In 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration finalized rules to allow new models for its Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) financing vehicle: Accrual and Reinvestor licenses. As I wrote at the time, these rules make the program a better fit for early-stage investment than it has been for the past…
From artificial intelligence regulation to tax policy, the federal government is poised to take actions in 2025 that will likely significantly impact technology advancement. Economic development practitioners should be tracking these developments and preparing to assist their entrepreneurs and researchers through the changes, so that their regions can maximize the…
The U.S. Small Business Administration is an important partner for many regional economic development strategies, and organizations therefore are concerned for what the next four years hold for the agency. From 2017-2020, we saw first Trump administration regularly propose to limit SBA’s funding, particularly for programs designed to assist entrepreneurs….
Business research and development activity is crucial for high-tech and high-growth firms and is therefore an important element of a regional economy. There are many ways that policymakers can usefully assess a region’s business R&D activity, including the value of R&D performed by companies, spending at institutions of higher education,…
With the start of the second Trump administration two months away, the top questions I am hearing from practitioners across the country continue to be variations of: “what will the next four years hold for economic development programs?” There are no definitive answers to be had, but we can learn…
DELAWARE, Ohio — Excel Regional Solutions LLC, a new consulting firm dedicated to strengthening America’s technological and economic competitiveness, is proud to announce its official launch. Founded by Jason Rittenberg, the firm aims to provide economic development organizations and coalitions with expert advocacy management, strategy development, and information services that…
