Success Stories

EDA investments catalyze strategic, regionally-focused plans to build strong economic ecosystems that will support entrepreneurship and business growth, enhance and grow their existing economic assets, and create well-paying jobs in growing sectors. By investing in bottom-up regional economic development EDA helped communities devise new, well-thought-out, sustainable strategies based on their unique assets.

EDA’s economic footprint is wide and its tool box is extensive—including technical assistance, post-disaster recovery assistance, trade adjustment support, strategic planning and research and evaluation capacity, thereby allowing the agency to offer the most effective investment to help communities succeed in the global economy.

We are proud of our grantees’ accomplishments and encourage you to submit your success stories:

Read some Success Stories from our Annual Reports.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship IDEA Commons at Missouri State University Brings Key Players Together to Boost Business Development, Advance Innovation Missouri State University’s IDEA Commons innovation district is helping to revitalize the Springfield region by blending innovation, design, entrepreneurship and the arts. May 2018
Innovation & Entrepreneurship StartingBlock Madison to Open New Entrepreneurial Center June 2018 This June, 2016 i6 Challenge grantee, StartingBlock Madison, will open a new 50,000 square foot entrepreneurial hub in Madison, Wisconsin’s burgeoning Capital East tech district. April 2018
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada Launches Annual Seed Fund and Venture Conference to Bring Investors to Reno, Advance Startups in Region 2017 Regional Innovation Strategies grantee the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) has launched an annual seed fund and venture conference in Reno, Nevada to bring investors to the region and help provide early stage financing to the most promising local business startups in the area. April 2018
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Telluride Venture Accelerator Raises $13 Million for Early Stage Ventures, Entrepreneurs in Rural Colorado In just over a year, EDA Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) grantees the Telluride Foundation and its Telluride Venture Accelerator have helped create an additional $13 million in capital for early stage ventures, specifically for companies located in rural and remote parts of Colorado. April 2018
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Oregon State University and University of Oregon Team Up to Launch TallWood Design Institute, Advance Mass-Timber Technologies EDA 2015 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) grantee Oregon State University (OSU) has partnered with the University of Oregon (UO) to launch the TallWood Design Institute (TDI), an innovative collaboration that brings together world-class expertise in wood science and technology, forestry, architecture and engineering to carry out applied research and support product development and testing of structural wood building materials and systems. April 2018
Economic Development Districts Developing Comprehensive Economic Natural Disaster Strategies in Northwest Arkansas The Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District (NWAEDD) has seen 10 Presidentially Declared Disasters in its counties over the past 15 years, each of which had far-reaching consequences for its citizens and economic prosperity. March 2018
Economic Development Districts, Small Business/RLF Purchase of Business with EDA Revolving Loan Fund Assistance a Smooth Process for New Owner of Durango, Colorado’s Waxed Salon For Jenna Morrison, business ownership was not a lifelong goal attained after years of planning. It was an unexpected opportunity in which she has found her footing, and hasn’t looked back since. March 2018
Infrastructure, Manufacturing EDA Investments in America’s Central Port Connect Region with Nationwide Freight Network Since 2002, EDA has made three investments, totaling nearly $5.3 million, to make significant infrastructure improvements needed to support the development of America’s Central Port in Granite City, Illinois. Included were improvements made to the rail line that serves the facility. February 2018
Infrastructure, Manufacturing Infrastructure Improvements Allow Businesses to Expand, Create New Jobs in Fall River, MA In 2013, EDA awarded the City of Fall River, Massachusetts a $2-million-dollar grant which was matched with $2 million in local share for the Airport Road Water System Improvement project at the city’s 425-acre Industrial Park. December 2017
Disaster, Infrastructure Infrastructure Upgrades Provide Flood Protection in Huntingburg, Indiana In 2011, EDA’s invested $1.3 million in the city of Huntingburg, Indiana for ﬂood protection from wastewater. December 2017