New Obama Administration Initiative to Spur Job Creation and Accelerate Economic Growth in 20 Regions Across the Country

16 Federal agencies come together to support development of high-growth industry clusters in 21 states

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Obama Administration today announced the winners of the $37 million Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, a multi-agency competition launched in May to support the advancement of 20 high-growth, regional industry clusters. Investments from three federal agencies and technical assistance from 13 additional agencies will promote development in areas such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, aerospace and clean technology, in rural and urban regions in 21 states. Projects are driven by local communities that identify the economic strengths of their areas, with funding awarded to the best proposals.

These public-private partnerships are expected to create more than 4,800 jobs and 300 new businesses, as well as retain another 2,400 jobs and train approximately 4,000 workers for careers in high-growth industries, according to grantee estimates. Each of the 20 awards average about $1.8 million per project, and winning clusters will contribute another $13 million in total matching funds.

"The winning projects of the challenge are innovative and impressive. The grants announced today demonstrate the Administration's commitment to accelerate the development of strong industry clusters that promote robust economic environments and help develop a skilled workforce," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This is the type of investment the President is calling for as part of his continued commitment to job creation."

Strong regional clusters grow from dynamic public-private partnerships that bring together business leaders, universities, non-profits, government officials and other strategic partners to help regions capitalize on shared strengths to enhance the local economy, create jobs, and compete globally.

"The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge brings the public and private sectors together to build on America's regional strengths and create local jobs in key industries of the future," Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank said. "This initiative is a shining example of how the federal government is working collaboratively and leveraging existing resources to enhance local efforts to build public-private partnerships that support economic growth and job creation."

Originally a $33 million initiative, the Challenge has grown to $37 million with increasing commitments from federal funding partners. The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration is investing $19.5 million for technical skills training; the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration is investing $14.5 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance funds; and the Small Business Administration (SBA) is investing $3 million in technical assistance. 

"SBA has a long history of support for regional clusters, and the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge is an important next step," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills.  "I am pleased that SBA is contributing funding to bring underserved small businesses into regional clusters across the country.  By working with other federal agencies, we can link, leverage, and align our resources to give small businesses the tools they need to work together, grow and create jobs."

The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge is just one example of how the Obama Administration is collaborating to ensure a smarter use of federal resources to foster regional innovation in support of sustainable economic prosperity. Strong industry clusters – such as the Research Triangle in North Carolina or Silicon Valley in California – promote robust economic ecosystems and the development of a skilled workforce, both of which are critical to long-term regional success.

The winning projects of the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge announced today include:

• Rockford, IL: Rockford Area Aerospace Cluster
• Southeast, MI: Southeast Michigan-Advanced Energy Storage Systems Initiative
• Pittsburgh, PA: Southwestern Pennsylvania Revitalization
• Northeast, OH: Northeast Ohio Speed-to-Market Accelerator
• FL: Space Coast Clean Energy Jobs Accelerator
• Knoxville & Oak Ridge, TN: Advanced Composites Employment Accelerator
• Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Regional Water Accelerator Project
• MO and KS: KC Regional Jobs Accelerator
• GA: Atlanta Health Information Technology Cluster
• AR, MO, OK: The ARK: Acceleration, Resources, Knowledge
• St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Bioscience Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Project
• OR and WA: Portland Regional Clean Tech Advance Initiative
• San Diego, CA: San Diego-Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Generation Training and Demonstration Center
• Puget Sound, WA: Washington Interactive Media Accelerator 
• Hudson Valley, NY: New York Renewable Energy Cluster
• Finger Lakes, NY: Finger Lakes Food Processing Cluster Initiative
• MT, ND, SD: Upper Missouri Tribal Environmental Risk Mitigation 
• South Central, KS: Center for Innovation and Enterprise Engagement
• Northeast, MN: Minnesota's Mining Cluster
• Northern, Maine: GreenME

The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge is part of the Obama Administration's Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative, an interagency, place-based effort coordinated by the White House. The following federal agencies are collaborating to support this competition: U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, International Trade Administration, Minority Business Development Agency, and National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership; U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. Department of Education; U.S. Department of Energy; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Department of Transportation; U.S. Department of Treasury; Environmental Protection Agency; National Science Foundation; and Small Business Administration.

For more information on the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, click here.

News Media Contacts: DOC: Shira Kramer, 202-482-4883, [email protected]
DOL: Josh Lamont, 202-693-4661, [email protected] 
SBA: Hayley Meadvin, 202-205-6948, [email protected]

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration