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

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 […]

Counting U.S. Secondary and Postsecondary Credentials 2022-23
Credential Engine
Start Date: Jan 2022 — End Date: Mar 2023

CREC continues its work in generating a national count of unique credentials available for American workers.  The count provides the number of credentials by type and by state.  CREC is conducting research on certain credential segments to better understand patterns of credentialing in certain key industries.  CREC will provide a national report on the status […]

State Economic Development Executives Network
Pew Charitable Trusts
Start Date: Apr 2018 — End Date: Dec 2022

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 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 […]

National Skills Coalition Initiative
National Skills Coalition
Start Date: Jul 2021 — End Date: Sep 2022

CREC is supporting with the National Skills Coalition initiative to expand upskilling for essential workers and ensure small businesses have the talent they need to succeed. NSC aims to close racial and other equity gaps and address the demand for digital skills. CREC will design and develop state data profiles that support qualitative inquiry, peer […]
1 2 3 4 … 11