EDA Southwest Alabama grant
overview:
In April 2011, EDPA was awarded a $593,500 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to assess the economic development challenges and opportunities in south Alabama. EDA grant funds are being leveraged with $400,000 from the EDPA Foundation, along with $78,000 in in-kind servicves from Aegis Technoloiges for a total of more than $1 million.
The project will engage resources from across the state and will result in both short and long-term strategic plans to encourage economic recovery and economic sustainability in the eight-county region most affected by the 2010 Gulf oil spill. Counties include: Baldwin, Clarke, Mobile, Choctaw, Conecuh, Escambia, Monroe, and Washtington
partnering organizations:
Alabama Community College System: Alabama’s two-year college system will create a workforce development plan that will define the current situation, identifying shortages, surpluses and competency gaps. A three to five-year workforce development plan will address recruiting, developing, and retaining the work force needed for the future.
University of Alabama in Huntsville/Aegis Technologies: The University of Alabama in Huntsville and Huntsville-based Aegis Technologies will partner to model the current and future transportation infrastructure needs and create a visual representation of the impact of growth on the region through a virtual 3-D terrain model. This tool provides regional decision makers a way to better understand the effects of economic growth on transportation projects as well as identify potential future trouble areas, and justify state and federal investments.
University of Alabama at Birmingham: UAB will assess the current and future economic impact of the oil spill on the health services sector through surveys of providers across the region. Issues are expected to include shortages of qualified personnel, indigent patients and inadequate infrastructure. UAB will Partner with USA to analyze oil spill related Medicaid claims and make projects of future health care needs. UAB will provide recommendations for mitigating the short and longer term economic impact of health care challenges.
University of South Alabama: USA will conduct economic impact analyses on suggested growth target sectors to help the region prioritize economic development projects that will provide the greatest growth opportunity. USA will also partner with UAB on field work and strategies designed to lessen the economic impact of health care issues.
Auburn University: Auburn University will orchestrate work in progress and developmental tools towards consensus-tested strategies and action steps. Auburn is charged with quarterly meetings of project participants as well as consensus building through a summit of regional leadership.
