable way possible. Programs like Tech Hubs make me so, so excited for the future of our country.
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Grant Opportunities Preview
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2023 STEM Talent Challenge
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ITA Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP)
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CHIPS Incentives Program – Commercial Fabrication Facilities
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To view all available funding opportunities across the Biden-Harris administration, click here:
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