Investing Wisely

By Courtney Dunbar

 

While Olsson Associates offers comprehensive design solutions for public and private infrastructure projects, we are ultimately interested in partnering with our clients to provide them with the biggest "bang for their buck" for their project investments.

All roads lead somewhere, but the communities that control the direction using creative thought processes control the destination. Olsson can capably assist communities in bolstering all forms of community sustainability, including job growth and infrastructure planning for durable, regional economies. We'd like you to see us as your economic development partners.

Our firm offers a complimentary set of services to help communities make wise choices for community investment. From industrial master planning to collaborative economic targeting and feasibility assessments, we can help communities in their efforts to attract quality jobs and capital investment opportunities.

Surprisingly, many communities are not aware of the amount of grant funds that are tied to those two very important community enhancements: job growth and capital investment. For this reason, we would like to introduce you to one such agency where grant applications are evaluated through the project's ability to advance global competitiveness, create jobs, leverage public and private resources, and promote regional innovation and collaboration.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce prioritizes projected job growth and the increase in capital investment in determining its grant awards. This agency places more than $300 million annually in communities throughout the U.S., and it is our goal to help you receive some of these funds for your projects.
The EDA has set its investment priorities as follows:

Collaborative Regional Innovation: Initiatives that support the development and growth of innovation clusters based on existing regional competitive strengths, that promote public/private collaboration, and that support the growth of existing and emerging industries

Public/Private Partnerships: Investments that use both public and private sector resources and leverage complementary investments by government, public, or non-profit entities

National Strategic Priorities: Initiatives that encourage job growth and business expansion in clean energy, green technologies, sustainable manufacturing, information technology infrastructure, ethnically diverse enterprises, health care, and alternative fuel technologies

Global Competitiveness: Investments to support high-growth businesses and innovation-based entrepreneurs

Environmentally-Sustainable Development: Investments that encompass best practices in "environmentally sustainable development," which is broadly defined to include projects that enhance environmental quality

Economically Distressed and Underserved Communities: Investments that strengthen diverse communities that have suffered disproportionate economic and job losses

The EDA typically funds up to 50 percent of total project costs. We at Olsson Associates are familiar with the EDA's application process and allied staff members. We can assist you, step-by-step, in completing your application for funds.

Olsson is strategically poised to help you assess opportunities to receive funds for projects through the EDA from initial planning and visioning through financing for completion. Please contact Courtney Dunbar at 402.938.2432 or cdunbar@oaconsulting.com to discuss.

 

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