Success Stories

Since 1943, the State of Maine was home to the Brunswick Naval Air Station, a training facility for pilots heading off to Europe during World War 2. They operated under the motto: “Built for Business.”  Today, that slogan has taken on a new meaning.

Lack of access to broadband is a problem for millions across the country, including residents in the state of Missouri. According to surveys from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the state ranks near the bottom for access to high-speed internet. Some local business owners had to find creative workarounds including completing tasks and then traveling into town to upload their completed work. 

“I was just a humble chocolate maker with a dream.” Daniel Herskovic, a gourmet chef who worked at top restaurants in San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, started his luxury chocolate company, Mayana Chocolate, in his apartment and eventually moved to a small table in the corner of a local cheesecake bakery on Chicago’s North Side.

EDA is helping create the cities of tomorrow, today. Curiosity Lab is a technological business incubator and living laboratory in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. It provides a test environment for more than fifty local businesses to advance smart city technology and next-generation intelligent mobility.

The EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI) at Michigan State University connects economic development practitioners in the state’s underserved communities to much-needed resources and technical support.

Montana attracts millions of visitors every year with its vast landscapes, natural beauty, and wildlife. The Big Sky State is one of the country’s largest by area, but is one of the least populated, home to less than 2 million residents and averaging less than seven people for every square mile of land. It is also home to eight federally recognized tribes.

Pennsylvania offers visitors a variety of destinations for travel and tourism. While some are drawn to the history and culture of Philadelphia, others prefer outdoor recreational opportunities, such as those available in the rural Pennsylvania Wilds.

“Your dream – our mission.” That’s the motto of Community Ventures, a community development financial institution (CDFI) that has been serving Kentucky since 1982. Today, they operate five offices throughout the state and are committed to improving the quality of life for all of its citizens.

Food Hubs play an important role in ensuring the success of food ecosystems across the country. In Farmington, New Mexico, the Harvest Food Hub & Kitchen at San Juan College provides a crucial link between consumers and the Northwest New Mexico farmers who grow their food.

When Centrepolis Accelerator launched just over five years ago, it only had capacity to help a couple startups bring their products to market.