What a $1 billion challenge says about the state of U.S. competitiveness
Over the past two months, the five of us have been part of a community of practice selected by the Economic Development Administration to coach the winners of the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge (“BBBRC”). Along with partners at America Achieves, the Federation of American Scientists, the National League of Cities, and others, we have spent a great deal of time reflecting on what the BBBRC means for American competitiveness in this moment.
To recap, the BBBRC, implemented as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, is aimed at advancing U.S. competitiveness by scaling distinctive industry clusters, driving quality job growth and achieving equitable outcomes.
The program has been smartly structured as a multi-phased process. The funding—up to $500,000 for technical assistance grants awarded to winners of a first phase, and between $25 million and $100 million for project execution awarded to a…
