Press Release
U.S. EDA Invests to Boost Job Creation Efforts of INROADS, Inc., in the Washington, D.C. Metro Region
June 23, 2011
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $250,000 grant to INROADS, Inc., of Washington, D.C., to assess and evaluate challenges and opportunities for Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in helping to create jobs in the Washington, D.C., metro area. The MSI program activity will focus on business start-ups and small business growth, a major factor in the development of economic sustainability.
"The Obama administration is committed to providing communities with the resources they need to foster job creation and business growth," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez. "This EDA investment will boost the important role that Minority Serving Institutions play in creating and sustaining jobs in underemployed and underserved neighborhoods."
"The project will research model programs to learn how to best structure economic development initiatives in the Washington, D.C. metro region through Minority Serving Institutions' partnerships," said Forest T. Harper, Jr., INROADS, Inc. President and CEO.
The data collection predominately and substantially will benefit Ward 8 the largely minority, underserved and underemployed area of the District of Columbia for a future implementation pilot project.
INROADS identifies, recruits and develops exceptional diverse and talented students throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and coaches and trains them for corporate readiness. In preparation for their paid Internships with corporate sponsors, INROADS Interns are trained each summer in Learning Summits that compliment their educational training and add value by providing business boot camp styled workshops inclusive of seminars, forums, webinars, and business case studies on the corporate environment.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration:
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.