EDA Update - June 2005

Vol. 2 No. 8 June 2005

	In this issue... EDA Symposium for 21st Century Economic Development SACI Update Next Economic Development Today Telecast Coming Up: Building a 21st Century, World-Class Workforce Next Edition of Economic Development America Magazine to Focus on Workforce Development New EDA Investments “Workforce Innovations” Conference July 11-13 How to subscribe: To subscribe yourself or a colleague to EDA Update, send an email with contact information, including email address, to Jason Christian at jchristian@iedconline.org. EDA Symposium for 21st Century Economic Development The Economic Development Administration and Penn State University are holding a one-day “Symposium for 21st Century Economic Development” on September 22, 2005 at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia. The symposium will feature discussion on innovative strategies for economic development among business leaders, government officials, and economic development practitioners and researchers. Confirmed speakers include John Engler, President, National Association of Manufacturers and former Governor of Michigan; Randall Kempner, Vice President, Innovation, Council on Competitiveness; Greg Main, CEO & President, i2E; Kathy Brittain White, Founder and President, Rural Sourcing, Inc.; Dennis Cuneo, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America; David R. Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Infotonics Technology Center, Inc.; and Burt Chojnowski, President, Fairfield Entrepreneurs Association. These nationally renowned speakers will address key topics related to 21st Century Economic Development such as Innovation, Entrepreneurship, University-Led Economic Development, Regionalism, Creating a 21st Century Workforce, and the Strengthening America's Communities Initiative. The EDA Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2005 will also be presented to organizations demonstrating innovative economic development strategies of national significance. A nomination brochure and instructions for submitting nominations will be available on the EDA web site, www.eda.gov soon; or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Barbara Earman at (202) 482-2900 or email her at bearman@eda.doc.gov. Registration for the conference is free but is limited to the first 150 people registering. For more information and to register for the symposium, please visit the conference web site, www.outreach.psu.edu/C&I/EDASymposium. To reserve a room at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, please call 800-241-3333 and ask for the Symposium for 21st Century Economic Development rate. SACI Update On June 2, the third and final meeting of the Strengthening America’s Communities (SAC) Advisory Committee was held in Clearwater, Florida. The Advisory Committee’s deliberations will produce a set of recommendations and advice for the Secretary of Commerce on the implementation of the President’s Strengthening America’s Communities Initiative. The Committee’s report is expected to be released in early July, and will play a major role in the development of enabling legislation for SACI. You can keep posted on the Advisory Committee and the SAC Initiative at www.doc.gov/SACI/. *Next Economic Development Today* Telecast Coming Up: Building a 21st Century, World-Class Workforce July 27, 2005, 3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT** The current demand for higher-skill, higher-wage workers exceeds that of any time in our nation’s past. New industries have emerged. Other industries that today are just a gleam in the eye of some inventor soon will be woven into the fabric of our economy. The constant of commerce in the 21st century will be the need for knowledge workers – people who possess high levels of specialized skills and training. Two-thirds of America’s economic growth in the 1990s resulted from the introduction of new technologies, and 60 percent of the new jobs of the 21st century will require post-secondary education, currently held by only one-third of America’s workforce. All American workers must be able to equip themselves to succeed in this new and dynamic global economy. This will require local, regional, state and federal partnerships that closely link economic development and workforce development efforts. The telecast will focus on how to advance bold new initiatives in the workforce development system that will enable America to maintain its economic strength. The telecast will feature research on how to build a world-class workforce and where gaps currently exist; perspective from the state of Mississippi, which has streamlined its workforce system; and an example of how a community college is putting these concepts into practice. Panelists include: David Bearden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Ms. Emily DeRocco, Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration, United States Department of Labor The Honorable Haley Barbour, Governor, State of Mississippi Dr. P. Anthony Zeiss, President, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC Mr. Robert L. Nardelli, Chairman, President and CEO of The Home Depot (invited) For further information, contact Peggy Tadej at the National Association of Regional Councils at Tadej@narc.org. *Next Edition of Economic Development America* Magazine to Focus on Workforce Development** Earlier this month, The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) published the Spring 2005 edition of Economic Development America magazine, which focuses on “Communities in Transition.” Complementing the July telecast, the theme of the Summer issue of the magazine, to be published in August, is “Building a World-Class, 21st Century Workforce.” The Fall edition will focus on performance metrics. If you have story ideas or other feedback, please contact editor Louise Anderson at landerson@iedconline.org. PDF files of previous editions of Economic Development America are available at the EDA Web site. New EDA Investments Summaries of new EDA investments are available on the EDA Web site. “Workforce Innovations” Conference July 11-13 Workforce Innovations, the nation’s premier employment and training conference, will take place July 11-13 in Philadelphia. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and co-sponsored by the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), this annual conference will showcase Integration, Transformation, and Innovation within the world of workforce investment. Over 2,500 workforce professionals are expected to attend. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to network with the nation’s key workforce investment leaders, business executives, workforce board members, education policy makers, and other change agents. No other forum offers this much expert insight into the challenges faced as today’s solutions-based revolution in workforce investment advances. The fee is $695; daily registration is available for a fee of $250. Register online now at www.WorkforceInnovations.org or download the registration form. EDA Update is brought to you as a benefit of a partnership among the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), to provide information about economic development practices and programs to economic development practitioners who serve distressed communities throughout the United States. This partnership also provides six telecasts and a quarterly magazine. For more information, visit the EDA Web site.