Technical Assistance

Our technical assistance aids policymakers and workforce development staff to better implement innovation and job-creation strategies by:

• Understanding the economic forces affecting regions and states
• Helping local leaders formulate knowledge-based strategies
• Developing transformational models that support knowledge-driven economic prosperity

Building On the Knowledge Economy

The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) uses information and data to create resources and toolkits so that state and national policymakers can evaluate, shape, and implement effective and state- and region-specific programs that promote economic development efforts.

Many of our technical-assistance efforts are aimed at: federal agencies, regional and state offices, private nonprofits, educational institutions, and sub-state regional coalitions.

While our primary area of policy expertise relates to economic development, workforce development, and education, our network extends beyond these policy areas through the Association of Public Data Users (APDU) into a variety of fields ranging from health care, criminal justice and housing, and demographics to transportation.

Related Projects

Synchronist Suite
Blane Canada Ltd.
Start Date: Mar 2021 — End Date: Ongoing

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 […]

Building a Strong State-Federal Partnership to Support Manufacturing
National Institute of Standards & Technology – Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Start Date: Oct 2002 — End Date: Ongoing

CREC worked with several partners, including the State Science & Technology Institute, to develop a strong support structure for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) program as it seeks to help manufacturers become globally competitive.

Enhancing State and Local EDO Engagement to Support COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency
U.S. Economic Development Administration
Start Date: Jul 2021 — End Date: Jul 2023

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 […]

Increasing Public Labor Market Information Capacity to Provide Sub-State and Skills Projections Data
Lumina Foundation
Start Date: Dec 2021 — End Date: Mar 2023

CREC is collaborating with the Projections Managing Partnership (PMP) to increase the capacity of the public Labor Market Information (LMI) system to provide relevant substate and skills data for education and training providers. The project will inventory substate projections availability among states, review and document methods for developing substate projections, add new substate projections content […]

Developing Regional Ecosystems to Support Recovery-to-Work Part II
Appalachian Regional Commission
Start Date: May 2021 — End Date: Dec 2022

CREC is providing technical assistance and peer-based learning to assist local development districts (LDDs) in building regional collaboration to help those in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) transition to or maintain work opportunities. With support from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and partnering with the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA), CREC is supporting […]
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