EDA Tools for Your Region

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EDA Tools for Your Region

• Mid-Columbia Economic
• Development District

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Developed with EDA Funding

• Measuring Distress Tool Provides unemployment
  and per capita income data to determine if a
  project meets thresholds for EDA grant funding
• Project Evaluation Tool Offers qualitative and
  quantitative analysis of a project to estimate
  success
• Identifying Regional Strengths Multiple tools
  and studies, particularly focused on innovation
  and cluster strategies

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Achieving Our Vision

• MCEDD Goal 4- Increase regions access to
  resources for economic development initiatives
• Provide a regional clearinghouse for regional
  statistics and grant resources

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Measuring Distress Tool

• Web tool drawing from existing databases.
  Performs calculations automatically for 24 month
  unemployment and per capita income
• Resolves issues regarding difficult to obtain
  data and consistent calculations across regions

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Measuring Distress Tool

• Accessible to anyone online
• http//statsamerica.org/distress

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EDA Project Evaluation Tool

• Quantitative Analysis Measuring
• Regional and national forecast for the industry
  affected
• Quality of jobs
• Fit with regions industrial structure
• Innovation and Research focus
• Unemployment and Employment rates for the County
• Limitations
• Analysis can only be completed as it affects one
  industry
• Analysis (and forecast) can only be accessed for
  one County at a time, not a region
• Provides an average score, but does not index
  that score

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EDA Project Evaluation Tool

• Qualitative Analysis- Incorporates Investment
  Policy Guidelines from EDA
• Strong organizational leadership
• Evidence of market-based strategy
• Advancing productivity, innovation and
  entrepreneurship
• Anticipates economic changes, diversifies
  regional economy
• High Degree of commitment with matching funds,
  unified support by elected officials, and strong
  cooperation with business

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EDA Project Evaluation Tool

• Potential Applications of the Tool
• MCEDD Evaluate projects and assist in
  establishing regional priorities for our
  Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
• Economic Development Practitioners Utilize in
  deciding among competing projects
• Project Proponents Determine likelihood of
  success. Analyze if EDA grant should be pursued.
• Tool can be downloaded at http//www.eda.gov/Rese
  arch/ToolsOfTrade.xml

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Innovation in American Regions

• Available at http//statsamerica.org/innovation
• Incorporates the following resources
• Innovation Index
• Occupational and Industry Clusters
• Unlocking Regional Competitiveness Reports

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Thank you!

• Informational Sheet Available. Contact us at
  541-296-2266.