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

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

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Small Business AI Advancement Act (H.R. 3679) in February 2026 with bipartisan support. The legislation is designed to help small businesses adopt artificial intelligence technologies responsibly and competitively by providing practical federal guidance and resources. Many small businesses face barriers in

The field of economic development continues to evolve, adding dimensions of ecosystem building, placemaking, and network-driven strategies. However, business retention, expansion, and attraction (BREA) remains one of the dominant forms of the practice. According to IEDC's 2025 State of the Field report, 87% of practitioners surveyed identified BREA as one

More than a century ago, Alexis de Tocqueville set out to explain a new kind of society in his classic Democracy in America. He argued that a great democratic revolution was transforming the world, leveling old hierarchies and creating a social order built on equality of conditions. In the United States, he saw its clearest early expression: democracy

Washington, D.C. – International Economic Development Council (IEDC) President and CEO Nathan Ohle today issued the following statement on the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture’s Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. He said: “On behalf of the thousands of economic development organizations and professionals we serve, we thank

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). For a century, IEDC has helped lead and shape the economic development profession, elevating innovative approaches that drive economic prosperity for communities of all sizes. As we enter our centennial year, we are both celebrating that legacy and focusing on the

As the January 30, 2026, deadline to complete the remaining funding bills approaches, and discussion of a potential or partial government shutdown increases, here is an update on the latest congressional action in the FY 2026 federal appropriations process. So far, six of the 12 regular FY 2026 appropriations bills have been enacted into law. Three were