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On February 16, 2024, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves joined Biden-Harris Administration leaders at the White House for the release of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2023 update to its Equity Action Report. The report’s release coincided with the first anniversary of Executive Order 14091, President Biden’s second Executive Order on equity. Among its highlights is the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) stewardship of $3 billion in funding distributed to 780 diverse grantees — many of whom are working at the forefront of equitable economic development — through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

During February, EDA joins other U.S. Department of Commerce bureaus in celebrating Black History Month. EDA’s commitment to equity and expanding opportunity for Black Americans permeates everything we do throughout the year.

Through transformational investments like the regional Tech Hubs initiative and Build Back Better Regional Challenge, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has centered the creation and curation of regional industry clusters at the forefront of the nation’s economic development agenda. When strategically placed and properly supported, industry clusters can be effective in steering the direction and development of local economies.  

For nearly 45 years, the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) University Center program has empowered leading colleges and universities to become champions of regional economic ecosystems. These centers provide small businesses and local governments with research-informed technical assistance leading to job creation, business expansion, and the development of highly-skilled talent pools.

2023 was another year of tremendous impact and growth at the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Our dedicated team of public servants work tirelessly to improve the competitiveness of American industry through equitable and inclusive economic growth, a core priority of the Biden-Harris Administration. EDA’s efforts in 2023 resulted in approximately $403 million of federal investment in 584 projects, which are expected to support more than 27,000 quality jobs, and nearly $8.5 billion in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

Equity is the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) number one investment priority. While all EDA grant applications are evaluated with an equity lens, the bureau has also launched several dedicated programs to advance best practices in equitable economic development and deliver focused support to underrepresented populations, including America’s indigenous and tribal communities.

During the month of November, the Economic Development Administration joins agencies throughout the Biden-Harris Administration in celebrating National Native American Heritage Month.

With the designation of 31 inaugural Tech Hubs on October 23, 2023, EDA sent a strong signal about a region’s ability to position itself as a global competitor in a critical technological area, such as semiconductors, clean energy, critical minerals, biotechnology, precision medicine, autonomous systems, quantum computing, and more. We believe that these 31 regions across the country have the assets, resources, and capabilities to become global centers of innovation and job creators with this boost of attention and resources from the federal government.  

Eric Smith is the Tech Hubs Program Director at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). We sat down with him to discuss Tech Hubs, what it’s all about, and how the program is an investment in America’s people, places and potential.