CREC Archived News

CREC, in collaboration with the Centre for Spatial Economics (C4SE), worked on the second phase of a three-phase project for the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board. The first phase of the project involved preparing an analysis of Sarnia Lambton's current and projected labor market supply and demand. For the second phase of the project, CREC and C4SE surveyed and interviewed employers in the region to further understand the region's labor force needs.
CREC recently hired two new staff members, Brandon Curtis and Ronald Kelly. In May 2009, Brandon Curtis was hired to work as a Research Assistant at the organization. His main duties include performing multiple research, data, and analysis tasks for CREC’s consulting projects. Ronald Kelly was hired in July 2009 to serve as the Training Coordinator/Advocacy Assistant for CREC and C2ER. His main duties include working with senior staff to develop and implement training programs and coordinating organizational advocacy efforts on behalf of regional economic development efforts.
CREC, in collaboration with the Institute for Decision Making, Iowa Workforce Development and Network Weavers, worked to develop a strategic regional workforce plan for an 11 county, tri-state region around Sioux City, Iowa. The project involved working with area schools, businesses, and community leaders to identify the workforce needs of the region and how to utilize the region's assets to help meet these needs.
CREC recently worked with Trade Development Associates to conduct an industry target analysis for the Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The analysis involved mapping value chains in the defense and homeland security-related industries and included identifying targets of particular interest to the Fort Bragg Regional Task Force. The project also involved identifying the occupational clusters of greatest interest in those value chains to be targeted for workforce development.
CREC is working with EntreWorks, RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, and PolicyOne Research to conduct a multi-year study for the Maine Department of Economic Development of state economic development program outcomes. The state's Comprehensive Economic Development Evaluation focuses on examining a wide array of Maine's policies and programs in economic development, entrepreneurship, and business and tax incentives. The project began in August 2008 and is expected to continue through the spring 2009 when the first year's results will become available.
Effective July 1st 2008 CREC has taken on the role as association manager for the Association of Public Data Users (APDU). CREC is working closely with the APDU Board of Directors to ensure the organization's on-going success. APDU, a national organization, was established 33 years ago and represents a network of public data producers, disseminators, and users concerned about the quality and availability of federal statistics.
In May 2008, the Racine County Workforce Development Board revealed their workforce strategy – "Higher Expectations." Produced in collaboration with CREC, the strategy identifies six major initiatives designed to address each of the county's most important challenges related to (1) raising standards for public education; (2) supporting stronger, more financially stable families; (3) creating jobs in communities with concentrated unemployment; (4) enhancing workforce transportation alternatives; (5) improving information about job opportunities in new and expanding companies; and (6) communicating a more positive community image. The plan was completed in close collaboration with the area business leaders as well as economic development, education, government, and the philanthropic community.
CREC is currently assisting the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (Rutherfordton, NC) in updating their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). CREC had helped the IPDC draft their original strategy in 2005.
Working in conjunction with Business Development Advisors (BDA), CREC is working on a report identifying the processes used to develop life sciences clusters in six different cities (Cleveland, Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and St. Louis). This work—commissioned by Detroit Renaissance—is a follow-up to a similar report commissioned in 2007 that looked at 10 leading US life sciences clusters.
CREC is working with 3 workforce development boards in Western North Carolina (High County WDB, Region C WDB and Western Piedmont WDB) and the Advantage West Economic Development Group, to draft a memorandum of agreement that will allow for more coordinated and effective delivery of workforce-related services in the region.
CREC/C2ER is currently working on a project for the Georgia Governor's Office of Workforce Development. This effort will provide data to support the Governor's Work Ready Regions initiative.
CREC is currently working on a project for the Hawaii Science and Technology Council evaluating Hawaii's S&T industries.
CREC/C2ER delivered seminar about formulating data-driven economic development strategies at the Philadelphia-Chicago Regional Economic Development Conference in Cleveland in May 2008.
CREC/C2ER delivered training related to creating data-driven, economic development strategies for the Advantage West Economic Development Group's Economic Development Advisory Council at Appalachian State University in April 2008.
CREC participated in the NIST MEP 2008 Annual Conference in Orlando on April 27-30, 2008 to document the role of MEP in the WIRED Initiatives.
CREC/C2ER delivered training related to creating data-driven, economic development strategies at the National Association of Workforce Boards in Washington, DC in February 2008.
Ken Poole and Mark White presented the findings of the Greater Nashville Area's Labor Market Opportunity study to key groups of area business people, economic and workforce development professionals and representatives from high education in January 2008.
CREC's research led to the consolidation of the state's economic research functions under the Arizona Department of Commerce mandated by its Governor Janet Napolitano on December 28, 2007.
CREC promotes Mark White, Ph.D., to Training and Technical Assistance Programs manager on November 1; will manage new US EDA training implementation grant as part of his duties.
CREC hires new Cost of Living Project manager, Dean Frutiger, to work with Data Products program, started November 5.
Erol Yildirim takes over as Director of Data Products; will manage new product development activities for C2ER.
CREC President Ken Poole briefs Fairfax County Economic Development Authority staff on recent Northern Virginia BRAC impact study, October 29.

CREC President featured in articles published in the Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal and Racine Times Journal, October 11, 2007
CREC teams with PAROS Group to help develop Racine County Workforce Development Strategy, Kick-off Meeting with 100 Community Leaders, October 10, 2007
Ken Poole, CREC President, Keynotes Oklahoma Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development, October 2, 2007
CREC staff helps Ohio compare its incentives policies to other states under contract with TechSolve, Inc.
US Economic Development Administration announces 3-year training delivery grant to the Council for Community and Economic Research; CREC staff to provide support in delivering “how-to” training on data-driven regional strategic planning.
Racine (WI) Workforce Development Board announces contract with CREC and PAROS Group, September 10, 2007.
US NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership renews 5-year contract with State Science and Technology Institute and CREC, August 15, 2007.
CREC to help 3 North Carolina Workforce Development Boards in developing collaborative partnership with regional economic development group under new NC Dept of Commerce grant, August 1, 2007

Latest News