The U.S. Economic Development Administration's investment policy is designed to establish a foundation for sustainable job growth and the building of durable regional economies throughout the United States. This foundation builds upon two key economic drivers - innovation and regional collaboration. Innovation is crucial to global competitiveness, new and better jobs, a resilient economy, and the attainment of national economic goals. Regional cooperation is essential for economic recovery because regions are the centers of competition in the new global economy, and those that work together to leverage resources and use their strengths to overcome weaknesses will fare better than those that do not. EDA encourages its partners around the country to develop initiatives that advance new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic conditions. 

Counties are responsible for providing core services such as human services, criminal justice, public welfare, and infrastructure to communities of all sizes across America. NACo represents the 3,069 counties in the nation. The organization advances issues before the federal government from the county level, improves community education and awareness of county governments, and assists in finding and sharing information through education and research.

• Some of their services include:Legislative

• Research

• Technical

• Public affairs

• Enterprise

A handy online research tool is NACo’s County Explorer. It is an interactive map that users can compare data on all the counties within its membership. Some of the data points that businesses may find useful are demographic information, locations of public lands, federal funding available, transportation and infrastructure information.

The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is made up of 29 agencies and offices with nearly 100,000 employees who serve the American people at more than 4,500 locations across the country and abroad.

They provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote agriculture production that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve our Nation's natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.

HUD is responsible for national policy and programs that address America's housing needs, that improve and develop the Nation's communities, and enforce fair housing laws. HUD’s community development activities build stronger and more resilient communities through an ongoing process of identifying and addressing needs, assets, and priority investments. This investment in community development may support infrastructure, economic development projects, installation of public facilities, community centers, housing rehabilitation, public services, clearance/acquisition, microenterprise assistance, code enforcement, homeowner assistance and many other identified needs.

One program that addresses economic development is HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. It is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. This program provides annual grants on a formula basis to 1209 general units of local government and States.