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

State Data Sharing Initiative
Laura and John Arnold Foundation
Start Date: Nov 2015 — End Date: Feb 2018

CREC is gathered information about state laws and regulations that govern business revenue and UI data disclosure to determine best practices for maintaining the safety of data as well as best practices for expanding access to confidential data for qualified researchers and policymakers. We will also provide assistance to five states seeking to reform their data governance and sharing policies based on best practices from other states.

Mapping the Defense Supply Chain For The State Of West Virginia
West Virginia University
Start Date: Feb 2017 — End Date: Dec 2017

CREC developed a statewide supply chain map of West Virginia’s defense and manufacturing industries that serve defense manufacturers and communities in limiting the impact of defense-related spending cuts and identify new opportunities for economic diversification.  The project included identifying regional and sector-specific competitive advantages regarding DOD assets, and how these related to broader industry cluster […]

Promoting Data Sharing to Enhance State Policy Making & Program Evaluation
Laura and John Arnold Foundation
Start Date: Nov 2015 — End Date: Dec 2017

CREC conducted a two-year project (2016-2017) focused on: (1) researching laws and regulations governing the disclosure, or “sharing,” of confidential state business revenue and unemployment insurance data as well as the processes used in establishing agreements to access that data for policy making and program evaluation, and (2) providing technical assistance to states in developing […]

Supporting the State Small Business Credit Initiative Lending Programs
U.S. Department of Treasury, State Small Business Credit Initiative
Start Date: Nov 2013 — End Date: Sep 2017

Working collaboratively with commercial lending and community development finance subject matter experts (George Surgeon, David McGrady and Donna Nails), CREC provided technical assistance and support services for U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI).

Regional Aerospace & Defense Exchange (RADE) DIA Evaluation
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
Start Date: Oct 2016 — End Date: Sep 2017

CREC performed an assessment of the Regional Aerospace & Defense Exchange (RADE) Defense Industry Adjustment project’s effectiveness and impact by developing quantitative and qualitative evaluation criteria. Working with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, CREC collected outcome and activity metrics through stakeholder engagement events and interviews to develop a logic model. The model […]
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