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The U.S. Economic Development Administration announced funding for projects that advance innovation, boost competitiveness, and create jobs. Grants will be given to innovations in commercialization, regional innovation clusters, global export promotion, and green technology. The deadline for submitting an entry is August 27, 2010. Awards winners will be announced on October 27, 2010. EDA's Innovation in Economic Development Awards (Formerly the EDA Excellence Award Program) recognize innovative economic development projects or strategies of national significance. The awards are designed to showcase best practices and highlight outstanding results.

This year's four award categories are:

• Innovation in Regional Innovation Clusters (RICs). The entry advances the development of geographic concentrations of firms and industries that do business regionally, across sectors.
• Innovation in Commercialization. The entry promotes the commercialization of university research and technology, business incubators and research parks to foster job creation.
• Innovation in Global Export Promotion. The entry successfully promotes American goods overseas and manufacturing revitalization, bolstering competitiveness abroad and creating higher-skill, higher-wage jobs.
• Innovation in Green Technology. The entry promotes innovative strategies in the development of environmentally-friendly technology, projects, or partnerships that attract substantial private capital investment and create higher-skill, higher-wage jobs.

For complete details about this opportunity and the application, click here.