What is the Maine
Economic Development Administration
University Center?
The Maine EDA University Center for Economic Development is a collaborative effort among University of Maine System campuses to provide the economic development community with technical assistance, applied research and outreach to advance the implementation of Maine’s 10-year economic development strategy and related plans.
Who Are We?
What do we do?
Economic Research & Projects
The EDA University Center research team (which includes faculty and staff from the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center and the School of Economics) advances research about community and economic development, but focuses on projects that foster understanding regional economic change, innovation, labor markets, economic resilience, and proactive strategies to improve local economies and quality of life in communities across Maine. The EDA University Center at UMaine distributes the findings of its research to policymakers, other researchers, public and private practitioners, and, perhaps most importantly, all Maine residents.
Work with Maine Communities
Once research is published and distributed, the Maine EDA University Center works with communities to use it to promote community and economic development and improve the quality of life in individual communities. The Maine EDA University Center at provides education and training, toolboxes, and hand-on assistance to communities and local organizations.
Funding Source
The University Center Community Economic Development Program is an initiative of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). University Centers (UCs) are considered to be long-term partners of the EDA and thus receive federal financial support. EDA grant funds to the Maine EDA University Center must be matched dollar-for-dollar by the University of Maine. At the University of Maine, faculty and researchers place a special emphasis on topic areas of community and economic development.