In This Issue

• Spotlight: Jobs and Capital: How the Regional Innovation Strategies Program Helps Push the Economy Forward
• Success Story: University of Texas at Austin & True Wealth Ventures Partner to Help Female-Founded Startups Access Elusive Venture Dollars
• Highlight: Baltimore Food Enterprise Center Opens!

Spotlight: Jobs and Capital: How the Regional Innovation Strategies Program Helps Push the Economy Forward

During National Entrepreneurship Month, as we celebrate the dynamic startups and entrepreneurs all over our nation that are building innovative businesses and making America more competitive with new jobs, cutting edge technology, and stronger regional economies, we pause to reflect on our flagship platform for innovation and entrepreneurship, the Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program. 

Launched in 2014, this national grant competition works to help support and amplify the best organizations, practices, and resources local communities are using to aid their entrepreneurs build and scale high-tech, innovative businesses in order to create new jobs and strong regional economies. 

Click here to read more.

Success Story: University of Texas at Austin & True Wealth Ventures Partner to Help Female-Founded Startups Access Elusive Venture Dollars

Recent research in the high tech entrepreneurship world finds companies that are most inclusive of women in top governing positions traditionally outperform other companies with less diversity, demonstrating 35% higher return on equity and 34% better total returns. Yet, only 2.19% of total global venture dollars are going to female-founded startups, despite the workforce being comprised of 50% female, and 36% of small businesses (PDF) being owned by females. In 2016, the University of Texas Austin’s Dell Medical School (UTADMS) partnered with True Wealth Ventures to change this untapped opportunity. Click here to read more.

Highlight: Baltimore Food Enterprise Center Opens!

A November 14, celebration attended by EDA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs Dennis Alvord, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth Holt and Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, heralded the grand opening of the Baltimore Food Enterprise Center (BFEC).

With the efforts of local leaders and the help of a $1.4 million EDA investment in the Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition  - the developer of the project - the BFEC  provides production and teaching kitchen facilities that support the creation of new job opportunities, job training opportunities, and support for aspiring food entrepreneurs.

Click here to read more.

President Donald J. Trump Proclaims November 2017 as National Entrepreneurship Month

National Entrepreneurship Month celebrates one of our Nation's proudest qualities: our innovative, hardworking, entrepreneurial spirit. American entrepreneurs invent and sell fascinating and endlessly useful new products and services, creating millions of jobs and driving American global leadership along the way. Read President Trump’s full proclamation.

U.S. Department of Commerce Taps SRI International to Develop Roadmap to Help U.S. Communities Attract Foreign Direct Investment

SelectUSA, EDA, and the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) awarded SRI International a grant to research best practices in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction and export promotion. Please see the press release under ‘newsroom’ at SelectUSA.gov.

Report Available - Made in Place: Small-Scale Manufacturing & Neighborhood Revitalization 

Smart Growth America, with the assistance of an EDA Research and National Technical Assistance (PDF) investment, has released a white paper that explores how small-scale manufacturing can grow local entrepreneurship and small business,  develop or enhance new and existing economic sectors, and revitalize downtowns and business districts. Read the report here and register today to join Smart Growth America’s Thursday, December 7th webinar discussion of the report. 

EDA In The News!

First building opens on East Baltimore's Food Hub campus
The Baltimore Sun
November 14, 2017 

Tech wins competition for Funding to Support Early Stage Investing
Monroe News Star
November 15, 2017 

Entrepreneurs present beehive monitoring technology to D.C. policymakers
Cornell Chronicle
November 16, 2017