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

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.

State Economic Development Executives Network
Pew Charitable Trusts
Start Date: Apr 2018 — End Date: Jun 2021

CREC is continuing its on-going efforts to develop a network of top state economic development executives and engaging them in a collaborative group.  CREC is organizing a series of conference calls, interviews, and meetings with the executives.  To support that work, CREC is also conducting research on key issues of concern to the network, including […]

Developing a Community Empowerment Scorecard
Colorado Workforce Development Council
Start Date: Apr 2020 — End Date: Mar 2021

CREC is assisting the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) in promoting economic mobility among the individuals that are receiving employment assistance.  CREC is developing a community empowerment scorecard to help CWDC monitor the various factors that contribute to jobseeker mobility.  The scorecard will focus on examining career pathways and partnerships in the retail sector that […]

Improving State-level Labor Force Projections
Projections Managing Partnership
Start Date: Oct 2019 — End Date: Oct 2020

CREC and the State of North Carolina Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) are working with the Projections Managing Partnership on an improved methodology that considers state-level labor force projections as a benchmark for labor supply in the PMP’s employment projections products. Currently, the PMP relies on national estimates provided by the U.S. Bureau of […]

Building a Recovery-to-Work Ecosystem
Appalachian Regional Commission
Start Date: Nov 2019 — End Date: Oct 2020

CREC is providing support to the Development District Association of Appalachia in executing an Appalachian Regional Commission grant to support and document the development of “recovery-to-work” ecosystems.  The project goal is to guide Local Development Districts in the Appalachian Region convene community stakeholders and lead efforts aimed at helping Substance Use Disorder sufferers to transition […]