In 2022, the Economic Development Administration (EDA), working with leading economic development organizations, established a robust networking, technical assistance, and research program to guide innovation in place-based economic development. Using the work of the 60 coalitions selected to participate in EDA’s historic $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge as a living laboratory, the Building Better Regions Community of Practice – as well as three separate research projects – is now well underway.

Through the end of March, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) joins other Department of Commerce bureaus observing Women’s History Month.

In January 2023, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) reached a historic milestone with three additional regional organizations designated as Economic Development Districts (EDD). With these additions, there are now 400 such organizations across the country, leading locally-driven economic development planning, technical assistance, strategies and coordination.

Lakota Funds is a community development financial institution (CDFI) dedicated to creating economic development opportunities on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. It works to increase the number of businesses on Tribal lands and create self-sufficiency for its citizens.

In 2022, Ernest Weston, Jr. joined EDA as the first Tribal Economic Development Representative. Working out of the Denver Regional Office, he soon began looking for unique ways to engage local Tribal stakeholders. In doing so, Weston recognized the need to create community in the meaningful work of Tribal Economic Development.

Recently, Dennis Alvord, EDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer, was elected to serve as Chair of the Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In this role, DAS Alvord will chair RDPC meetings beginning with the next meeting in April 2023. His service as Chair will provide an important opportunity to help shape the priorities of the RDPC in terms of their cutting-edge research and policy analysis for policymakers and practitioners across the 38-member-country committee. RDPC’s research and analysis provide EDA and U.S. economic development practitioners with international best practices and policies in 21st century regional economic development.