Author: William Cook
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CREC Launches “Mobilizing Data for Talent Development” Program to Strengthen Career Pathways
The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) is excited to announce the official launch of our Mobilizing Data for Talent Development program! Funded by the Gates Foundation, this program aims to strengthen education and workforce pathways at the local level and develop data infrastructure for workforce professionals.
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What the FY 2026 Federal Budget Proposal Signals for Regional Economic Development
The White House’s FY 2026 discretionary budget proposal outlines a significant shift in how the federal government approaches economic development. It suggests a move away from place-based and regionally responsive investments toward more centralized priorities, such as national defense and strategic infrastructure. For regional leaders and development practitioners, this moment raises important questions about the
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Apply for the Mobilizing Data for Talent Development Program!
Applications are open for regional leaders seeking to strengthen post-secondary and career pathways!
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Updates on Federal Data Outages
This week, reports have surfaced about some federal datasets becoming inaccessible, prompting concerns about data availability. Official information is sparse, and the actual impacts of recent developments remain to be seen, so caution should be used when reading news updates.
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Insights from the Bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence
The Bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence released a new report designed to provide insights, findings, and recommendations for shaping the U.S. approach to artificial intelligence (AI), some of which pertains to workforce and economic development. Read about how this could impact our industry.
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Strengthening Public Data Infrastructure for a Smarter Tomorrow
A report from the Council on Competitiveness underscores the urgency of investing in public data and building a regional data infrastructure.
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Natcast Announces Sandra Watson as Inaugural Member of National Semiconductor Technology Center Workforce Advisory Board
SEDE Chair and Arizona Commerce Authority President Sandra Watson was selected as one of 18 inaugural members of the NSTC Workforce Advisory Board (WFAB).
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Implementing the WIAC’s Recommendations Would Transform Workforce Data for State and Regional Action
In late November, the Workforce Information Advisory Commission (WIAC) released their recommendations to improve the Workforce and Labor Market Information System for data users. These recommendations represent a pivotal opportunity to reshape the way we understand and respond to the complexities of our workforce and labor markets. For years, workforce development practitioners, economic developers, and
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WHITE PAPER: AI’s Impact on Regional Economic Development
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming regional economic landscapes, bringing both significant opportunities and challenges. A new white paper by the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) examines how AI is not only reshaping economies, but how it could transform the practice of economic development. The white paper emphasizes the need for policymakers and practitioners
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BEA Stopped Producing County Employment Data by Industry to Everyone’s Detriment
The Bureau of Economic Analysis, or BEA, stopped producing county employment data by industry — at a cost to us all