University Economic Development Association

Funding for Communities Affected by Defense Industry Reductions

This free webinar is for UEDA members only and will be held on May 20, 2014 at 1 p.m. EDT. If you are interested in membership, please visit http://join.www.universityeda.org.

The President’s budget request marks the fifth consecutive year of procurement reductions at the Department of Defense (DoD). Do you know how this year’s budget will affect your region’s economy? How will you respond?

Through technical and financial assistance, the DoD’s Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) supports regions affected by defense procurement reductions.  States and communities that have been significantly impacted by reductions or cancellations in DoD programs can request OEA assistance to:  organize themselves to speak with one voice on behalf of affected workers, businesses, and communities; plan strategies to ease or offset local economic impacts; and carry out strategies through public-private ventures, with support from other Federal agencies as necessary.  Recent projects have used OEA resources to study reemployment opportunities for displaced workers, identify regional comparative advantages, and provide technical assistance to companies in an affected supply chain.

State governments may also request assistance from OEA to enhance their capacity to plan and carry out economic diversification activities and stimulate cooperation between statewide and local efforts in advance of industry reductions.  This program has helped states gather data on their defense supply chain, and identify or develop resources that can be mobilized in the event of a regional defense impact.

To register for this important webinar, click here.