ED Now

The Economic Recovery Corps' inaugural cohort of 65 fellows and host organizations gathered in Portland, Oregon, this month to celebrate the program's launch. Learn how this exciting new initiative will impact the future of economic development.

IEDC is proud to offer professional development scholarships such as the Diane Lupke Scholarship and the Melissa Nebelsick Scholarship for Women. Application forms and all requested materials—including a current resume and organizational training budget—are due Friday, September 1. The Diane Lupke Scholarship Fund The Diane Lupke Scholarship Fund offers four scholarships (two for IEDC members and two for non-members) to be applied toward the registration fee of an IEDC training course of the recipient's choice. The value for each scholarship is approximately $500. Scholarship applicants should work for an organization that is based in a distressed community. Examples include, but are not limited to, community-based ...

EDA is now accepting applications for the new $200-million Recompete Pilot Program, which is designed to make focused investments in communities most in need of economic resources and options. Authorized through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the program targets areas where prime-age employment (ages 25 to 54) significantly trails the national average, with the goal to close this gap through bottom-up, long-term strategies that tackle a community’s unique economic challenges. EDA will make large, flexible investments based on communities’ priorities. The program will have two phases. The first Recompete Pilot Program NOFO allows applicants to apply for strategy development grants, approval of a recompete plan, or both. ...

Economic Recovery Corps fellow applications are now open! Are you, or someone you know, a community builder with an entrepreneurial spirit looking to do economic development differently? Join the inaugural cohort of the Economic Recovery Corps as a fellow, or help us share this opportunity with emerging leaders and practitioners. Launched in May to accelerate recovery from the pandemic in distressed areas, the ERC program connects host organizations with early- to mid-career professionals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to build stronger, more resilient, and more equitable economies. IEDC, in partnership with EDA and six national and international associations, is seeking to place up to 65 ERC fellows at host organizations ...

IEDC, in partnership with EDA and six national and international associations, has officially launched the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) program. The multiyear, $30-million collaborative initiative will place up to 65 ERC fellows from diverse backgrounds and disciplines within partnering organizations across the United States to activate economic development projects and plans that generate new practices and paradigms for equitable and inclusive change. Organizations interested in hosting a full-time fellow for 2.5 years (30 months) will have until June 30, 2023, to submit an expression of interest and initiate the application process. This is a great opportunity for organizations that are looking to drive their economic development ...

Betsy Kramer, EDP, revitalization coordinator at SEDA-Council of Governments, is part of the third cohort of certified Entrepreneurship Development Professionals. IEDC’s EDP credential is designed to build capacity for those supporting entrepreneurship in their communities, and demonstrates the skills and expertise to lead communities through entrepreneurship-led economic development (ELED). Why did you decide to pursue the EDP credential? Having been a successful small business owner for 12 years, I was the direct result of the efforts of an SBDC, and I was eager to have the opportunity to assist other entrepreneurs when I started my role in economic development at SEDA-Council of Governments. SEDA-COG serves an 11-county region ...

EDA has published a Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (PWEAA) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FY23. The Public Works program provides resources for construction and infrastructure design to enable communities to become more economically competitive. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program supports activities such as construction and upgrading of public infrastructure, sector partnerships for workforce training, design and engineering, technical assistance, economic recovery strategies, and capitalization or recapitalization of Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs). Through this NOFO, EDA intends to pursue projects that prioritize equity, workforce development, and climate resilience. EDA supports bottom-up strategies that ...