DSU Awarded $500,000 Grant for Economic Dev. Project

SP
Sandra Phoenix
Fri, Oct 10, 2014 10:24 AM

Delaware State University News
October 9, 2014
DSU Awarded $500,000 Grant for Economic Dev. Project
The U.S. Commerce Economic Development Administration has awarded the DSU Center for Economic Development and International Trade (UCEDIT) a three-year $500,000 grant to implement an island-wide (St. Croix, St. Thomas, St,. John, and Water Island) geographic information system to map the regional assets of the Virgin Islands.
The principal investigator of the project is Dr. Michael H. Casson Jr., director of the UCEDIT and associate professor of economics.
The UCEDIT will do asset mapping as a critical first step in marshaling the resources that the U.S. Virgin Islands can leverage to support an integrated workforce and economic development initiatives. Asset mapping will be undertaken at several different levels including, but not limited to the following:

  • An inventory will be undertaken of key resources that can be utilized in a development effort.

  • Provide a deep understanding of the key networks and cultural attitudes that shape the regional economy, indicate "gap" areas that require further investment, and provide a baseline by which to judge future progress toward regional prosperity. To obtain this information UCEDIT will conduct significant research to assess the impact of regional assets-human, financial, institutional, and natural among others-on the innovation and productivity that ultimately drive the prosperity of local citizens.

  • Inform public and private sectors
    "To achieve its economic and workforce development goals, the U.S. Virgin Islands has its own unique set of assets - tangible and intangible - to call upon," Dr. Casson said. "While these resources may or may not provide an advantage over other regions with similar goals, they do provide the foundation for actions that the U.S. Virgin Islands can take in realistic hopes of improving its overall competitive position."
    The DSU Center for Economic Development and International Trade was established in 2011 through a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The UCEDIT focuses on providing to state, local and international governments, as well as to public and non-public entities, timely economic information and reliable analysis through short term and long-term strategic views of economic forces to state, local and international government.
    "Dr. Casson's island-wide asset mapping grant award in the Virgin Islands further demonstrates the expertise and capacity of the College of Business to uniquely and effectively contribute to economic development initiatives both within the State of Delaware and globally," said Donna T. Covington, dean of the DSU College of Business.

SANDRA M. PHOENIX
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Delaware State University News October 9, 2014 DSU Awarded $500,000 Grant for Economic Dev. Project The U.S. Commerce Economic Development Administration has awarded the DSU Center for Economic Development and International Trade (UCEDIT) a three-year $500,000 grant to implement an island-wide (St. Croix, St. Thomas, St,. John, and Water Island) geographic information system to map the regional assets of the Virgin Islands. The principal investigator of the project is Dr. Michael H. Casson Jr., director of the UCEDIT and associate professor of economics. The UCEDIT will do asset mapping as a critical first step in marshaling the resources that the U.S. Virgin Islands can leverage to support an integrated workforce and economic development initiatives. Asset mapping will be undertaken at several different levels including, but not limited to the following: * An inventory will be undertaken of key resources that can be utilized in a development effort. * Provide a deep understanding of the key networks and cultural attitudes that shape the regional economy, indicate "gap" areas that require further investment, and provide a baseline by which to judge future progress toward regional prosperity. To obtain this information UCEDIT will conduct significant research to assess the impact of regional assets-human, financial, institutional, and natural among others-on the innovation and productivity that ultimately drive the prosperity of local citizens. * Inform public and private sectors "To achieve its economic and workforce development goals, the U.S. Virgin Islands has its own unique set of assets - tangible and intangible - to call upon," Dr. Casson said. "While these resources may or may not provide an advantage over other regions with similar goals, they do provide the foundation for actions that the U.S. Virgin Islands can take in realistic hopes of improving its overall competitive position." The DSU Center for Economic Development and International Trade was established in 2011 through a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The UCEDIT focuses on providing to state, local and international governments, as well as to public and non-public entities, timely economic information and reliable analysis through short term and long-term strategic views of economic forces to state, local and international government. "Dr. Casson's island-wide asset mapping grant award in the Virgin Islands further demonstrates the expertise and capacity of the College of Business to uniquely and effectively contribute to economic development initiatives both within the State of Delaware and globally," said Donna T. Covington, dean of the DSU College of Business. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!