2012 University Center Economic Development Program Competition

by: Michael Saunders

The Economic Development Administration, otherwise known as EDA, is a federal government agency operating within the United States Department of Commerce that is largely responsible for providing grants to economically distressed communities in an effort to help generate new job opportunities, assist in retaining existing jobs and stimulating industrial and commercial growth.

The grants of initiatives of the EDA are all geared towards the realization of its primary agency mission which is to "lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy."

In keeping with this mission, the Economic Development Administration has recently established the 2012 University Center Economic Development Program Competition wherein they intend to solicit grant applications from higher education institutions stating their intent to establish and operate special University Centers that are focused on leveraging university assets in order to create regional economic ecosystems that will support high-growth entrepreneurship.

Higher education institutions or a consortia of institutions can take part in this program as long as they are willing to establish and operate a University Center, and in the process, form a collaboration with several other EDA partners in order to provide, develop, implement, and support regional strategies and approaches that would certainly pave the way to the creation of more jobs, the development of high-skilled regional talent pools, and the expansion of regional businesses.

  (continued...)

2012 University Center Economic Development Program Competition
  Page 2

About The Author Michael Saunders is an editor of TopGovernmentGrants.com one the the most comprehensive Websites offering information on government grants and federal government programs. He also maintains Websites providing resources on environmental grants and grants for youth programs.

Additional Resources

category - Civic Engagement Grants

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Earthquake & Building Science Program Support Implementation
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently proposed to enter into a cooperative agreement entitled Earthquake and Building Science Program Implementation with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc.(FLASH).

---

The Future Leaders Exchange Program: Host Family and School Placement and Monitoring
The ECA has constituted the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program wherein it seeks to promote mutual understanding between the citizens of the United States of America and the inhabitants of Eurasia by way of sending secondary school students from Eurasia to live in an American community for a full academic year.

---

Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education Program
The Federal Highway Administration has recently established the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education Program wherein it aims to improve the readiness of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by way of the application of curriculum development and several other activities that are related to transportation education.

---

National Integrated Water Quality Program
In accordance with this mission, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture has recently established the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP) in an attempt to substantially contribute to the improvement of the quality of our nation's surface water and groundwater resources through research, education, and extension activities.

---