ED Now

Technological innovations in artificial intelligence, life sciences, sustainable energy, and other fields will have wide-ranging transformational effects in the U.S., including the concentration of jobs and R&D in (mostly coastal) early-adopter metro hubs. Additional hubs in the Midwest and South are early adopters of AI applications in the production of goods and services. To maximize economic development opportunities associated with AI and other innovations, investing in workforce training and housing production where jobs are located will be critical.

Florida Atlantic University (FAU)’s entrepreneurship ecosystem has worked hard to develop comprehensive support for students and community members—from idea to successful, sustainable company and beyond. In 2020 the ecosystem had a gap: support and resources for post-revenue, second-stage companies with around six employees and their particular set of challenges—the forgotten ventures. FAU was not alone. In fact, many ecosystems do not cater to these important job-and-revenue-generating second-stage companies.

In today's rapidly evolving economy, the traditional boundaries between academia and industry are becoming increasingly blurred. As businesses seek innovation and universities strive to produce job-ready graduates, the need for collaboration between the two has never been greater. For universities to effectively engage with businesses, careful preparation and strategic initiatives are essential. This article explores key steps that universities can take to prepare for fruitful partnerships with businesses.

ED Now recently caught up with Hezron Osano, an IEDC member based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kristin Slice, EDP, director of community entrepreneurship for the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University, 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? Entrepreneurs deserve the best resources and support we can offer—they are the heartbeat of our economy. I take every course and certification I can. It gives me the tools and insight to help our team and community ...

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 ...

Pursuing the EDP (Entrepreneurship Development Professional) credential for me was an important part of exploring the entrepreneurial ecosystem-building discipline and continuing to hone how the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute leads the inclusive expansion of the discipline in its mission to collaboratively serve the communities in which Arizona State University has a presence. The credential expanded my knowledge of traditional economic development practices and grew my network of ecosystem building professionals, which has helped me be a more effective change agent. Many of the communities I serve are in a nascent or even pre-nascent ecosystem stage, so it is vitally important to maintain an entrepreneurial mindset ...

EDA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for the FY 2023 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity. Grants awarded under the NOFO will address economic challenges faced by communities affected by Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, major wildfires and floods, and all other declared natural disasters that occurred in 2021 and 2022. Funding will help communities devise and implement long-term economic recovery strategies through a variety of construction and non-construction projects. Eligible applicants include Tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, district organizations of an Economic Development District (EDD), and state, county, and city subdivisions engaged in economic and infrastructure ...