Goal

To develop an HBCU economic development and technical assistance strategy that aligns with the Administration’s pillars of COVID-19, racial equity, economic recovery, and climate resilience.

Objective

Provide insight into how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can work with regional economic development ecosystems to successfully serve as a means to engage community leaders, leverage the involvement of the private sector, and establish a strategic blueprint for regional collaboration.

This engagement is a key component in establishing and maintaining a robust economic ecosystem by helping to build regional capacity (through hard and soft infrastructure) that contributes to individual, firm, and community success using an HBCU as a catalyst for investment. In addition, there will be an emphasis on place-based financial investments to spur educational, research, entrepreneurship, and economic development support resources to advance inclusive and sustainable economic growth.  Further, there will be a specific focus on the design of an HBCU economic development and technical assistance strategy.

Deliverables

1. Develop a Federal Agency Economic Development Programs and Technical Assistance Matrix for HBCUs
2. Develop HBCU Economic Development Profiles based on county level data
3. Conduct an HBCU Peer-to-Peer Listening Session focused on providing technical assistance
4. Establish Evaluation and Assessment Tools

Cluster Members

Chair

Jackie L. Williams, Ph.D., M.A.

Director, Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

 

Co-Chair

Nikita Pearson

Director, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

 

Members:

Francine E. Alkisswani, Ph.D.

Minority Broadband Initiative,  National Telecommunications and Information Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce

 

Ann Augustyn

Acting Director/Principal Deputy Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity

U.S. Department of Energy

 

Trina Bilal

Program Manager, Office of Economic Impact & Diversity

U.S. Department of Energy

 

Gregory Dale

Economic Development Specialist, Rural Development

U.S. Department of Agriculture

 

Jacqueline Davis-Slay

Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Administration

U.S. Department of Agriculture

 

Barrett L. Haga, Ph.D.
Senior Administrator for Economic Engagement,  Economic Development Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce

 

Christy Jackiewicz

Chief,  Minority Educational Institutions Division, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity

U.S. Department of Energy

 

Alexander Jeffery

Pathways Intern, Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development

Howard University – Law Student

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

 

Melissa Jenkins,  WOSB Program Manager & In-reach & Outreach/Program Analyst/Underserved Communities

U.S. Department of the Treasury