U.S. Economic Development Administration Teams with Council to Boost Innovation
21st Century Leadership Initiative receives substantial investment
October 31, 2007
The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced the award of a $265,075 investment to the Council on Competitiveness of Washington, D.C., to promote and strengthen regional leadership through the 21st Century Leadership Initiative. The 21st Century Leadership Initiative will boost innovation-driven economic development that will expand trade opportunities and capture market-share for American companies and workers. Regional leaders will learn how to leverage assets to boost regional platforms for innovation, creating innovation “hotspots” around the country. The Council will use the EDA investment to develop a practitioner-accessible research report and a feasibility plan for the development of a new National Center on Regional Leadership.
“The Economic Development Administration is proud to partner with the Council on Competitiveness to promote regional, innovation-driven economic development through the 21st Century Regional Leadership Initiative,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Sandy K. Baruah. “This initiative will empower regional leaders and implement collaborative leadership networks that will turbo-charge regional platforms for innovation, creating a competitive advantage for American companies and workers.”
“The Council on Competitiveness is committed to helping U.S. regions drive productivity and build prosperity across the country,” said Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president of the Council on Competitiveness. “This exciting partnership is an initial step toward equipping regional leaders with the tools and resources needed to compete in today’s global economy.”
The research effort will offer clear guidance to practitioners on how to support and develop regional leaders and regional leadership organizations. The research will include a strong focus on understanding regional system dynamics that require multiple organizations with distinct missions to collaborate to achieve economic development success. The work will also identify the skills sets required of individual leaders and the tools and organizational structures that can be utilized by regional leadership groups.
The National Center for Regional Leadership feasibility plan will outline a strategy to develop a world-class institution that will support cutting-edge research and offer a variety of training programs to aspiring regional leaders.
EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.
The Council on Competitiveness is the only group of corporate CEOs, university presidents and labor leaders committed to ensuring the future prosperity of all Americans through enhanced competitiveness in the global economy and the creation of high-value economic activity in the United States. A non partisan, non governmental organization in Washington, D.C., the Council believes the best way to drive prosperity in a global economy is to have the most competitive workforce and business environment.
“The Economic Development Administration is proud to partner with the Council on Competitiveness to promote regional, innovation-driven economic development through the 21st Century Regional Leadership Initiative,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Sandy K. Baruah. “This initiative will empower regional leaders and implement collaborative leadership networks that will turbo-charge regional platforms for innovation, creating a competitive advantage for American companies and workers.”
“The Council on Competitiveness is committed to helping U.S. regions drive productivity and build prosperity across the country,” said Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president of the Council on Competitiveness. “This exciting partnership is an initial step toward equipping regional leaders with the tools and resources needed to compete in today’s global economy.”
The research effort will offer clear guidance to practitioners on how to support and develop regional leaders and regional leadership organizations. The research will include a strong focus on understanding regional system dynamics that require multiple organizations with distinct missions to collaborate to achieve economic development success. The work will also identify the skills sets required of individual leaders and the tools and organizational structures that can be utilized by regional leadership groups.
The National Center for Regional Leadership feasibility plan will outline a strategy to develop a world-class institution that will support cutting-edge research and offer a variety of training programs to aspiring regional leaders.
EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.
The Council on Competitiveness is the only group of corporate CEOs, university presidents and labor leaders committed to ensuring the future prosperity of all Americans through enhanced competitiveness in the global economy and the creation of high-value economic activity in the United States. A non partisan, non governmental organization in Washington, D.C., the Council believes the best way to drive prosperity in a global economy is to have the most competitive workforce and business environment.
Contact:
Lisa Hanna
T 202 383 9507
F 202 682 5150
lhanna@compete.org