November 2023
National Economic Research and Resilience Center (NERRC)
Innovative economic data access, research, and analysis to support economic development and resilience in communities.
Welcome to our first issue of the NERRC News, a monthly newsletter on activities out of the Argonne National Laboratory National Economic Research and Resilience Center. Each month we will highlight research, upcoming trainings and presentations, and insights to bring together economic development practitioners, researchers, and government staff. If you would like more NERRC content, subscribe to our email newsletter or shoot us an email at [email protected].
UPDATE: EDCI Year Over Year Statistics
The Economic Development Capacity Index (EDCI) brings together 53 unique indicators to calculate county economic development capacity across 5 areas of focus:?Human Capital, Financial, Industry, Infrastructure, and Institutions & Partnerships. EDCI is intended to provide insight into a county's relative strengths, as well as opportunities for growth or investment. Our 2024 update to the EDCI now allows communities to see their annual change in these capacity areas over time, allowing you to further understand emerging strengths or challenges.
CONNECT: Communities getting NERDE
This month's spotlight is the Northeastern Colorado Association of Local Governments who used the National Economic Resilience Data Explorer (NERDE) to successfully incorporate local area metrics into their 2024 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. A huge round of applause to Kirsten McGregor, CRE and NCALG on their successful submission of this CEDS!
BRIEF: The Challenges and Opportunities to the Local Workforce Associated with Community Scale Energy Transitions
Energy transitions are no longer just environmental imperatives but are also reshaping the economic and employment landscapes of communities nationwide. NERRC's latest article explores these dynamics, providing insights into the current workforce landscape in traditional energy sectors and anticipated shifts in employment as communities embrace renewable energy solutions.
Explore your workforce in the NERDE Data Explorer to assess opportunities and challenges posed by transitions to the energy sector.
UPCOMING EVENTS
UC Cohort: Leveraging Argonne's NERRC Tools for Economic Development Research
University Centers have extensive expertise and are always searching for new tools to leverage. Alison Turner from Argonne National Laboratory will be presenting on the NERRC tools, emphasizing the latest updates with the Economic Development Capacity Index (EDCI). Turner will be sharing use cases for the tools, and will seek feedback from attendees. These tools are useful for University Centers, as they can be used to assess critical elements that contribute to a county's overall economic development capacity. This information can be used to support or inform planning, project identification, or applications for assistance.
PAST EVENTS
2024 Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR)
The 2024 SOAR Summit was a fantastic success, drawing over 1,200 attendees, 100 exhibitors, 80+ speakers, and featuring 32 engaging sessions. Iain Hyde presented on Data Tools and AI Tools in Grant Preparedness, showcasing practical applications of AI for analyzing funding trends, assessing the viability of grants, and predicting the likelihood of success. Participants left equipped with actionable strategies to integrate these tools into their workflows, ultimately saving time and increasing the quality and competitiveness of their grant proposals.
2024 National Association of Development Organizations Annual Training Conference
Technology is transforming every aspect of our lives, including the practice of regional economic development planning and artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a pivotal tool for regional development organizations. Join this session to explore how AI can enhance strategies, optimize decision-making, and drive regional growth and prosperity.