News & Resources
April 28: Manufacturing Innovation Institutes and State Economic Development Organizations (SEDE) Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs) are driving innovation in critical technology sectors — but maximizing their impact often depends on creating the right partnerships. Join Manufacturing Momentum and the State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network for a presentation and panel discussion featuring leaders from AIM Photonics and Empire State Development (ESD). They’ll share how their partnership took shape, what each organization brought to the table, and the tangible benefits that followed. This webinar will provide a cooperative template for MIIs and state economic development agencies. Join us on April 28, at 3:00PM ET. Register here.
May 4: SEDE Summer Meeting (SEDE) The State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network is holding its summer meeting for state economic development executives or their top deputy in Washington, DC on the afternoon of May 4th in conjunction with SelectUSA activities. Leaders are encouraged to attend SelectUSA and take time to stop over for this afternoon SEDE meeting which will be just two blocks from the Investment Summit. Much of the meeting will be dedicated to opportunities for networking among the state economic development commissioners, secretaries and executive directors or their top deputy. Register here.
Webinar Recording: Leveraging University Economic Development Partners (SEDE) Members of the State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network were invited to a webinar to learn about the role of the University Economic Development Association (UEDA), how it supports state economic development priorities, and where SEDE members can engage with and benefit from the UEDA network. Michael Aikens and Andrea Kruszka of Tennessee Tech University’s Center for Rural Innovation shared their extensive experience working at the intersection of universities, rural communities, and state partners, and offered lessons on how to strengthen the state-university partnership. View the recording here.
Energy/Economic Development Community of Practice RMI, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), and CREC are piloting a community of practice (CoP) to help state energy policymakers and economic development leaders build joint public/private investment strategies for the new electro-industrial era. Pilot programming includes monthly virtual sessions starting in February 2026 and an in-person working retreat in Colorado in July. For more information on how state economic development leaders can participate, please contact Aaron Brickman (abrickman@rmi.org) or Lachlan Carey (lcarey@rmi.org).
Midwestern Governor’s Association Webinar Series: Electricity Affordability (MGA) In the face of unprecedented load growth in the U.S., many states are experiencing increases in the cost of electricity. Members of the SEDE network are invited to a five-webinar series hosted by the Midwestern Governors Association that will discuss energy affordability from a variety of perspectives. These webinars will be useful regardless of where your state is located. Webinar topics will include: trends in affordability, how state governments are responding, affordability in a time of system investment, community engagement, and affordability in the news. Register here.
State Leader Spotlight
Ashely Teasdel, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, South Carolina Department of Commerce
Ashely Teasdel was promoted to Deputy Secretary of Commerce in November 2021. Working alongside Secretary of Commerce Harry Lightsey, Teasdel has helped lead the agency’s globally competitive recruitment strategy for South Carolina’s evolving target industries, securing some of the largest, most pivotal economic development deals on record. Complementary to the state’s recruitment efforts, Teasdel has supported the agency’s programmatic scope including South Carolina’s competitiveness strategies, leveraged through the “Launch to Legacy” brand and informed by a strategic framework to guide the state’s economic development efforts; private-public collaboration to advance concerted advanced energy efforts with the establishment and federal designation for the Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC NEXUS) tech hub; and an increased focus on the state’s diplomacy to strengthen research and trade relations.
Previously, Teasdel served as director of SC Commerce’s Business Services division, which focuses on small business development, existing industry support, supplier outreach, emergency management and recycling market development. Prior to joining SC Commerce in 2015, Teasdel spent almost a decade in the banking sector. Teasdel serves as a board member for SCbio, the life sciences organization representing South Carolina’s “fastest-growing industry,” as well as the SC Economic Developers Association and the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority.
Teasdel holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Charleston Southern University and a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Wesleyan University.
State Leaders on the Move
New Jersey Economic Development Authority
We’re pleased to share recent leadership changes across State Economic Development leaders. Join us in celebrating these transitions and welcoming new leaders to our community!
Outgoing Leader: Tim Sullivan, CEO
Sullivan served as CEO since 2018. Under his leadership, NJEDA expanded its role in innovation and technology, the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, real estate development, child care, and workforce-driven policy.
Incoming Leader: Evan Weiss, CEO
From 2021 until his move to NJEDA, Weiss was President and CEO of the Newark Alliance, a premier private sector-led economic, community, and workforce development organization. He also served as CEO of the Newark Downtown District, one of the nation’s largest Special Improvement Districts, responsible for keeping downtown Newark clean, safe, green, and fun. He was a Member of the Board of Directors of New Jersey Transit, the largest statewide public transit agency in the United States. Previously, Weiss was Senior Advisor for Finance and Major Projects to Governor Phil Murphy, and prior to that, he was Director at the Pennsylvania Economy League and HJA Strategies.
Across the States: Developments to Know
Overview of Governors’ State of the State & Budget Addresses (SSTI) More than half of the governors have either delivered their 2026 State of the State, their FY27 Budget addresses, or a combination of the two, laying out their priorities for the coming year. While all addresses so far generally touched on economic development successes and initiatives or more traditional economic development activities like site development or shovel-ready programs and business attraction funding, several governors have included proposals for growing stronger innovation economies built upon TBED and innovation initiatives. The states where governors have specifically discussed proposed innovation agendas include Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
Texas Unveils New Job Council to Address High-Skilled Worker Demand (San Antonio Today) Governor Greg Abbott announced the creation of the Texas Jobs Council, a partnership between business and labor leaders aimed at enhancing workforce training to meet the high demand for high-skilled labor positions in Texas. By bringing together business and labor leaders, the Texas Jobs Council aims to identify and address gaps in workforce training to ensure the state can continue to meet the demand for high-skilled workers in key industries like manufacturing, construction, and energy.
State Approaches to Short-Term Credentials: Lessons (So Far) From Lumina Foundation’s FutureReady States Initiative (Lumina Foundation) Across Lumina Foundation’s FutureReady States (FRS) initiative, a cohort of states is taking coordinated action to strengthen their short-term credential ecosystems; they aim to ensure that state investments in nondegree credentials produce clear economic and social returns for their residents. This multi-state analysis synthesizes findings from state landscape assessments developed by the FRS states and their intermediary partners by drawing out cross-cutting themes, persistent challenges, and emerging opportunities to help inform the next phase of planning and implementation. Lessons learned includes the importance of prioritizing state funding for credentials with clear evidence of strong labor-market value, enhance data systems for decision-making, and strengthen employer engagement.