This measure provides an indication of whether the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process is market based and whether EDA is helping to create an environment conducive to the creation and retention of higher skill, higher wage jobs. Research conducted on 2002 data established a baseline measure for subsequent years.

This is a follow up to the previous measure: “Percentage of Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC) clients taking action as a result of the assistance facilitated by the TAAC.” This measure will determine if the assistance facilitated by the TAACs is market based and results in desired outcomes. The centers conduct client surveys and report findings to EDA.

Eleven EDA funded TAACs work with U.S. firms and industries that have been adversely impacted as a result of increased imports of similar or competitive goods to identify specific actions to improve each firm’s competitive position in world markets. “Taking action as a result of the assistance facilitated” means to implement an aspect of the Trade Adjustment Assistance provided by the TAAC. The TAACs provide three main types of assistance: help in preparing petitions for certification, analysis of the firm’s strengths and weaknesses and development of an adjustment proposal, and in depth assistance for implementation of the recovery strategy as set forth in the adjustment proposal.

This measure is a follow up to the previous measure: "Percentage of University Center (UC) clients taking action as a result of the assistance facilitated by the UC." This measure determines if the assistance provided by the UC is market based and results in desired outcomes. UCs develop client profiles and report to EDA, which will evaluate and verify the performance of each UC once every three years.

This performance indicator measures sum of private investment leveraged by communities and regions attributable to the EDA grant to support workforce development through training.

This performance indicator measures the sum of private investment leveraged, by communities and regions, attributable to the EDA grant to support entrepreneurship.

This performance indicator measures the estimated number of jobs created and retained, by communities and regions, attributable to the EDA grant to support entrepreneurship

Funding drives much of the discussion around what an organization can achieve. Measuring the impacts of EDA grants on grantees’ and clients’ abilities to gain additional funding is a strong indicator of grant success. This KPI reflects on the amount of financing and investment deals EDA's grantees and their clients obtained as a result of the grant and its provided services.