Trust functions as the infrastructure that connects institutions and enables the flow of information, capital, and opportunity across entrepreneurial ecosystems. Over the past century, economic development has evolved from a primary focus on exports, business attraction, and incentives to a more complex, layered system that includes industrial clusters,

In Arizona, extreme heat is more than a weather condition. It is an economic development issue, a public health issue, and a defining challenge for how communities will grow and thrive in the decades ahead. As temperatures rise and urban heat intensifies, cities like Phoenix are seeking practical, scalable solutions that improve neighborhood livability

On March 5, 2026, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture approved the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) by a bipartisan vote of 34–17, advancing the House’s proposal to reauthorize the federal Farm Bill following a multi-day committee markup. Momentum has continued to build since committee passage, with House Republican

President Donald Trump has signed into law S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through September 30, 2031. The Senate passed the bill by voice vote on March 3, 2026, and the House approved it on March 17, 2026, by

On April 2, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a series of operational updates related to implementation of the Thomas Carper Reauthorization Act of 2025. IEDC helped to inform the economic development provision of this bipartisan legislation and strongly advocated for its passage. According to

Washington, D.C. – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) today announced a new initiative to better equip states to support thriving rural communities. The project will incubate a new national organization to provide resources and a centralized space for state rural prosperity offices across the United States to share information and

By Tyler Butler (Collaboration for Good), Amanda Jordan (City of Phoenix), and Jeanine Jerkovic (City of Surprise) Across the United States, sustainability is no longer a niche priority — it’s increasingly tied to economic competitiveness, operational resilience, and long-term cost savings. But for many small businesses, nonprofits, and local

Congress has passed S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, a five-year reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which are administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in coordination with participating federal agencies. The Senate