November 16, 2014
Last week, Commerce played a
big role in the President's trip to Asia, as Secretary Pritzker hailed
the agreement between China and the United States to extend visa
validity for business travelers, tourists and students as a “big deal.”
With this change, up to 7.3 million Chinese visitors are projected to
visit the United States by 2021, contributing roughly $85 billion per
year to our economy and supporting 440,000 American jobs.
Deputy Secretary Bruce Andrews returned from Beijing
where he participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Summit to talk about the importance of SelectUSA and discuss fostering
investment and innovation in the world’s two largest economies, the
United States and China.
On Veterans Day, Secretary Pritzker and Deputy Secretary Andrews
thanked all our veterans, especially those who serve as part of the
civilian workforce here at the U.S. Department of Commerce as well as
those in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, for their continued
service to our country. Additionally, the Secretary, alongside Vice
President Biden and Secretary of Defense Hagel, participated in a
ceremony in honor of fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
Around Commerce, the Census Bureau reported on computer and
internet use in the United States; International Trade Administration
provides busy entrepreneurs with four tips to start exporting; and NIST
and MBDA hosted a special event for minority serving institutions to
foster collaborations that could increase minority participation in
scientific research and entrepreneurship.
All the best,
Wendy
Statement from
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on Veterans Day- Secretary
Pritzker thanked all of America’s veterans who
have proudly served the United States, as well as those men and women of the
Armed Services who are currently placing their lives in danger both at home and
abroad to protect the nation.
Commerce
Secretary Pritzker Announces Four U.S. Organizations Honored With 2014 Baldrige
National Quality Award- The 2014 Baldrige Award recipients—listed with
their category—are: PricewaterhouseCoopers Public Sector Practice (service)
Hill Country Memorial (health care), St. David’s HealthCare (health care), and
Elevations Credit Union (nonprofit).
Statement from
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on the Extension of U.S./China Visa
Validity for Business Travelers, Tourists and Students- Secretary
Pritzker says that U.S.-China agreement will create
more American jobs and keep the economy moving forward.
Deputy Secretary
Andrews Promotes SelectUSA and Fostering Foreign Investment at APEC in Beijing- Deputy
Secretary Bruce Andrews participated in a roundtable with some of China’s most
influential business leader to promote further foreign investment in the United
States by explaining the importance of SelectUSA, the first-ever U.S.
government-wide effort to attract, retain, and expand business investment to
and within the United States.
Deputy Secretary
Bruce Andrews Concludes Trip to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit- Deputy
Secretary Andrews met with numerous CEOs and business leaders. He represented
the Department of Commerce which promotes stronger U.S. economic and commercial
ties in the Asia-Pacific. Deputy Secretary Andrews participated in a roundtable
focused on innovation and investment, along with Secretary of State John Kerry
and CEOs from nine of China's most influential companies.
U.S. Department
of Commerce Seeks National Partner to Help Lead New Program to Boost Job Talent
Development Across America- The learning exchanges created through this
initiative will help meet the skills needs of businesses by identifying,
promoting, and expanding on successful industry-driven regional partnerships
for talent development.
Connecting
Entrepreneurs to the Global Marketplace- As part of the effort to help companies that are ready to export compete and
succeed in global markets, the Commerce Department’s International Trade
Administration provides four tips for the busy entrepreneur to help address
specific need to start exporting: secure access to capital, secure your intellectual
property, do your research, and find the right partners.
Connecting
Minority Serving Institutions with Research and Entrepreneurship Opportunities-
Representatives from large and small colleges and universities across the country
gathered to learn about the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST)’s national research priorities and about “lab-to-market” opportunities
from both NIST and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) . Throughout
the event, participants were encouraged to develop relationships not only with
NIST and the MBDA, but also with one another.
U.S. Census
Bureau Announces Nearly 8 in 10 Americans Have Access to High-Speed Internet- Although most
Americans have access to computers and high-speed Internet, differences in
high-speed Internet use were as large as 25 percentage points between certain
age and race groups, while divides between specific income and educational
attainment groups were as large as 45 percentage points.
Demographics of
Handheld-Only Households- As computing and Internet technology have evolved,
writes the Census Bureau’s Thom File, many people have started accessing the
Internet with hand-held devices, such as smartphones. Overall, about 83.8
percent of households reported owning some type of computer last year, with
63.6 percent reporting owning hand-held devices and 78.5 percent owning more traditional
desktops or laptops.
An
Entrepreneur’s Guide to Accessing Census Bureau Statistics- U.S. Census Bureau
presents tools that make it easy to find statistics you need to start or grow
your business: QuickFacts, Census Explorer, America’s Economy, and Industry
Statistics Portal and Industry Snapshots.
Veterans at MBDA
Supporting Minority-owned Businesses & Helping Grow the U.S. Economy- MBDA thank all
veterans for their service and contribution day-to-day supporting
minority-owned businesses and helping grow the U.S. economy.
Commercial
Officers Use Superpowers for the Good of U.S. Business- Frank Joseph,
Officer for the International Trade Administration’s U.S. and Foreign
Commercial Service in Vietnam, talks about the exciting work he does, and his
team effort to secure a $90 million sale of wind turbines.
PAGE
Entrepreneurs in Their Own Words – Tory Burch- Tory Burch, Presidential
Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE), says that being an entrepreneur
isn’t just a job title. Burch is determined to serve as a mentor to aspiring
entrepreneurs, and to help young innovators access the capital they need to
turn their bright ideas into thriving business enterprises.
The
Bureau of Economic Analysis wrote about the Widespread
Growth across Industries in Second Quarter 2014 on their blog last week.
September 2014
wholesale inventories were $538.8 billion, up 0.3 percent from the revised
August level and up 7.4 percent from September 2013. Sales were $454.3 billion,
up 0.2 percent from the revised August level and up 5.2 percent from September
2013.
The U.S. Census
Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services
sales for September, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and
trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $442.7 billion, a
decrease of 0.3 percent (±0.5%)* from the previous month, but 4.3 percent
(±0.9%) above September 2013. Total sales for the July through September 2014
period were up 4.5 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The July to
August 2014 percent change was unrevised from 0.6% (±0.2%).
U.S. total
business end-of-month inventories for September 2014 were $1,756.1
billion, up 0.3 percent (+/- 0.1%) from last month. U.S. total business sales
were $1,352.5 billion, virtually unchanged (+/-0.3%)* from last month.
Commerce Data in the News:
A
CBS Evening News broadcast cites
Census Bureau statistics to report that homeownership has dropped to a 20-year
low of 64 percent in Younger
Adults Choosing to Rent, Not to Own.
Forbes magazine cites statistics from
the Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners to write that veterans own 2.4
million small businesses employ almost 6 million Americans and generate more
than $1.2 trillion in receipts in the article Helping
Veterans Find Success as a Small-Business Owner.
Data Releases This Week: New Residential Construction: October (Census); Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales: 3rd Quarter 2014 (Census)
On Monday, Secretary Pritzker will participate in an armchair discussion with 1776 cofounder Evan Burfield to discuss the U.S. economy, entrepreneurship, and the Department of Commerce “Open for Business Agenda.”
Also on Monday, Deputy Secretary Bruce Andrews will travel to Minneapolis, MN, where he will deliver remarks at the final Discover Global Markets forum focused on healthcare and life sciences. He will discuss how Commerce can help U.S. companies launch or increase their business abroad in these two important sectors.
Additionally on Monday, Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Jay Williams will participate in a Global Entrepreneurship Week Roundtable discussion with local entrepreneurs at Philadelphia’s University City Science Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Starting on Tuesday, Secretary Pritzker will attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which will take place in Marrakech, Morocco. As the Administration’s point person on entrepreneurship, Secretary Pritzker will help lead a U.S. delegation to the Summit, demonstrating the U.S. government’s continued commitment to fostering a culture of innovation around the world.
On Tuesday, MBDA National Director Alejandra Castillo will discuss models and best practices for increasing opportunities for minority-owned businesses on the Energy Economic Development Panel at the Department of Energy’s Minorities in Energy event in Arlington, VA.
On Wednesday, NIST Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office Director Michael Molnar will provide background on the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) in the Integrated Photonics Institute for Manufacturing Innovation Proposers’ Day in Arlington, VA.
On Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 4:45-5:15pm GMT/ 11:45-12:15pm ET, Secretary Pritzker and the PAGE members will be taking questions about innovation and entrepreneurship on Twitter via the #AskUS hashtag.
Also on Thursday, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling will participate on a panel about the plenipotentiary outcomes and the future of Internet governance with Ambassador Danny Sepulveda from the State Department in the Council on Foreign Relations Symposium entitled "Internet Governance After Busan" in Washington, DC.
Additionally on Thursday, NOAA National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb will speak at the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) Annual Conference in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
On Friday, Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Jay Williams will provide remarks at the Department of Economic Development Showcase Event in Cleveland, OH. The event is part of Cleveland’s efforts to showcase the strengths of the city as a business location.
Secretary
Pritzker takes time to join and salute the Department’s military veteran employees in
observance of Veterans Day 2014.
PAGE
Entrepreneurs in Their Own Words – Tory Burch
Super
Surfing —
The Census Bureau produced a graphic that shows state rankings by percentage of
people with high-speed Internet as part of its release of the “Computer and
Internet Use in the United States: 2013” report.
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