Julie Lenzer Kirk describes herself as a serial entrepreneur. Now the head of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), she is charged with driving programs and policies that support innovative economic development such as innovation-based entrepreneurship and regional innovation clusters.

1. 1
The Quest for Sustainable Regional Prosperity
United States Department of CommerceJulie LenzerKirk
Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

2. •Increase U.S. global economic competitiveness
•Help communities become:
•Resilient
•Agile
•Economically stable
Improved quality of life
START WITH THE END IN MIND
Why do we do what we do?

3. •Regional approach address unique needs
•Invest in the ecosystem builders
•Focus on capacity building
•Preference for public / private partnerships
•Looking for catalytic investments
HOW DO WE DO IT?.
Creating the conditions for economic growth.

4. •Regional and national grant programs
•Public works authorization focused on distressed communities
•America COMPETES funding removes distressed requirement
•Leverage data into information
•Identify and share best practices
•Programs across the continuum  dependent on community stage
WHAT DO WE DO?.
Investments, Tools, and Connections

5. HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Basic Infrastructure
Transportation
Utilities

6. HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
Broadband
Cellular
Wireless
Transportation
Utilities

7. HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Business Support
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
Incubators
Accelerators
Policies
Capital
Broadband
Cellular
Wireless
Transportation
Utilities

8. HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Engines of Innovation
Business Support
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
Universities / R&D
Commercialization
Capital
Policies
Incubators
Accelerators
Policies
Capital
Broadband
Cellular
Wireless
Transportation
Utilities

9. HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Connected Ecosystem
Engines of Innovation
Business Support
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
Universities / R&D
Commercialization
Capital
Policies
Incubators
Accelerators
Policies
Capital
Broadband
Cellular
Wireless
Transportation
Utilities

10. HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Connected Ecosystem
Engines of Innovation
Business Support
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
CULTURE
Universities / R&D
Commercialization
Capital
Policies
Incubators
Accelerators
Policies
Capital
Broadband
Cellular
Wireless
Transportation
Utilities

11. Realized potential.
Sustainable, global competitiveness
Improved quality of life.
THE BOTTOM LINE

12. Julie LenzerKirk
jkirk@eda.gov
Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration
THANK YOU!