CREC Project News and Updates

CREC is supporting with the National Skills Coalition initiative to expand upskilling for essential workers and ensure small businesses have the talent they need to succeed. NSC aims to close racial and other equity gaps and address the demand for digital skills. CREC will design and develop state data profiles that support qualitative inquiry, peer […]

The Association of Public Data Users received support from the Georgetown Massive Data Institute to deliver a workshop series for state and local government employees. This series of town halls and trainings informed attendees about the quality of the data that state and local leaders rely on and how they can improve and supplement it.

Synchronist shifted business retention away from a singular focus on community issues to include an understanding of the company and how it fits into the fabric of the community’s economy. Built on pioneering research, competitive intelligence, predictive analysis, national benchmark data, and an organizing, portfolio management principle, Synchronist Suite allows users to maximize the value […]

Working closely with Sparks Policy Group, CREC is supporting the work of the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Advisory Council. CREC is helping to facilitate the council meetings and working group sessions to develop recommendations on how best to strengthen manufacturing in the Commonwealth. CREC will provide supportive policy and economic research while also helping the Council members […]

The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded a 2-year $1 million grant to the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) to support the State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network through technical assistance, training, and research.  CREC will work in collaboration with the National Association of Development Organizations (representing the EDA-funded economic development districts), the State International […]

DDAA aims to help identify specifically what industries and occupations are likely to face the greatest disruption due to automation and identify ways that local areas can respond. DDAA proposes to convene an advisory group of ARC staff and LDD leaders to refine the scope. We will develop data on sectors and jobs most likely […]

CREC is working with Business Development Advisors and The Roosevelt Group on a Military Economic Impact Analysis for the State of Louisiana to satisfy RS 29:65, which requires the Louisiana Military Advisory Council to complete a quadrennial statewide and regional military economic impact analysis. CREC worked on the state’s previous military spending impact analyses in […]

CREC is assisting Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in developing an Economic Resilience Strategy for the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission (K-IRPC) that builds regional capacity to respond to economic shocks. CREC supports the project by providing experience throughout the planning process, development of survey instruments, focus group facilitation, and identification of implementation strategies that align with […]

JEDx is an initiative to develop a public-private approach for collecting and using standards-based jobs and employment data. JEDx seeks to transform how job and employment data are organized, shared, and used to provide greater value to employers, workers/learners, government agencies, and others to improve the efficiency and equity of labor markets while protecting privacy. […]

Given the rapid and ongoing changes within the defense industry, CREC is working with leaders in Southwest Pennsylvania to better understand the far-reaching assets, opportunities and impacts of its defense-related supply chains. Specifically, the CREC Team is conducting a defense contracts analysis and defense economy overview of the region’s defense industry. The research focuses on […]

Catalyst Connection is a private not-for-profit organization headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We provide consulting and training services to small manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania, accelerating revenue growth and improving productivity. Through active collaboration with our clients and the manufacturing community, we contribute to the growth, vibrancy, and ongoing robustness of manufacturing in our region. Catalyst Connection is […]