Press Release
U.S. Economic Development Administration Invests $400,613 to Help Develop Robust Manufacturing Strategy for the Southeast
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Monday, September 9, 2013
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $400,613 grant to the Southern Governors’ Association (SGA) to help establish the Advanced Manufacturing in the American South Partnership (AMASP), a public-private partnership that will help develop regional manufacturing strategies that support innovation and job growth in the manufacturing sector.
“Helping U.S. regions develop strategies that will facilitate their efforts to design and implement long-term plans for economic growth is a top priority for the Obama administration,” said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Matt Erskine. “The EDA grant announced today will allow local stakeholders from throughout the South to join together and promote advanced manufacturing, retain and attract businesses in the region, and create good-paying jobs.”
“We are grateful to EDA for their support of our regional manufacturing initiative with this award. This continuing initiative aims to establish a new partnership to support and accelerate manufacturing's growth in the American South, increasing connectivity between economic development leaders, policy experts, and innovation-generating businesses and labs to improve long-term competitiveness for the region’s manufacturing clusters,” said SGA Chairman KY Governor Steven L. Beshear.
SGA serves 16 Southern states and two U.S. territories. The AMASP initiative will first target states identified with the most significant manufacturing presence to create a manufacturing research and development collaborative effort throughout the Southeast.
The partnership will bring together private, public, and academic experts to develop regional strategies that will support and accelerate the growth of advanced manufacturing in the South. In addition, it will increase connectivity between economic development leaders, policy experts, and innovation-generating businesses and labs and broaden regional economic diversification efforts that lead to innovation and job creation.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
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.