Press Release

Commerce Department's EDA Announces Regional Innovation Clusters Mapping Project

May 19, 2010
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085

Competition to Promote Local Competiveness & Economic Growth

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a new competition to help policymakers and practitioners across America's regions identify their strengths and more effectively tap into the regional innovation clusters that are driving 21st century job growth.

"Communities across the nation, both urban and rural, are facing the intensifying pressures of globalization," said Assistant Secretary for Commerce John Fernandez. "These transformations warrant dramatic shifts in the role of economic development professionals. The Mapping Regional Innovation Clusters Project will help development specialists engage in the thoughtful analysis of regional assets to create comprehensive strategies that are capable of successfully promoting regional prosperity."

To qualify for the Mapping Regional Innovation Clusters Project funding opportunity under EDA's Research and Evaluation Program, researchers will be expected to accomplish the following: solicit input from practitioners and policymakers; develop a method for identifying regional innovation clusters; develop a national map of regional innovation clusters; and create an interactive mapping tool. Additional information about the application process is available at www.grants.gov.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov):

This year, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) marks 45 years of public service, with a mission of leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration and innovation.