As part of its Centennial Event Series, IEDC convened a flagship gathering at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2026 in Austin, Texas, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, ecosystem builders, and economic development leaders to explore the future of the field. Designed as a curated, future-focused convening, the event created space for meaningful exchange

The Economic Recovery Corps (ERC), a flagship IEDC initiative, continues to demonstrate the impact of investing in embedded talent. This month, ERC Fellow George Williams was accepted into the University of Oxford Saïd Business School’s MSc in Major Programme Management — the world’s leading research program on why megaprojects

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is seeking public input through a new Request for Information (RFI) under its Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative. The ROUTES Initiative, established in 2019 and later codified in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, focuses on improving transportation

From March 1–3, more than 600 economic development leaders and partners from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Summit — the largest in the event’s history. Set against the backdrop of the nation’s capital during IEDC’s centennial year, the

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) recently honored the recipients of the 2025 Industry Leaders Awards, recognizing outstanding individuals demonstrating exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in the field of economic development. IEDC celebrated the achievements of these leaders and thanked them for their commitment to advancing

The Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) brought together 130 fellows, hosts, and national partners in Washington, D.C., February 25–27, for its final Annual Retreat. The three-day gathering celebrated more than two years of fellowship work, strengthened relationships across the cohort, and created space to share what fellows have been learning in their

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971), a bipartisan bill that reauthorizes and reforms the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs, known as America’s seed fund, provide billions in research and development awards

On March 5, 2026, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture approved the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), advancing the House’s proposal to reauthorize the federal Farm Bill following a multi-day committee markup. The legislation now awaits consideration by the full U.S. House of Representatives. The federal Farm Bill is a