February 2019
In This Issue
Spotlight: In Celebration of National Entrepreneurship Week, EDA Recognizes Innovative 2018 RIS Grantees Texas Tech University Innovation Hub
The 2019 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program is open for proposals and EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) is accepting applications until April 4, 2019. Last year, after an incredibly competitive selection process, a total of 40 projects were selected in our 2018 cohort of RIS grantees and many officially kicked off their projects around National Entrepreneurship Week. Success Story: EDA’s Investment in Choctaw Nation Supports Development of Drone Testing Program, Attracting New Business and Private Investment to the AreaThe Choctaw Nation is a Native American territory and Indian Tribe represented in 11 counties in Oklahoma. Between 2014 and 2016, the Choctaw Nation and surrounding region was affected by three federally-declared natural disasters.  Choctaw Nation Drone Testing
In response, EDA invested $750,000 in Choctaw in 2016 to support the development and implementation of the Choctaw Nation Economic Development Initiative in Southeast Oklahoma. Highlight: How Non-Profit ICAST is Teaching Green Construction Skills to At-Risk Youth, Training for Jobs of the Future ICAST Logo In December 2017, EDA provided funding for the International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology (ICAST), a nonprofit that focuses on providing a higher quality of living for low-to-moderate income communities, to launch a green construction training and job creation program for disadvantaged youth. The EDA-supported youth workforce development program helps disadvantaged students (ages 16-24) from low-income communities across New Mexico and Texas receive education and training in the growing green construction industry. |
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EDA Launches 2019 Regional Innovation Strategies Program CompetitionEDA is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for the 2019 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program! For information on eligibility and how to apply, interested organizations are encouraged to visit EDA’s RIS webpage. Applications to the 2019 RIS Program competition must be submitted no later than 11:59pm Eastern Time on Thursday, April 4, 2019. EDA Participates in NC State ReConnect Rural and Urban Forum in RaleighOn Monday, February 11, EDA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs Dennis Alvord delivered remarks (video) at NC State University’s Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) forum, ReCONNECT Rural and Urban. The Forum brought together leaders from across the state and nation to address how to more effectively promote and leverage the interdependencies among rural and urban communities for shared prosperity. EDA Partners with the Center for Rural Innovation to Help Rural Communities Build Capacity to Create Innovation-Based JobsThe Rural Innovation Initiative - which is being led by the Center on Rural Innovation and its sister organization, Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. - is designed to bridge the opportunity gap in rural America by helping these communities build the capacity to create resilient, innovation-based jobs. Through the program, participating organizations are being provided access to significant technical assistance to refine their economic development strategies, identify partnerships and leverage existing resources Growing Stronger Economies in Our Nation’s Coal CommunitiesCheck out the latest coal communities economic diversification e-newsletter! (PDF) Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already to receive news, funding opportunities, and other resources every other Wednesday. EDA in the News! Pueblo wins $500K federal grant to launch SCIL entrepreneurship organization SCRA-Led Team Awarded Grant in U.S. Economic Development Administration Competition Emporia selected to participate in the first round of the Rural Innovation Initiative Traverse City's 20Fathom Selected for Rural Innovation Initiative |
