U.S. Economic Development Administration Announces Grantees Under 2022 University Center Competition

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo today announced the grantees of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) 2022 University Center Economic Development Program Competition. EDA is providing a total of $3.1 million in grants to 26 colleges and universities in 16 states to administer programs to leverage their assets, promote innovation and strengthen regional economies.

“President Biden is dedicated to ensuring the availability of resources that entrepreneurs and communities need to be successful,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Support from institutions of higher education is a critical component in developing the knowledge-building ecosystem needed to ensure America’s innovation economy thrives.”

“Economic Development Administration investments play an important role in advancing locally-led economic development strategies that create stronger, more resilient regional economies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “EDA is pleased to support the institutions designated or redesignated as University Centers today, and to expand the reach of the University Center Economic Development Program to more Minority Serving Institutions.”

The grantees from EDA’s Atlanta Regional Office are:

• Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• Claflin University, Orangeburg, South Carolina — an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) — will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to establish and operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina — an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) — will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida — an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) — will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• Georgia Tech Research Corporation, affiliated with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation, Inc., affiliated with Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee — an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) — will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to establish and operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to establish and operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• The University of Kentucky Research Foundation, affiliated with the University of Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• The University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• The University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

• The University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, will receive $109,618 in FY2022 to establish and operate an EDA-designated University Center.

The grantees from EDA’s Seattle Regional Office are:

• Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, will receive $125,000 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• California State University, Bakersfield — a Hispanic-Serving Institution — will receive $141,800 in FY2022 to establish and operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• Chico State Enterprises, affiliated with California State University, Chico — a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) — will receive $195,000 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• The University of Alaska, Anchorage will receive $135,000 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona — a Hispanic-Serving Institution — will receive $100,000 in FY2022 to establish and operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii — an Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institution, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution — will receive $150,000 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• The University of Nevada, Reno will receive $165,000 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• The University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, will receive $190,000 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• The University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, will receive $125,000 in FY2022 to establish and operate an EDA-designated University Center.
• Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, will receive $125,000 in FY2022 to continue to operate an EDA-designated University Center.

EDA prioritizes economic development planning or implementation projects that advance equity across America through investments that directly benefit traditionally underserved populations.

Approximately 28 percent of applicant institutions for UC designation under this competition were Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), which represents a 38 percent increase in the number of applications from MSIs received in FY2022 versus FY2017, the last year in which institutions of higher education in the Atlanta and Seattle regions were eligible to apply to the University Center Economic Development Program. Eight of the 26 institutions ultimately selected in the FY2022 University Center Economic Development Program competition are MSIs, or approximately 31 percent of the total institutions selected.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.