The University Center for Economic Development (UCED) at the named Dr. Frederick Steinmann as its new director, effective July 1, 2022. Steinmann’s predecessor, Dr. Thomas Harris, held the position for 30 years since the center’s inception. Harris will continue to serve the center as part-time faculty alongside Steinmann and new center faculty member Dr. Richard Bartholet, the director of the Sontag Entrepreneurship Competition.
Steinmann earned his bachelor’s and master's degrees in economics from the College of Business at the University and holds a doctorate of policy, planning and development from the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy. He has previously served as an assistant research professor with the center and as the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä Cooperative Extension educator for Eureka County.
“We’re hoping to broaden our outreach and engagement efforts,’” Steinmann said. “We especially want to help ÁùºÏ±¦µä’s Indigenous communities and support entrepreneurs.”
The center received a five-year grant for $1.65 million from federal, state and local funding, implementing cash matching of funds for the first time. The United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) contributed $825,000, and the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) provided the center with a $125,000 grant.
“We’re very appreciative of the support from the EDA and the GOED,” Steinmann said. “With this support, the center will be able to make these resources more attainable for ÁùºÏ±¦µäns.”
UCED supports economic development in ÁùºÏ±¦µä by providing resources through the University to organizations and areas that can benefit from job and income creation and retention efforts. Through the renewed funding from federal, state and local sources, the center will continue to support local governments, regional economic development authorities, various state government agencies, and other private sector firms and non-profit community-based organizations across the state in a variety of capacities.
