CREC Updates

In late November, the Workforce Information Advisory Commission (WIAC) released their recommendations to improve the Workforce and Labor Market Information System for data users. These recommendations represent a pivotal opportunity to reshape the way we understand and respond to the complexities of our workforce and labor markets. For years, workforce development practitioners, economic developers, and […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming regional economic landscapes, bringing both significant opportunities and challenges. A new white paper by the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) examines how AI is not only reshaping economies, but how it could transform the practice of economic development. The white paper emphasizes the need for policymakers and practitioners […]

The Bureau of Economic Analysis, or BEA, stopped producing county employment data by industry — at a cost to us all

By leveraging the ARC’s Recovery to Work Builder’s Guide, you can start creating and sustaining an ecosystem that values all your citizens and creates a more prosperous future for your region.

Arizona is primed to boost its leadership in this sector given their existing footprint in semiconductor research, design, and production stretching across the state. To build on Arizona’s existing strategic advantage, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) hired CREC and SRI to understand how innovative facilities and training opportunities statewide can advance Arizona’s leading position in the semiconductor industry.

In the Spring of 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) funded the Labor Market Information (LMI) Institute and Projections Managing Partnership (PMP) to develop a project aimed at enhancing the ability of LMI data users to access, collect, analyze, and communicate high-quality labor market information to their stakeholders. As a […]

Under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) program, CREC is helping to leverage Education and Workforce Development (EWD) resources to leverage a stronger defense manufacturing workforce development ecosystem. Through this effort, CREC is tasked with developing a clearer sense of how the Manufacturing USA institutes approach EWD, including their […]

CREC recently completed a three-year work program under a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to develop and support best practices in how states and regions can work more collaborative to align and integrate their economic efforts. CREC worked closely with the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation, the State International […]

In August 2024, CREC received a two-year grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to increase the capabilities of data users and data providers to inform education and training investments that strengthen regional economies. CREC will work to create a pipeline of organizations – including economic development organizations, community colleges, and workforce boards – […]

In July 2024, CREC wrapped up partnering with SRI to identify and map semiconductor education and training assets for the Workforce Subgroup of the Semiconductor Task Force at the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). ACA is using the information to engage companies in the semiconductor supply chain to motivate continued foreign direct investment (FDI) based on […]