2012 University Center Economic Development Program Competition

by: Michael Saunders

The Economic Development Administration, otherwise known as EDA, is a federal government agency operating within the United States Department of Commerce that is largely responsible for providing grants to economically distressed communities in an effort to help generate new job opportunities, assist in retaining existing jobs and stimulating industrial and commercial growth.

The grants of initiatives of the EDA are all geared towards the realization of its primary agency mission which is to "lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy."

In keeping with this mission, the Economic Development Administration has recently established the 2012 University Center Economic Development Program Competition wherein they intend to solicit grant applications from higher education institutions stating their intent to establish and operate special University Centers that are focused on leveraging university assets in order to create regional economic ecosystems that will support high-growth entrepreneurship.

Higher education institutions or a consortia of institutions can take part in this program as long as they are willing to establish and operate a University Center, and in the process, form a collaboration with several other EDA partners in order to provide, develop, implement, and support regional strategies and approaches that would certainly pave the way to the creation of more jobs, the development of high-skilled regional talent pools, and the expansion of regional businesses.   (continued...)

2012 University Center Economic Development Program Competition
  Page 2

About The Author Michael Saunders is an editor of TopGovernmentGrants.com one the the most comprehensive Websites offering information on government grants and federal government programs. He also maintains Websites providing resources on environmental grants and grants for youth programs.

Additional Government Grants Resources

Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program Groups
In line with this mission, the National Institutes of Health has recently collaborated with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in an attempt to establish the Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program Groups (MBCCOP).

---

Department of Agriculture: Technical Assistance and Training Grant
The Department of Agriculture has recently established the Technical Assistance and Training Grants program.

---

Secondary Market Lending Authority Program
The Small Business Administration has constituted the Secondary Market Lending Authority program, one which aims to provide liquidity for the secondary market, thereby ultimately encouraging new lending opportunities from banks of Small Business Administration guaranteed loans.

---

Effects of Adolescent Binge Drinking on Brain Development
The National Institutes of Health, in close cooperation with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has established the Effects of Adolescent Binge Drinking on Brain Development Project.

---

Department of Homeland Security: 2011 Earthquake Technology Transfer
The Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), under the DHS, has constituted the Earthquake Technology Transfer Cooperative Agreement program.

---

Higher Education Challenge Grants Program
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture has recently constituted the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program in an attempt to boost and enhance the quality of formal, postsecondary-level agricultural sciences education.

---

First Time Homebuyer Programs in California
The programs of CalHFA are constantly guided by its overall agency mission which is to "finance below market rate loans to create safe, decent and affordable rental housing and to assist first-time homebuyers in achieving the dream of homeownership."

---