Press Release
U.S. EDA Promotes Regional Innovation Clusters in Gillette, Wyoming
June 29, 2011
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $25,000 grant to the Campbell County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) of Gillette, Wyo., to conduct an industry cluster analysis and targeting study.
"The Obama administration is committed to providing communities with the resources they need to foster job creation and business growth," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez. "This EDA investment will help to develop the region's economy by helping to identify key industry sectors that can be developed to create new jobs."
"For years, the communities of Campbell County have been asking for more diversification in order to take advantage of the numerous skill sets our workforce possesses. It is imperative to know exactly what type of industries and companies our communities can recruit," said Philippe Chino, Executive Director of the Campbell County Economic Development Corporation.
CCEDC is funded by county and city contributions, as well as donations from private investors, wanting to ensure the health of Campbell County. Recently, CCEDC adopted a five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan for Campbell County with the input from over 180 stakeholders, citizens and elected officials. The plan lists economic diversity and the targeted industry study as one of its top priorities.
To drive global competitiveness, EDA is developing regional innovation clusters, building on a region's unique strengths. By bringing business leaders, government officials, universities, and non-profits to work together EDA helps regions capitalize on shared strengths, multiplying their economic power and creating jobs. This approach prevents a "race to the bottom" in which cities, counties, and states, undercut each other in order to attract short-term growth.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration:
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 makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.