Cornell University designated as New York State’s EDA University Center for 2008-2011
The mission of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) within the U.S. Department of Commerce is to help partners across the U.S. create wealth and minimize poverty by promoting a favorable business involvement to attract private capital investment and higher-skill, higher-wage jobs through world-class capacity-building, planning, infrastructure, research grants and strategic initiatives.
Institutions of higher education have many assets, such as faculty, staff, libraries, laboratories, and computer systems, which can help to address local economic problems and opportunities. With funding from EDA, institutions of higher education establish and operate University Centers, which provide technical assistance to public and private sector organizations with the goal of enhancing local economic development.
The EDA University Center at Cornell will leverage the large research enterprise, the land-grant model of community outreach and development, and its vibrant intellectual/ technology transfer and commercialization operation to effect economic development in New York State.
Cornell will focus its economic development objectives based on the concept of universities as a catalysts and accelerators for economic growth. Through a combination of research, outreach and application, technological innovation and venture creation, Cornell will catalyze community economic development. The desire to positively affect the economic vitality of local, regional and communities is central to the University’s mission.
Click here for information about Cornell Organizations involved in Economic Development