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

Facilitating LMI Data User Insights
US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Start Date: Aug 2023 — End Date: Dec 2024

In cooperation with the Labor Market Information (LMI) Institute, Projections Managing Partnership (PMP), and U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA), CREC has initiated a new capacity building program for state LMI agency staff and their customers. The goal of this project is to provide technical assistance and training for workforce and labor […]

Census StatVentures: Regional Insights for Emerging Supply Chain Threats
StatVentures
Start Date: May 2024 — End Date: Dec 2024

The goal of this project is to create a novel dataset by linking import/export details to products and suppliers nationwide, tracking end-to-end use of intermediary inputs and materials.

Rapides Foundation
EntreWorks Consulting
Start Date: Apr 2024 — End Date: Oct 2024

The CREC team will provide updated data and analysis that builds around EntreWorks Consulting’s previous benchmarking assessment, completed in 2021. CREC staff will update all data developed in that assessment and assist in reviewing the insights and implications of these data trends as they relate to the Foundation’s mission of building healthy communities in Central […]

Nevada Benchmarking
Governor’s Office of Entrepreneurship, State of Nevada
Start Date: Feb 2024 — End Date: Aug 2024

CREC worked with the Office of Entrepreneurship in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) to develop metrics supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in Nevada. The work was done in two phases. Phase one involved identifying and reviewing available data for inclusion in a data dashboard. Phase two was to design a dashboard around the metrics […]

Enhancing State and Local EDO Engagement to Support COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency
U.S. Economic Development Administration
Start Date: Jul 2021 — End Date: Jun 2024

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 […]