Fortify Your University’s Economic Development Efforts Through the EDA’s University Center Grant Program

Program agenda:

• Understanding the EDA’s criteria for University Center funding
• Insight into what data and analytics are captured to drive the economic process
• How and where to gather such data
• Identifying and earmarking university assets to drive economic development decisions
• Building your economic development leadership team
• Success stories and lessons learned along the way

The U.S. Economic Development Administration University Center Grant Program is designed to enable universities to focus on leveraging their assets and build economic ecosystems that support innovation and entrepreneurship. This grant-based initiative allows university centers to concentrate on cultivating innovation to advance high-growth entrepreneurship, while encouraging business expansion and developing a highly skilled regional workforce.

The University of Maryland is a great example of the EDA’s university center concept’s success. When the university first obtained grant funding 10 years ago, their economic development plan was all but non-existent. Recognizing the growth potential in the region, thought leaders at UMD’s National Center for Smart Growth came together and began to analyze and gather data that would serve to drive their growth plan. An economic development office was born, and it collaborates with tech transfer leadership and the NCSG’s researchers in charge of the grant. They work together to attract and encourage business partners to plant roots in the region, work closely with university researchers, and take advantage of technology parks and community outreach programs.

The UMD experience serves as a beacon for other university center programs and, in areas where funding isn’t available yet, as a roadmap for their economic growth plan.

To give other universities an inside look at the university center program in action – and how it provides valuable support for regional growth through innovation — we’ve teamed up with the thought leaders at UMD to bring you this compelling program.

Please join C. Scott Dempwolf, PhD, and Alla Corey McCoy for this strategy-filled session.

Program Leaders