Research Matters – C2ER/LMI Institute July 2, 2026

Research Matters - Bi-Weekly Update

July 2, 2026 | Diana Romero

July 2, 2026

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Features

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Congratulations to the 2026 Award Honorees!

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We’re delighted to congratulate the winners of the 2026 Economic and Workforce Development Applied Research Awards!

The C2ER + LMI Institute awards programs recognize creative, high‑impact research that strengthens local, regional, and state community, economic, and workforce development initiatives, and this year’s honorees truly embody that mission.

We’d also like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who made it to Memphis for this year’s conference, including our attendees, partners, sponsors, and exhibitors. Your engagement, collaboration, energy, and support help make our community stronger each year and ensure this event continues to be a place where ideas move into action.

Please join us in celebrating the achievements of our award recipients and the forward‑thinking contributions they bring to our field.

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Special Thanks to Our Outgoing Board Members

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We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our outgoing Board members for their dedicated service, leadership, and contributions to the C2ER + LMI Institute community. Their guidance has strengthened our programs, advanced our mission, and supported the growth of practitioners across the country.

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Keith Bailey, Pennsylvania Department of Health – Harrisburg, PA
Heidi Reiber, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce – Asheville, NC
Mark White, University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign – Urbana, IL
Marion Phillips, Georgia Power – Atlanta, GA

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News & Reports

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Headlines

Agglomerations – A New Threat to Economic Data
Employment and Training Administration – Modernizing Federal Workforce Information Tools: Request for Information (RFI) on Online Career Tools and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) Program
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco – The Economic Value of AI at Work and at Home [Video]
Route Fifty – A ‘Bottom-Up’ and ‘In-House’ Approach to AI Workforce Training Gains Traction in San Jose
USAFacts – What Kinds of Jobs Do Young People Have?

Reports – From Our Members

Census Bureau – Celebrating 250 Years of America
Census Bureau – U.S. Fertility Continues to Drop but Still High in Some Counties

Reports – Non-members

Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy, Center for Democracy and Technology and Movement Advancement Project – State-Level Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Practices: Inclusive Data, Responsible Governance
Brookings – How Can We Improve Workforce Outcomes for Community College Students?
Bureau of Labor Statistics – American Time Use Survey – 2025 Results
Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Employment and Unemployment – May 2026
Economic Innovation Group – Measuring the Economic Effects of AI
World Economic Forum – Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Entry-Level Work: A Framework for Safeguarding and Reinventing Early Career Pathways

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Have a report you’d like to share?

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ICYMI

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CNBC – Core Inflation Rate Hit 3.4% in May, Highest Since October 2023, Fed’s Preferred Gauge Shows
MIT Technology Review – It’s Time to Address the Looming Crisis in Entry-Level Work

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Data Visualization

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Mapped: Where Workers Outnumber Jobs in America

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Careers

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Have an open position that might be of interest to C2ER members?

Let us post your job listing!

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Send the position title, description, and any other relevant information to Jennifer Gual.

Jobs are typically posted within 1 business day and postings remain active for 45 days if no closing date is specified.

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Our Events

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Building Data Capacity with Limited Resources: Practical Strategies for Regional Organizations

July 9, 2026

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

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How to Collaborate Within Your Regional Ecosystem

July 28, 2026

2:00 PM – 3:00 ET

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More Information

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More Information

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Communicating Your Regional Economic and Workforce Impact With Data

August 4, 2026

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

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C2ER +LMI Institute Annual Conference

June 9 – 11, 2027

Des Moines, IA

Pre-conference training June 8

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More Information

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Save the Date

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eLearning Courses

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Foundations of Economic Development Research I: Introduction to Data Sources

Any Place, Any Time

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Foundations of Economic Development Research II: Introduction to Regional Analysis Methods

Any Place, Any Time

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Basic LMI Analyst eLearning

Any Place, Any Time

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Industry Events

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2026 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition

July 17 – 20, 2026

New Orleans, LA

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Manufacturing Institute Workforce Summit

October 26 – 28, 20026

Indianapolis, IN

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2026 UEDA Summit

December 2 – 4, 2026

Pensacola, FL

More Information

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