ED Now

State energy offices (SEOs) play a vital role in fostering local energy entrepreneurship and innovation through targeted programs and policies. It's important for SEOs to understand the current local energy ecosystem—including existing businesses, workforce capabilities, research institutions, funding sources, community partnerships, and market dynamics—to enable this cohesion to thrive.

Libraries across the U.S. provide entrepreneur support resources of all kinds, from workshops to networking opportunities to market research. Working with a local library is a good way for small business owners to get the help they need—and a good way for EDOs to enhance the reach and impact of their economic development efforts.

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 ...

“Volunteering is so important,” says Eloisa Klementich, CEcD, PhD, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta and vice chair of IEDC’s board of directors. “You grow professionally and also bring back ideas for your city and region.” There are many ways to get more involved with IEDC! Board IEDC members are invited to nominate candidates to the board of directors. The nominating committee reviews candidates in late summer and voting takes place during IEDC’s Annual Conference. Board members serve two-year terms and can serve up to four consecutive terms. Committees IEDC’s Advisory Committees leverage their expertise in different areas to support IEDC’s work. Areas include higher education, ...

IEDC has secured a new grant to continue to expand our Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development (ELED) work. This National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines grant, as a subcontractor to Augusta (Ga.) University, will promote ELED and entrepreneurial ecosystem building. The two-year, $100,000 grant compliments IEDC’s work through our Kauffman Foundation grant. Projects under the new grant will include creating a technical assistance panel focused on ecosystem building, and holding focus groups and workshops to help build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Augusta region. The university has discussed setting aside some of its budget for entrepreneurial ecosystem stakeholders in the region to participate in IEDC's ELED ...

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 ...

The Just Transition Fund—whose mission is to create opportunity for the communities hardest hit by the decline of coal—has launched the Coal Communities Get Ready! Challenge. Communities often have visionary ideas for growing and transforming their local economies but need support to apply for and manage the federal investment that can bring these ideas to scale. The Coal Communities Get Ready! Challenge will identify 8 to 10 organizations that are building readiness to apply for and manage federal funds. Prospective organizations should be working to create equitable and inclusive local economies through replicable community development strategies and workforce programs. This opportunity is designed for organizations ...

IEDC has partnered with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for more than four years through IEDC’s economic recovery and resilience program. The CNMI’s tourism- and agriculture-focused economy is unique, vibrant, and dynamic. IEDC’s current work with the CNMI economic development community addresses dual recovery from the pandemic and natural disasters. To kick off this phase, a team of IEDC volunteers visited the islands to conduct a needs assessment.