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As technology changes every aspect of the global economy, each community must pivot their strategies in ways that best serve them. EDA’s approach to support these locally driven strategies remains paramount.
EDA’s investment priorities include technology-based economic development — meaning we encourage projects that foster entrepreneurship and startups, commercialization of new technologies, and workforce development for high-skilled, good-paying jobs of the future. [Read More]
Craig Buerstatte
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs
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Indigenous Communities Program
In April, EDA awarded its first American Rescue Plan Indigenous Communities program grants. This program allocates $100 million in American Rescue Plan funding specifically for Indigenous communities and a wide range of technical, planning, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and public works and infrastructure projects are eligible. [Read more]
American Rescue Plan
EDA has received substantial interest in American Rescue Plan funding opportunities and application submissions well in excess of available appropriations. The agency is providing status of funds updates for applicants. [Read more]
University Center Week
EDA’s University Center program focuses on leveraging higher education assets to build regional economic ecosystems. In April, EDA highlighted the 67 academic institutions that are supporting local economic development efforts in their regions. [Read more]
ACE Louisiana
Louisiana hosted the 14th Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) bringing together dozens of global leaders representing 21 countries and multiple international organizations to share economic development best practices and explore opportunities for partnerships. [Read more]
Earth Day
Sustainable economic development is at the forefront at EDA, highlighted through the agency’s investment priorities and transformational work. On Earth Day 2022, Assistant Secretary Castillo visited Puerto Rico to take part in a christening ceremony for a state-of-the-art research vessel, funded through an EDA investment. [Read more]
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BUILD BACK BETTER REGIONAL CHALLENGE
Coalition Conversations
Assistant Secretary Castillo and senior EDA leaders are visiting EDA grantees across the country as part of our “Coalition Conversations” tour to learn more about how regional coalitions are coming together to develop strategies to strengthen their regional economies. The 12 site visit conversations are with finalists for EDA’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) and were randomly selected from the group of 60 finalists. These visits will not factor into the BBBRC competitive merit review process, which is ongoing and unrelated to the conversations.
In April, EDA visited coalitions in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Puerto Rico and Texas. [Read more]
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CALIFORNIA
Protecting Firefighters
The firefighters in California’s rural and heavily forested Humboldt County rely on their pumps and ladders to fight fires and keep them safe. A Ferndale, California, business maintains these important pieces of equipment and the owner turned to an EDA-funded Revolving Loan Fund to help keep this crucial service up and running. [Read more]
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PENNSYLVANIA
Businesses Coming to Town
A project, more than 30 years in the making, is now helping to change a community in northern Pennsylvania. The town of Towanda needed more water to support its growing population. Through an EDA investment, a new water plant is now open and new businesses and jobs are coming to town. [Read more]
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