Portal:Department of Commerce

Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce (DOC) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with promoting the conditions for economic growth and opportunity.

Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for business and government decision making and helping to set industrial standards. Its main purpose is to promote job and economic growth, encourage economic development and block harmful trade practices of other nations.

It is headed by the Secretary of Commerce, who reports directly to the President of the United States, and is a member of the President's Cabinet. The Department of Commerce is headquartered in the Herbert C. Hoover Building in Washington, D.C.

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Organization

Secretary of Commerce and Deputy Secretary of Commerce

Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs

Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property

Patent and Trademark Office

Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology

Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development

Minority Business Development Agency

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Partnerships

Economic Development Administration

Main article: Economic Development Administration

https://www.eda.gov/partner-initiatives

Communities of Practice

EDA’s Communities of Practice strengthen America’s economic development infrastructure by capturing, organizing, and scaling practices at a national level.

Disaster Recovery

EDA has a long history of successfully supporting disaster recovery and resiliency efforts. EDA's role in disaster recovery is to facilitate the timely and effective delivery of Federal economic development assistance to support long-term community economic recovery planning and project implementation, redevelopment and resilience. EDA is uniquely positioned to coordinate federal support for regional disaster recovery efforts in partnership with its extensive network of Economic Development Districts (EDDs), University Centers, and other stakeholders in designated impact areas.

Economic Development Integration (EDI)

EDA possesses broad and deep experience in successfully coordinating resources across multiple programs and special initiatives. Based upon this experience and EDA’s historic track record of successful collaboration with a range of stakeholders (both federal and non-federal), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated EDA to lead the federal government’s efforts to maximize the integration of economic development resources from all sources, including federal, state, local and philanthropic, to achieve more impactful and sustainable outcomes for communities across America.

EDA Vista Corps

EDA provides funding and technical assistance to advance prosperity in distressed communities, while CNCS provides human resources in the form of “Volunteers in Service to America” (VISTAs).

National Advisory Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship (NACIE)

NACIE is charged with identifying and recommending solutions to drive the innovation economy, including growing a skilled STEAM workforce and removing barriers for entrepreneurs ushering innovative technologies into the market. The council also facilitates Federal dialogue with the innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development communities.

The Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE)

The Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) is the premier economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurial network of the Americas. One of the leading high-level events of the Organization of American States (OAS), ACE is convened in the context of the RIAC by its Chair Pro Tempore; the Government of the United States, through the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) in coordination with the International Trade Administration (ITA), and the U.S. Department of State; and the General Secretariat of the OAS. ACE convenes senior government, business, policy, and economic decision-makers to experience the diverse range of projects, strategic investments, public-private partnerships, and best practices from a particular region’s economic, innovation, and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Participants in the program engage with innovation hubs, advanced technology centers, leading firms, educational and research institutions; explore local, regional, urban, and rural economic development models; share experiences and knowledge; build networks to enhance competitiveness in the Americas; promote sustainable and inclusive economic development; and increase trade and investment opportunities.

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Organization chart

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Political appointees

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Programs and initiatives

Economic Development Administration (EDA) Programs

https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs

American Rescue Plan

Six programs, collectively called Investing in America’s Communities, will equitably invest the $3 billion EDA received from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The programs aim to assist communities in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks. EDA is making a Coal Communities Commitment, allocating $300 million of this funding to ensure support for coal communities.

Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC)

Through ACC 2018, EDA designates a portion of its EAA funding to support communities and regions that have been negatively impacted by changes in the coal economy.

Build to Scale (B2S)

The Build to Scale (B2S) Program builds regional economies through scalable startups and includes three competitions supporting entrepreneurship, acceleration of company growth and increased access to risk capital across regional economies.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides the Economic Development Administration (EDA) with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

Economic Adjustment Assistance

Assists state and local interests in designing and implementing strategies to adjust or bring about change to an economy. The program focuses on areas that have experienced or are under threat of serious structural damage to the underlying economic base. Under Economic Adjustment, EDA administers its Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program, which supplies small businesses and entrepreneurs with the gap financing needed to start or expand their business.

Economic Recovery Corps

This program is a network of Economic Recovery Corps fellows to add human capital to local organizations focused on improving economic resilience and competitiveness in distressed regions across the country.

Equity Impact Investments

Equity Impact Investments provides technical assistance to enable organizations serving underserved populations and communities to participate in economic development planning and projects.

Local Technical Assistance

Helps fill the knowledge and information gaps that may prevent leaders in the public and nonprofit sectors in distressed areas from making optimal decisions on local economic development issues.

Planning

Supports local organizations (Economic Development Districts, Indian Tribes, and other eligible areas) with short and long-term planning efforts. The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Content Guidelines, provides suggestions, tools, and resources for developing comprehensive economic development strategies

Public Works

Empowers distressed communities to revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure to attract new industry, encourage business expansion, diversify local economies, and generate or retain long-term, private sector jobs and investment

Recompete Pilot Program

This program was recently authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, and funds were first appropriated via the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. EDA is underway with design and implementation of this program, and encourages interested stakeholders to learn more by reading the programs’ authorization at 15 U.S.C. § 3722b for Recompete and EDA’s Statement On Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriation.

Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs)

This program was recently authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, and funds were first appropriated via the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. EDA is underway with design and implementation of this program, and encourages interested stakeholders to learn more by reading the programs’ authorization at 15 U.S.C. § 3722a for Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs and EDA’s Statement On Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriation.

Research and National Technical Assistance (RNTA)

The RNTA program funds research, evaluation, and national technical assistance projects that promote competitiveness and innovation in distressed rural and urban regions throughout the United States and its territories.

Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

EDA provides Economic Adjustment Assistance (PDF) grants to eligible recipients to capitalize or recapitalize lending programs that service businesses that cannot otherwise obtain traditional bank financing (and in limited situations to governmental entities for public infrastructure). These loans provide access to capital as gap financing to enable small businesses to grow and generate new employment opportunities with competitive wages and benefits. Financing also helps retain jobs that might otherwise be lost, create wealth, and support minority and women-owned businesses.

Scaling Pandemic Resilience Through Innovation and Technology (SPRINT) Challenge

SPRINT Challenge awardees are leading projects that address the economic, health, and safety risks caused by the coronavirus pandemic through regional innovation and supporting the growth of scalable, technology-driven businesses. This national competition was designed to support the development, creation, or expansion of programs that accelerate technology-based economic development and respond to the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

STEM Talent Challenge

The U.S Economic Development Administration’s STEM Talent Challenge aims to build STEM talent training systems to strengthen regional innovation economies. The FY21 STEM Talent Challenge will award a total of $2 million in grants to organizations that are creating and implementing STEM talent development strategies that complement their region’s innovation economy.

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms

A national network of 11 Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers to help strengthen the competitiveness of American companies that have lost domestic sales and employment because of increased imports of similar goods and services

University Centers

A partnership of the federal government and academia that makes the varied and vast resources of universities available to the economic development community.

Others

Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) - International Trade Administration (ITA) provides financial and technical assistance to non-profit industry groups for projects enhancing global competitiveness of U.S. businesses.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Programs:
- Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) - Investment in broadband infrastructure deployment.
- State Broadband Initiative (SBI) - Supports statewide broadband planning and data collection activities.
Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative - Aims to improve patent quality through better work products, quality measurement, and customer service. - U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) delivers financial assistance to MBDA Business Centers and Specialty Centers for education, training, and advising minority business enterprises.
SelectUSA - An initiative to promote foreign direct investment in the U.S., involving coordination with other federal agencies, states, and localities.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Initiatives: Programs to cultivate a federal workforce that draws from the full diversity of the nation, promoting equitable employment opportunities.
Trade Promotion Authority - Historical involvement in supporting U.S. businesses in international markets by advocating for trade agreements and monitoring trade practices.
Patent Quality Summit - Aimed at engaging the public in discussions to enhance patent quality processes.