Economic Development Research Partners

Economic Development Research Partners
Name	Economic Development Research Partners
Type	Nonprofit research organization
Founded	2005
Headquarters	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Region served	United States
Leader title	Executive Director

Economic Development Research Partners is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit research organization that conducts applied analysis on labor market, workforce, and regional development issues. It works with state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, philanthropic foundations, and educational institutions to design policy-relevant studies and program evaluations. The organization is known for collaborations with government entities, academic centers, and industry associations on topics such as occupational forecasting, sector strategies, and program evaluation.

History

Founded in 2005 amid debates over regional competitiveness and workforce development reform, the organization emerged during a period of policy activity involving the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Education, and state-level workforce agencies such as the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the California Workforce Development Board. Early projects connected to metropolitan policy efforts in the Twin Cities and partnerships with think tanks including the Brookings Institution, Urban Institute, and Economic Policy Institute. Work in the late 2000s intersected with initiatives from the National Governors Association, National Skills Coalition, and major philanthropic actors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. During the 2010s the group expanded collaborations with research centers at universities such as the University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of California, Berkeley, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while responding to federal initiatives tied to legislation like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Mission and Activities

The organization's stated mission focuses on improving labor market outcomes through evidence-based analysis and program design. Activities typically involve quantitative modeling, evaluation, and technical assistance to agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and state labor market information offices. It also engages with sector-based partners such as the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Hospital Association, and regional chambers of commerce like the Minneapolis Regional Chamber. The group routinely advises community colleges such as Hennepin Technical College and workforce boards like the Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council on curriculum alignment and employer engagement. It participates in convenings organized by the Aspen Institute, Council of State Governments, and International Labour Organization-linked forums.

Research and Publications

Publications include labor market dashboards, occupational forecasts, program evaluations, and policy briefs used by agencies such as the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Methodological guidance references standards from the American Educational Research Association and draws on data from the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics program and the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Reports have been cited by foundations such as the Kresge Foundation and the Ford Foundation and published in collaboration with academic journals and centers like the Harvard Kennedy School, Johns Hopkins University, and the Russell Sage Foundation. The organization has produced workforce projections for sectors represented by the American Council on Education, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

Programs and Partnerships

Programmatic work includes technical assistance for regional planning entities such as the Metropolitan Council (Minnesota), sector strategy development for state agencies like the Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development, and evaluation contracts with philanthropic intermediaries like Social Finance and The Rockefeller Foundation. Partnerships extend to training and credentialing initiatives involving the Lumina Foundation, the American Association of Community Colleges, and trade associations such as the National Restaurant Association and the Construction Industry Training Board. The organization has also partnered with workforce data consortia including the Workforce Information Advisory Council and academic labs like the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School.

Funding and Governance

Funding sources include government contracts from entities like the U.S. Department of Commerce and multiple state agencies, grants from foundations such as the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and fee-for-service work with regional economic development corporations like Greater MSP. Governance typically involves a board with representatives from academic institutions, philanthropic organizations, and industry, often overlapping with networks that include members from National League of Cities, American Planning Association, and regional chambers. Financial oversight aligns with nonprofit standards promoted by groups such as Independent Sector and the National Council of Nonprofits.

Impact and Criticism

The organization’s work has influenced workforce policy debates in regions including the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Northeast Corridor, informing investments by state workforce boards, community college systems, and employers represented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Its methodological contributions to occupational forecasting have been incorporated into planning tools used by metropolitan planning organizations like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco Bay Area). Critiques have come from some academics and advocacy groups such as Demos and Center for American Progress regarding the reliance on administrative data sets and the implications of sector-based strategies for equity and job quality. Debates also reflect tensions seen in discussions involving the Economic Policy Institute and the Manhattan Institute over policy prescriptions and evaluation metrics.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Minneapolis