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 Economic Development Executives Network
Pew Charitable Trusts
Start Date: Apr 2018 — End Date: Dec 2023

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 Regional Ecosystems to Support Recovery-to-Work Part II
Appalachian Regional Commission
Start Date: May 2021 — End Date: Dec 2023

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 […]

Community Capacity Building for Using Treasury State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds
Appalachia Regional Commission and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Start Date: Jan 2022 — End Date: Dec 2023

CREC, working with the National Association of Counties and Entreworks Consulting is providing training and technical assistance to communities identifying catalytic projects that use ARPA Local Fiscal Recovery Fund dollars. The project is developing and delivering five virtual training sessions designed for LDDs, local elected officials and their key staff on the ARPA Local Fiscal […]

Program Support for Treasury’s SSBCI Initiative
U.S. Department of Treasury, State Small Business Credit Initiative
Start Date: Sep 2021 — End Date: Sep 2023

CREC is providing advisory and programmatic support to assist the successful implementation and operation of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Activities will include formulating SSBCI eligibility and approval criteria, creating of standards and requirements for participation of lenders and investors, and aligning the SSBCI program with the requirements for […]

Administrative Datasets on Non-degree Credentials: Creating and Analyzing a Repository National Science Foundation/George Washington University
National Science Foundation
Start Date: Sep 2021 — End Date: Jul 2023

CREC is collaborated with George Washington University Institute of Public Policy (GWIPP) to support the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics’ (NCSES) use of administrative data to analyze training and education of the nation’s skilled technical workforce (STW). The limitations of survey data in this field necessitated the utilization of […]