From October 15 – 21, 2023, nine representatives of the SEDE network visited Bonn, Cologne, and Stuttgart to learn about Germany’s dual education and training (Dual VET) system, aiming to expand apprenticeship in the US. During the visit, the delegation met with German economic development professionals, government officials, employer associations, unions, vocational schools, training centers, and manufacturers. This visit allowed the delegation to gain firsthand insights into Dual VET system, its policies and funding mechanisms, and which social partners were involved.

Halfway through the CREC Policy Academy, teams from six states are making progress toward aligning state and regional activities and creating long-term sustainability.

In a recent Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) webinar, representatives from Arizona, New York, and Texas highlighted the role states play in fostering the growth of the semiconductor industry.

Much like in a building, a strong foundation serves as an important base for structural change. Indeed, a sturdy foundation provides the support necessary to withstand powerful challenges and allow for process transformation and organizational growth.

A new report, The State Small Business Credit Initiative and Rebuilding the U.S. Manufacturing Base, discusses the sector’s revival and the importance of SSBCI in supporting its growth. CREC contributed to this report and this blog highlights some of the report’s key findings.

After more than a year of research, education, and limited technical assistance to support the Economic Development Administration, CREC is excited to announce six state teams that will participate together in the 2023 policy academy, Aligning State and Regional Economic Development Strategies and Actions.

Funding associated with federal recovery and investment initiatives has provided unprecedented resources to states and communities. These initiatives are expected to create benefits for people and places across the country. How will these benefits be measured? What metrics will state and local governments use to determine program effectiveness?

Incentives are part of a process, not just a point in time transaction. We can use data and analytical techniques throughout the process to make sure we are using incentives effectively and responsibly. Compliance is one of the four key elements of the incentive process in our 4×4 framework.

The 2022 National Association of Development Organization’s (NADO) Annual Training Conference held in Pittsburgh offered more than 400 attendees a strong training agenda including sessions to help economic development districts (EDDs) enhance their relationship and collaboration with state economic development partners. The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) convened a Technical Assistance (TA) Learning Lab, a panel workshop and one-on-one TA sessions with several EDDs all aimed at helping EDDs work with their state partners.

Andy Karellas, the Executive Director of the State International Development Organizations (SIDO), moderated a panel on how county leaders can engage in international economic development at the 2022 National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado. The commissioners shared best practices on how they promote international engagement, including promoting U.S. exports, attracting foreign direct investment, and further integrating international trade into their county and region’s broader economic development strategy.

With the conclusion of the State Business Incentives Database summer update, the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) will be publishing a series of blog posts. This inaugural post focuses on general trends and how programs have shifted over the past year. Of particular interest are the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it continues to shape program type and focus.

Through the American Rescue Plan (ARPA), the Economic Development Administration (EDA) is supporting states in economic planning efforts by allocating $59 million in grants through the Statewide Planning, Research & Networks program. To better understand how states are using these funds, the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC), in partnership with the State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network, conducted a survey of states during the summer of 2022 to learn how the $1 million grant funds were used.

America’s strength and sustainable development in the 21st Century depends upon a thriving manufacturing sector.  That means we need far more progress aligning efforts to include those between states and Economic Development Districts. Stakeholders gathered on March 30, 2022, to focus on the importance of DEI in manufacturing ownership and its workforce.

Remote worker attraction programs represent an exciting innovation for state and local economic development. Recent studies examined two of the longest-standing remote worker attraction programs: the Vermont New Remote Workers Grant Program and Tulsa Remote. Panelists at a recent roundtable shared their findings on the effectiveness of worker attraction incentives.

On March 15-17, the State International Development Organizations (SIDO) held their Washington Leadership Forum where over 40 state international trade directors convened for high level meetings with key federal officials. The session centered around our current project with the Economic Development Administration (EDA) focused on enhancing state and local EDO engagement to support Covid-19 recovery and resiliency.

At the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Policy Conference in March, the EDA, CREC, and Economic Development Districts (EDDs) from Arkansas and New Mexico discussed approaches to improved collaboration with state governments.

The State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) network is interested in learning more about how states would be spending the $59 million in the non-competitive State Planning Grants and $510 million in the non-competitive State Tourism Grants. The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness conducted two surveys to learn state plans for each of the two grants.

At the October 2021 NADO Annual Training Conference, Bob Isaacson from the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) had the opportunity to discuss state and local EDD alignment and collaboration with about 23 individuals (generally representing EDDs).