Pratt Center

Pratt Center, in partnership with the Urban Manufacturing Alliance (UMA), is excited to announce the launch of the Equitable Innovation Economies Initiative (EIE), a 3 year UMA project which will enable UMA’s member cities to collaborate in the development and implementation of strategies that leverage the growing innovation economy to advance equitable economic growth.

Overview of the EIE Initiative

Cities across the United States are exploring ways to leverage their creative resources – from artists to universities to high-tech companies – to grow businesses and create jobs. Examples of these ‘innovation economy’ strategies include the designation of innovation districts and investment in the maker movement. While these initiatives can catalyze growth, without additional direction and support they will neither realize the full job creation potential of urban innovation economies, nor induce broad public benefits that empower people of color, immigrant communities and other populations facing barriers to employment. Inclusive growth requires a more deliberate, holistic approach integrating real estate, business, and workforce strategies, while strengthening the local production sector and building relationships between designers, engineers, entrepreneurs and local manufacturers.

Over the next 3 years, the UMA’s EIE initiative will enable member cities to collaboratively develop and implement strategies that expand the innovation economy by advancing more equitable economic development, particularly in their manufacturing sectors.

Participate in the EIE Pilot Working Group

This Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) seeks applications for the Equitable Innovation Economies (EIE) Pilot Working Group, the first phase of this multi-year initiative to help cities create jobs and build a more equitable local economy by capitalizing on their creative assets. The initiative is being led by the Pratt Center for Community Development, which is part of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. The RFEI is open to all UMA member cities and responses must be submitted by June 13, 2014. Each city may only submit one application. Pratt Center will review all responses and select 3-4 cities to participate in this initiative. If you are not currently a UMA member city, please join UMA to be considered for this working group. More information on membership can be found here. To view the full RFEI click here.

Please send applications and any questions to Tanu Kumar, tkumar@prattcenter.net.