Proposed Federal Budget Signals Cuts to Core Economic Data Capacity

The FY 2026 Budget Appendix includes staffing shifts across the three federal agencies most critical to economic and labor market intelligence: the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). These changes may have serious implications for the quality, timeliness, and availability of the data that state and local leaders rely on every day.

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Economic Development Items to Watch in the American Rescue Plan

C2ER’s Executive Director Ken Poole summarizes the economic development impacts on the 2021 American Rescue Plan: The American Rescue Plan proposed by President Biden and currently being considered in the U.S. House would provide $1.9 trillion in economic relief.  While the proposed $1,400 stimulus checks and the national vaccination plan are getting most of the […]

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SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs Offer Key Resources through the CARES Act

This blog is the second in a series that will highlight opportunities for OEA grantees to sustain and enhance work undertaken in OEA-funded programs by leveraging new programs and funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic response. Program Description  The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Entrepreneurial Development (OED) manages several technical assistance programs that provide training and counseling to small business. The network […]

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President’s Budget Overview for Economic Development and Statistics

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Economic Development Related Cuts The Budget proposes to eliminate funding for many independent agencies, including: the Appalachian Regional Commission; the Delta Regional Authority; the Denali Commission; the Northern Border Regional Commission. Eliminates the Economic Development Administration, which provides small grants with limited measurable impacts and duplicates other Federal programs, such as Rural Utilities Service grants […]

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