Category: Blog
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AI Will Not Save the Defense Industrial Base. Here is What Will
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being adopted faster than any technology in modern history. Within two years of widespread availability, 39.4 percent of American adults were using generative AI tools, a pace that outstripped both the personal computer and the Internet at comparable stages (Deming, 2024). Yet the defense industrial base (DIB), the network of manufacturers
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A Critical Window for Workforce Intermediaries in Defense Manufacturing
Global events are reshaping the environment in which manufacturers operate, accelerating defense production and increasing pressure across supply chains. Workforce systems must be ready to respond. Demand signals are sharpening.Defense suppliers are preparing for higher production levels, and many will need more technicians, machinists, quality specialists, and production workers. Intermediaries should be working with manufacturers
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Summer Internship Opportunity
Are you passionate about strengthening regions and communities across the United States? Join the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) as an intern and put your skills to work where it matters. CREC is a non-profit organization founded in 2000 and dedicated to equipping policymakers with data-driven insights to drive regional economic growth. Our mission is to empower communities—rural and metropolitan alike—to develop practical job-creating and growth strategies. CREC’s work spans research, technical assistance, policy advising, network
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What 2026 Appropriations May Signal for Economic Development
The FY 2026 budget reflects a recalibration for economic development, and it offers useful clues about the future of economic development.
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Preparing America’s Future Defense Manufacturing Workforce
By strengthening these partnerships and fully leveraging ManTech’s EWD investments, we can ensure that America’s defense manufacturing workforce is ready for what comes next and be well positioned to lead it.
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“Mission-Ready Workforce” — the power of veterans behind U.S. defense manufacturing
Veterans are not only essential to national defense in uniform but remain mission ready as part of the civilian manufacturing workforce. Their leadership, discipline, and technical precision are cornerstones of the defense supply chain. Across the country, millions of veterans are contributing to the civilian economy. Current labor force data show steady employment participation among both men and
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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.