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By the Numbers: Continuing to Outpace Expectations, U.S. Economy Gains Over 300,000 Jobs in March

KCPullen@doc.gov — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:04:00 +0000

By the Numbers: Continuing to Outpace Expectations, U.S. Economy Gains Over 300,000 Jobs in March

April 8, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Mon, 04/08/2024 - 17:04

Economic indicators

GDP and Personal Income Rise in All 50 States and the District of Columbia

Job creation in March exceeded expectations, with 303,000 jobs added to the U.S. economy, according to the latest report from the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nearly 15.2 million jobs have been created under President Biden and unemployment has remained under 4 percent—the longest stretch in 50 years.

In addition, according to the latest statistics from Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, both real gross domestic product—or GDP—and personal income increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the fourth quarter of 2023. GDP increased in 18 of the 23 industry groups, with manufacturing and retail leading growth nationally. Construction activity, meanwhile, grew in 45 states and the District of Columbia.

For 2023, real—or inflation-adjusted—GDP increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia, while current dollar personal income increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. GDP increased in 17 of the 23 industry groups, with retail, professional, scientific, and technical services, and health care and social assistance, leading contributors to GDP growth nationally for the year.

Wages also continue to rise. According to BLS, over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.1 percent.

“Over 15 million jobs have been created since President Biden took office and we continue to see economic growth in all 50 states and the District of Columbia,” said Secretary Raimondo. “That’s an extraordinary story of progress and a clear testament of President Biden’s commitment to building the economy from the middle out and bottom up.”

As part of his economic agenda, President Biden is committed to creating more jobs in the United States and an economy that works for all Americans.

For more information, see President Biden's statement on the March Jobs Report.

By the numbers is a blog series that showcases the Commerce Department’s economic indicators and how they impact the American economy.

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Export and investment promotion

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U.S. Remains World's Top Destination for Foreign Direct Investment for 12th Consecutive Year

KCPullen@doc.gov — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:21:40 +0000

U.S. Remains World's Top Destination for Foreign Direct Investment for 12th Consecutive Year

April 4, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Thu, 04/04/2024 - 12:21

The United States has been ranked as the top destination for foreign direct investment for the 12th consecutive year according to Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council’s 2024 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index.

The annual survey of global senior executives and investors found that the United States maintains its lead ranking for over a decade due to the growing strength of the U.S. economy and rebounding consumer sentiment.

Foreign investors were encouraged by higher-than-anticipated GDP growth in 2023, which was attributed to strong consumer and government expenditure, and robust export levels. The ranking is also testament to the United States’ lead in technological innovation, a top priority for investors and the Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda.

“For the 12th year in a row, the United States was once again the number one destination for foreign direct investment in 2023, reflecting the Department of Commerce's commitment to constantly increasing our economic competitiveness,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Through our efforts to secure FDI across the United States, we are delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration’s promise to create good-paying jobs for working families and increase economic development in all communities across the country.”

The United States’ ranking in the FDI Confidence Index is underpinned by the work of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program that facilitates job-creating business investment into the United States and raises awareness of the critical role that economic development plays in the U.S. economy. Since its inception, SelectUSA has facilitated more than $200 billion in client-verified FDI, supporting more than 200,000 jobs throughout the United States and its territories.

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s effort to attract foreign direct investment, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will host the 2024 SelectUSA Investment Summit from June 23-26 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The Investment Summit is the premier event in the United States dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment and provides prospects for investors from global markets and economic development organizations across the nation to interact and create investment opportunities.

For more information about the 2024 SelectUSA Investment Summit, visit www.selectusasummit.us.

About SelectUSA
Housed within the International Trade Administration, SelectUSA promotes and facilitates business investment into the United States by coordinating related federal government agencies to serve as a single point of contact for investors and raises awareness of the critical role that economic development plays in the U.S. economy. SelectUSA assists U.S. economic development organizations to compete globally for investment by providing information, a platform for international marketing, and high-level advocacy for the United States as an investment destination. SelectUSA also helps foreign companies find the information they need to make decisions, connect to the right people at the local level, navigate the federal regulatory system, and find solutions to issues related to the federal government. For more information, visit www.trade.gov/selectusa.

About the International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration (ITA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce is the premier government resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. Operating in more than 100 U.S. locations and 80 markets worldwide, ITA promotes trade and investment, assists U.S. businesses and workers to export and expand globally and ensures fair trade and compliance by enforcing U.S. trade laws and agreements. For more information on ITA, visit www.trade.gov.

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SelectUSA

Estimating County-Level Regional Price Parities from Public Data

ASowah@doc.gov — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 18:12:41 +0000

Estimating County-Level Regional Price Parities from Public Data

March 27, 2024

ASowah@doc.gov Wed, 03/27/2024 - 14:12

The idea that prices differ by place is a well-known economic concept. Most consumers could easily identify that a day in New York City would cost more than an identical day in rural Texas. To quantify these price differences, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) publishes regional price parities (RPPs). By using a weighted average of goods and services across places in a given year, RPPs allow place-to-place price comparisons and are available for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 384 metropolitan areas. For example, RPPs show that goods and services in the most expensive state, California, cost nearly 30% more than in the least expensive state in 2022.

The ability to see these price differences at finer levels of geography may be useful for people making decisions about policy, planning, and growth. To further these goals, a new OUSEA working paper documents the construction of experimental county-level RPPs based on publicly available data. In addition, a new experimental data set with these county-level estimates are also now available. This novel data set is not a government statistical product nor is it meant to be interpreted as one. Instead, the data and methodology are meant to harness existing public data to explore how price-related economic experiences may differ at the county-level. The working paper details the full methodology; this blog describes top-level findings from the experimental data set.

Expensive counties tend to be in metropolitan areas

Like BEA’s official RPP data, these experimental RPPs are meant to average to 100. RPPs above or below 100 are more or less expensive than the national average.

Ranking all counties from most expensive to least, 8 of the top 10 most expensive counties are in a metropolitan area as seen in Table 1. While cities are typically more expensive than their suburban or rural counterparts, prices in these counties are substantially high with New York, NY (Manhattan) leading at 32.6% above the national average. Yet of these 10 counties, they tend to be in the same metropolitan areas. Seven of the ten are in the New York, San Francisco or Washington, DC metropolitan areas. When extending to the top 20 most expensive counties, 13 counties are in these same three metropolitan areas.

Using the experimental RPPs to show price differentials within metros

Defined by the U.S. Office of Budget and Management, metropolitan areas are urbanized areas with at least 50,000 people along with a high degree of social and economic integration and commuting ties. Understandably some metropolitan areas can be quite large, which can lead to substantial price differences between counties in the same metropolitan area. This gap between a metro’s most expensive and least expensive county can be understood as a price differential; in other words, how much more expensive is the most expensive county compared to the least expensive.

As seen in Table 2, the largest price differentials within metropolitan areas are notable. For example, among counties in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Arlington County, VA, is 37% more expensive than Madison County, VA. Most metropolitan areas have smaller price gaps than this; 86% of metro areas have a price differential of less than 10% between their most and least expensive counties. However, there are 54 metros with a price differential of 10% or more.

Top non-metropolitan area price differentials

Price differentials also exist in states’ non-metropolitan counties. Table 3 compares the most and least expensive non-metropolitan counties within a state. Numerous factors can drive a state’s non-metro county price variation; one county may have luxury resorts while another, hundreds of miles away, could be agriculture-heavy. What is clear is that these price differentials highlight non-metro residents within the same state may face substantially different price experiences.

Some counties with notable resort towns appear among the top 5 largest differentials, as seen in Table 3. Monroe County, FL, includes Key West, and Summit County, CO, has multiple ski towns. Leelanau, MI, is located on the shore of Lake Michigan and has a variety of summer home rentals and wineries. Of all the states, Massachusetts has the smallest non-metro price differential at 3.7%. Dukes County, MA, and Nantucket, MA, are the only two Massachusetts counties not in a metropolitan area, are geographically close, and are both popular vacation spots.

What it means and what’s next

The experimental estimates suggest there is substantial county-level price variation both within metropolitan areas and across non-metro counties. This illustrates that residents within the same metropolitan area may face considerably different prices and thus may have different purchasing power. Similarly, residents of non-metros counties face varying price differentials. For example, one non-metro county may have high housing costs due to being a resort town, another may have low housing costs, but expensive goods given its remote location.

This experimental dataset can have a variety of research applications to further understanding of how economic conditions vary across metro/non-metro counties and within metropolitan areas. From calculating county-level cost-of-living adjusted wages to grouping counties by similar price profiles, this dataset may be able to aid research on important and challenging questions.

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Regional Economic Research Initiative

During Women’s History Month, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Spotlights Need to Increase Women’s Representation Across Industry

KCPullen@doc.gov — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 20:14:36 +0000

During Women’s History Month, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Spotlights Need to Increase Women’s Representation Across Industry

March 26, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Tue, 03/26/2024 - 16:14

Investing in communities and workers

Women make a difference in the lives of Americans every day and are a critical part of the U.S. economy. During Women’s History Month, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo echoed this sentiment at various events that both celebrated the vast contributions of women and stressed the importance of advancing women’s full and equal participation in building a more resilient and innovative economy. Through women’s economic empowerment, the Biden Administration is committed to advancing gender equity, strengthening our economy, and making the U.S. more competitive.

This principle was reflected earlier this month at the Institute of Global Politics Women's Initiative Summit where Secretary Raimondo joined Secretary Hillary Clinton and former Georgia House minority leader Stacey Abrams in a discussion on the need to increase the representation of women in the manufacturing and labor workforce. Secretary Raimondo emphasized that thanks to funding from the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, more opportunities are being created for women to enter the workforce. However, she underscored that our work is far from over and referenced Commerce’s ongoing efforts to break down barriers preventing more women from entering and rising through the ranks in the construction industry, and other areas throughout the manufacturing sector.

“Semiconductors—or chips—are vital to our economic and national security and we need to increase jobs in this critical industry,” said Secretary Raimondo. “Women have an opportunity to secure good-paying jobs in manufacturing facilities. However, in order to unlock these opportunities, women must have access to necessary training and affordable and reliable childcare to enter and stay in the workforce.”

That same day, the Secretary joined American fashion designer Tory Burch for a fireside chat about the federal resources available to help women entrepreneurs access capital and expand their reach to more customers. The Secretary outlined several Commerce Department programs that can assist women entrepreneurs, including advice on how to obtain a patent or copyright; workforce training with access to childcare; networking opportunities to connect women with accelerators to obtain start-up capital; and coaching opportunities for women interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Last week, the Department of Commerce launched the Women in STEM Ambassadors Program to raise awareness about opportunities for women in the semiconductor industry and inspire interest in STEM-related fields.

“As the Secretary of Commerce, I wake up every day thinking about how we can make our country more competitive. That means breaking down systemic barriers that are holding our workforce back, including the unique challenges that impact women,” said Raimondo. “If we’re going to out-compete the rest of the world, we need to invest in everyone’s success – especially women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups, who have too often been left behind or overlooked.”

Earlier this month, Secretary Raimondo traveled to Southeast Asia on behalf of President Biden to lead a Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines. There, she engaged with Filipina women business leaders in different sectors to exchange best practices on empowering women leaders and entrepreneurs and advancing gender equality.

The Secretary also discussed the SelectUSA Program’s Select Global Women in Tech Mentorship Network, which is a pivotal Commerce program that supports and advances the economic empowerment of women. This year-long program connects women entrepreneurs around the world with mentorship and networking opportunities to help grow their businesses and explore business opportunities in the United States.

Secretary Raimondo also highlighted the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) EMPOWER Asia initiative, which holds monthly webinars with ITA’s Strategic Partners to increase awareness of and enhance market opportunities for women-owned and led businesses. This year-long program connects women entrepreneurs around the world with mentorship and networking opportunities to help grow their businesses and explore business opportunities in the United States. Secretary Raimondo also highlighted the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) EMPOWER Asia initiative, which holds monthly webinars with ITA’s Strategic Partners to increase awareness of and enhance market opportunities for women-owned and led businesses.

In advance of Women’s History Month, Secretary Raimondo was named one of CNBC’s Women Transforming Business Changemakers for her work leading the Biden administration’s efforts on workforce and technologies critical to national security and American competitiveness.

The Biden Administration and the Commerce Department are committed to equality and diversity and creating a workplace and an economy that works for all Americans.

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Women's History Month

Workforce Development

Women in STEM: Representation Matters

KCPullen@doc.gov — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 19:36:09 +0000

Women in STEM: Representation Matters

March 21, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Thu, 03/21/2024 - 15:36

A 2002 photo of then-NIST biomedical engineer Laurie Locascio placing a water sample on a highly sensitive, inexpensive "lab-on-a-chip" that provides warning within seconds of even trace amounts of toxic chemicals in water.

By Laurie Locascio, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Growing up as a scientist, I did not see role models who looked like me. I grew up in a small town where my father was a physicist — and my role model. He nurtured me to be a scientist just like him. I am so grateful he did not have different expectations for me and my brothers. He always told me that I could be anything that I wanted to be. Today, I am a Ph.D. scientist, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). All of these are professional roles that fulfill me and in which I am incredibly honored to serve.

During my career, I have seen that many women in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), have had similar experiences as they advanced in education and at work: A paucity of women in STEM has meant that some of our most impactful advocates and mentors have been people different from us.

This is changing as women increasingly enter STEM fields. According to the National Science Foundation, the STEM workforce increased by 20% in the decade ending in 2021. While women have not yet achieved parity with men in STEM fields, the number of women entering STEM fields increased faster — by 31% — than the number of men entering STEM (up 15%). Today, more than ever, women can look around their labs and offices and see younger versions of themselves conducting experiments, analyzing data and designs, writing code and equations, and running algorithms.

While the data is encouraging, America needs still more diversity in STEM fields. As a scientist and leader of technical organizations, I’ve seen the positive impact that diversity and representation have on science. Work groups with more diversity are more creative. Their solutions to technical and other problems are more innovative.

Further, if we don’t recruit more people who have been underrepresented in STEM, some fields will face a potentially devastating shortfall in degree holders. For example, when you map the projected growth of the U.S. semiconductor sector with the current rate at which technical degrees are granted, the industry may have roughly 67,000 unfilled jobs at the end of the decade.

Georgetown School of Foreign Service

To fill this gap, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo has called for the nation to triple the number of graduates in semiconductor-related fields, including engineering. To do that, we must bring more women and people of color into the workforce. Currently, women represent just 10% to 25% of the semiconductor industry, and historically underrepresented groups make up only 20%.

CHIPS for America, which is being implemented by NIST, is encouraging workforce strategies to ensure a highly skilled, diverse workforce to meet the program’s goal of establishing a semiconductor manufacturing and research and development base in the United States. And women are a big part of this equation.

Representation matters. When people learn about the achievements of people with whom they identify, they believe they can achieve them, too. Role models and mentors also can help people from underrepresented groups with the skills and support they need to overcome barriers to becoming a STEM professional.

In response to Secretary Raimondo’s call for more women in the semiconductor workforce, women who are STEM professionals within the Department of Commerce have committed to act.

On March 18, 2024, I participated in the launch of the Women in STEM Ambassador Program. These ambassadors will participate in programs at schools, colleges, and conferences to raise awareness about opportunities for women in the semiconductor industry and inspire interest in engineering and related STEM fields. As an ambassador, I am proud to be a part of this group and will continue to use my role as NIST Director to encourage women to pursue careers in STEM.

The Women in STEM Ambassador Program, along with CHIPS for America workforce programs, are about much more than addressing a shortage of skilled professionals. Programs like this help make our economy work for all our citizens by expanding access to good jobs that include women, people of color, veterans, persons with disabilities, and rural populations.

This year’s Women’s History Month is theme, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” Will you join me as an advocate for change?

By mentoring, showing, and encouraging representation, you can advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion. A study by the University of Massachusetts showed that just four meetings between female mentors and female engineering students increased students’ feelings of belonging, confidence, and motivation, and increased their ambitions to pursue a post-graduate engineering degree.

You can also contribute to safe, inclusive spaces with your empathy and leadership. Use your position in your community and at your job to help other voices be heard. Stand up to inequalities when you see them. Inspire change, inspire others to change, and be part of creating a more diverse and equitable future for all.

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Leadership

Laurie E. Locascio

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Science, Technology, Engineering and Math [STEM]

Semiconductor Industry

Women's History Month

What do alligators, Adam Smith, and Robinson Crusoe have in common?

CAndrade@doc.gov — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 19:01:37 +0000

What do alligators, Adam Smith, and Robinson Crusoe have in common?

March 15, 2024

CAndrade@doc.gov Fri, 03/15/2024 - 15:01

The beautiful Reading Room at the Commerce Research Library.

Q: What do alligators, Adam Smith, and Robinson Crusoe have in common?

A: The Commerce Research Library!

The Commerce Research Library is located in the Herbert C. Hoover Building (HCHB) in Washington, DC. The Library provides access to databases, books, training opportunities, and presentations that support the ongoing work of Department employees. The historic Reading Room is a beautiful and welcoming physical space available for quiet work and events. While mainly serving HCHB, the Library provides all Commerce staff select database and training resources.

Wealth of Nations (Dublin edition)

In addition to being an important resource repository and beautiful space, the Library is also home to a first edition of one of the most influential book on economics ever written: Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations. Three different editions of this title first appeared in 1776 in London, Dublin, and Berlin; however, the Dublin edition perhaps has a more interesting story than the other two editions. Although Ireland had been ruled by the British crown since the period of the Plantagenets in the late Middle Ages, it was a separate kingdom with its own parliament until the Acts of Union in 1800 and, unlike the rest of Great Britain, had no copyright law. Consequently, Dublin book sellers in the eighteenth century built a thriving business selling cheap, pirated editions of British books within weeks of their publication in Great Britain.

Alligators in the basement!

The Library is also the cultural heart of the Department of Commerce, keeping safe its history. Case in point, this 1932 Washington Post article about the alligators loose in the Herbert Hoover Building. Pay Cut, Furlough, and Dismissal kept Commerce staff on their toes!

After Robinson Crusoe…

Daniel Defoe is best known as the author of the novels Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders, but he primarily earned his living as an economic pamphleteer and a freelance business consultant. He wrote The Complete English Tradesman in 1737, which is considered to be one of the earliest manuals on business management, and it is the oldest item the Library has in its collection.

Learn more about Commerce and OGC

The Library is one of the many reasons the Department of Commerce is such an attractive place to come and work. Learn more about the Office of the General Counsel, review employment opportunities, or submit a resume.

Authored by Laura Swift, MLS, and Dan Epstein, MLS, Commerce Research Library, Office of the General Counsel

By the Numbers: U.S. Economy Adds Over 275,000 Jobs in February Exceeding Expectations

KCPullen@doc.gov — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 23:02:25 +0000

By the Numbers: U.S. Economy Adds Over 275,000 Jobs in February Exceeding Expectations

March 8, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Fri, 03/08/2024 - 18:02

GDP Remains Strong, Wages and Personal Income Continue to Rise

Earlier today, the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the U.S. economy added over 275,000 jobs in February – far exceeding expectations. To date, nearly 15 million jobs have been created under President Biden and unemployment has remained under 4 percent—the longest stretch in more than 50 years.

“Last night, President Biden talked about the Great American Comeback,” said Commerce Secretary Raimondo. “Today, we learned the economy added another 275,000 jobs in February — bringing the total created under President Biden to nearly 15 million. This is historic and more proof Bidenomics is working.”

In addition to today’s jobs numbers, real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 according to the "second" estimate released by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In the first three years of the Biden Administration, inflation-adjusted GDP growth has averaged 3.4 percent. Also, according to the most recent numbers from BEA, Americans continue to make more with personal income increasing $233.7 billion in January.

Wages also continue to rise. Real average hourly earnings increased 1.4 percent from January 2023 to January 2024 according to BLS.

As part of his economic agenda, President Biden is committed to creating more American jobs and an economy that works for all Americans.

For more information, see today’s statement by President Biden on the February Jobs Report.

By the numbers is a blog series that showcases the Commerce Department’s economic indicators and how they impact the American economy.

Leadership

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Jobs

U.S. Economy

Career Tip – Say Yes!

CAndrade@doc.gov — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 14:21:04 +0000

Career Tip – Say Yes!

February 26, 2024

CAndrade@doc.gov Fri, 03/08/2024 - 09:21

Here’s a tip that will take you through your whole life: When Elizabeth Liu and Ruby Sheikh and from Georgetown University Law Center invite you to coffee, say yes!

I had a blast talking to Elizabeth and Ruby about their work at Georgetown Law’s Office of Public Interest and Community Service. I could have spent hours picking their brains about best practices for new attorney recruitment, the different interests and priorities of 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls when it comes to career planning and professional development, and how to best position OGC’s recruitment efforts to attract the best talent to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Stay tuned for more information about our ongoing collaboration with Georgetown!

This is just one of many conversations the Office of the General Counsel is having with our peers and partners to super-charge our best-in-class federal legal practice.

Commerce’s mission is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. We are committed to creating an economy that works for all Americans and a workplace that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible to every employee. Our work at the Department of Commerce has a profound impact on so many areas that Americans care about: U.S. economic competitiveness, strengthening domestic industry, and spurring the growth of quality jobs in all communities across the country. We hope to inspire and attract new public service-minded attorneys to join us in our mission to create an economy that works for all Americans!

Are you a current law student with questions about Commerce? Email us and we can put you in touch with a law school alum here at Commerce to answer your questions.

Learn more about OGC, review employment opportunities, or submit a resume.

Authored by Catherine F. I. Andrade, Chief of Staff to the Deputy General Counsel for Administration

One Year Later: Secretary Raimondo Reiterates Need for America to Lead on CHIPS in Protecting America’s Economic and National Security

KCPullen@doc.gov — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:59:42 +0000

One Year Later: Secretary Raimondo Reiterates Need for America to Lead on CHIPS in Protecting America’s Economic and National Security

March 7, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Thu, 03/07/2024 - 10:59

Artificial Intelligence

Emphasizes Need to Produce Leading-Edge Chips for AI

One year ago, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo delivered a speech at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service where she outlined her vision in implementing President Biden’s historic CHIPS and Science Act. Last week, she provided an update on its implementation and announced that future projects will be prioritized based on whether they can be operational by 2030, putting America on track to produce 20% of the world’s leading-edge logic chips by the end of the decade. This announcement reflects President Biden’s commitment to lead the world in the production of semiconductors while stimulating private sector investment and creating good-paying jobs for all Americans.

During her remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Secretary Ramondo stressed that semiconductors are the single most important piece of hardware in the 21st century and that America must increase chip-making in the U.S. to protect both America’s economic and national security. Secretary Raimondo also emphasized how AI has spurred the unprecedented demand for leading-edge chips from the semiconductor industry.

“AI has emerged as a game changer, driving unbelievable demand for leading-edge chips,” said Secretary Raimondo. “If we want to continue to lead in AI and other central technologies, then we must successfully implement this CHIPS initiative and make sure we are being bold enough with our vision.”

To date, three investments have been made in current and mature chip companies – BAE, Microchip, and Global Foundries – and major, multi-billion-dollar announcements are expected over the coming weeks.

“We anticipate that our investments in leading-edge logic chip manufacturing will put us on track to produce roughly 20% of the world’s leading-edge logic chips by 2030, up from the zero percent we produce today,” said Raimondo.

During the past year, CHIPS for America has received over 600 statements of interest from companies looking to invest in America’s semiconductor industry and announced more than 50 community colleges across 19 states have new or expanded programming to support semiconductor industry opportunities. In addition, the National Semiconductor Technology Center was created to address the R&D challenges facing America’s chip manufacturing ecosystem and to scale up the robust, skilled workforce needed to power it.

“We’re making tremendous progress in implementing President Biden’s vision of a strong and vibrant American manufacturing sector,” said Raimondo. “Together, we are rebuilding our industrial base, supercharging American innovation, creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, and meeting the monumental challenges of our time.”

This week’s speech by Secretary Raimondo comes as the Biden-Harris Administration continues to roll out the implementation phase of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. The law provides the Department of Commerce with $50 billion for a suite of programs to strengthen and revitalize the U.S. position in semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing—while also investing in American workers.

Watch Secretary Raimondo’s remarks here and read the full transcript here.

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Leadership

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National Security

Investing in communities and workers

Semiconductor Industry

Build Back Better Challenge Awardee Works to Ensure Black Community Thrives in an AI-Powered Economy

KCPullen@doc.gov — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 18:14:54 +0000

Build Back Better Challenge Awardee Works to Ensure Black Community Thrives in an AI-Powered Economy

February 29, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Thu, 02/29/2024 - 13:14

In conjunction with Black History Month, Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves recently released the U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2023 update to its Equity Action Report at a White House Convening on Equity. Among the plan’s highlights was the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) stewardship of $3 billion in funding distributed to 780 diverse grantees — many working at the forefront of equitable economic development — through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

At the White House event, Deputy Secretary Graves was joined by one awardee, a Georgia-based innovator who is making a difference in AI manufacturing. Backed by a $65 million EDA investment through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, Donna Ennis is co-leading the Georgia Artificial Intelligence (AI) Manufacturing Technology Corridor (Georgia AIM). Georgia AIM is actively laying the groundwork to establish the United States as a leader in AI manufacturing while ensuring AI systems complement – rather than replace – existing workers.

For Donna, EDA’s generational investment in equitable economic development marks another chapter in a long and successful career focused on bringing equity to the forefront of innovation. Prior to being at Georgia AIM, Donna led Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute’s Georgia Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center for 18 years.

Demonstrating a Focus on Equity

Ennis’ leading role at Georgia AIM underscores the initiative’s central focus on equitable economic development.

Ennis, who graduated from Boston University and received her MPA from Georgia State University, has led minority-focused economic development initiatives for years. Under her leadership, MBDA programs helped minority-owned businesses generate more than $6.4 billion in contracts, financing, and sales, creating or retaining thousands of jobs. She also established the national MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) Manufacturers Summit, the only U.S. summit focusing on bringing opportunities and education to MBE manufacturers. Recently, her work was honored by the Greater South Fulton Chamber of Commerce with its Partnership Award, and, in 2021, she was recognized with the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Outstanding Voice Award.

At Georgia AIM, Ennis is putting her experience to work, helping manage a large coalition of diverse stakeholders with unique perspective and expertise. Led by Georgia Tech, the Georgia AIM coalition also includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like Spelman College, the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), K-12 Hispanic STEM engagement (GoSTEM), and more.

“At Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing, we are focused on the equitable development and deployment of innovation and talent,” explains Ennis. “The more participation we get from the Black and other marginalized communities, the more our young adults and children will benefit.”

The Georgia AIM vision involves several distinct projects that are now being developed.

Early work by the coalition includes collaboration with K-12 institutions, four-year universities, and technical colleges to help individuals of all ages learn about AI through training, connections with the AI workforce, and startup creation for educators. For instance, Georgia’s Houston County Development Authority (HCDA) recently received a sub-award from the EDA grant to support STEM scholarships at Fort Valley State University and Central Georgia Technical College. The sub-award is also helping HCDA set up a network of mobile training labs. Meanwhile, in Southwest Georgia’s Thomas County, Georgia AIM helped the Southern Regional Technical College convene Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Educators workshops, providing an opportunity for K-12 educators from the surrounding area to identify concerns and debunk myths about AI.

Other projects that Georgia AIM will support in the years ahead include the development of an AI Manufacturing Pilot Facility and support for entrepreneurship and innovation incubators. These and other initiatives have Georgia AIM targeting a six percent annual growth in the area’s manufacturing wage by 2027 while supporting a net increase of 54,000 additional quality jobs by the early 2030s.

Reflecting on Black History Month

Asked if there was a Black luminary, she reflects on for inspiration during Black History Month, Ennis explained no single person inspires her as much as the larger community.

“While I could tick off individual ‘luminaries’ that have made history, I want to sing praises to those unsung heroes that are the backbone of ensuring that our communities survive and thrive: Black-owned businesses.”

Thanks to Ennis and Georgia AIM, communities across Georgia are set to do both.

Learn more about Georgia AIM at georgiaaim.org

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Economic Development Administration

Leadership

Build Back Better Regional Challenge

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Artificial Intelligence

Creating an Equitable Economy for all Americans

KCPullen@doc.gov — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 20:24:49 +0000

Creating an Equitable Economy for all Americans

February 20, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Tue, 02/20/2024 - 15:24

Minority business growth

The mission of the U.S. Department of Commerce is to create the conditions for inclusive economic growth and opportunity for all Americans. Last week, in conjunction with Black History Month, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Don Graves participated in several events that echo this mission and showcase the Department’s leading role in building an economy in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.

Marking the first anniversary of the signing of President Biden’s second Executive Order on equity, federal agencies released their 2023 Equity Action Plans at an White House Convening on Equity. These plans include over 100 community-informed strategies and actions to address systemic barriers in our Nation’s policies and programs. During a panel discussion on equity, Deputy Secretary Graves released the Commerce Department’s 2023 update to its Equity Action Plan. Through its five equity strategies, this plan will address barriers to equity so that all Americans—including those in underserved communities—have an opportunity to participate in the 21st-century economy.

“This update to our Equity Action Plan exemplifies the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to racial equity and equal opportunity for underserved communities,” said Secretary Raimondo. “If we are to out-build, out-innovate, and out-compete the rest of the world, we need to harness and empower Americans across the country by utilizing our greatest strength — diversity.”

“Our success and prosperity hinges on how well we harness the talents and strengths of all parts of the country, especially those Americans who have been historically underrepresented – women, people of color, and others who are too often overlooked,” said Deputy Secretary Graves. “Through our Equity Action Plan, our bureaus will work on all fronts to ensure that more American workers, families, and businesses can compete and succeed in the global economy.”

In addition to the release of the Department’s updated Equity Action Plan, Secretary Raimondo addressed the National Congress of American Indians convention and the League of United Latin American Citizens Legislative Conference where she outlined historic Commerce grant programs that are providing the resources needed for economic growth for Tribal and Latino communities. These once-in-a-generation investments are focused on expanding high-speed internet network deployment, developing a diverse and skilled workforce, supporting small businesses, combating long-term economic distress, and making communities resilient to the effects of climate change.

“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Commerce Department is making historic investments totaling more than $100 billion in everything from high-speed internet and domestic chip manufacturing to climate resilience,” said Secretary Raimondo. “These programs will help eliminate barriers to creating a diverse workforce, bring back America’s manufacturing and innovation, and promote equitable economic growth.”

Deputy Secretary Graves also gave opening remarks this week at the Voyage to Justice Equity and Climate Justice Forum hosted by the Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration where he addressed the impacts of climate change on historically under-resourced communities and communities of color. During his remarks, he reiterated Commerce’s commitment to providing equitable access to the most accurate and reliable climate data to fortify and build climate resilience for all communities.

To conclude the week, Deputy Secretary Graves participated in a Black History Month panel hosted by the White House where he outlined Commerce’s efforts to create growth and opportunity for Black Americans and their essential contributions to the American economy.

“Equity is at the core of everything we do here at the Department,” said Graves. “This month, we celebrate Black history, culture, and achievement while recognizing the strides we must make to achieve equity and equality for all Americans.”

Learn more about the Administration’s equity work at whitehouse.gov/equity.

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Leadership

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)

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Climate Change

Diversity and Inclusion

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Hosts Launch of HBCU CHIPS Network to Build a Skilled and Diverse Workforce in Producing Semiconductors

KCPullen@doc.gov — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 22:55:06 +0000

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Hosts Launch of HBCU CHIPS Network to Build a Skilled and Diverse Workforce in Producing Semiconductors

February 9, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Fri, 02/09/2024 - 17:55

Minority business growth

Network Expected to Provide Access and Opportunity for Black Americans

Coinciding with Black History Month, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo hosted the launch of the HBCU CHIPS Network yesterday, a collaboration between several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the Georgia Institute of Technology. This collaboration will help coordinate the resources of these colleges and universities and build a skilled and diverse workforce in producing chips—also known as semiconductors. Chips are critical in powering our consumer electronics, automobiles, data centers, critical infrastructure, and virtually all military systems.

Two years ago, President Biden signed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a historic $50 billion funding opportunity to revitalize America’s domestic semiconductor industry and create hundreds of thousands of good jobs. Through the Commerce Department’s CHIPS for America program, recipients of this funding must demonstrate how their project will advance the Nation’s economic security alongside worker and community investments, including opportunities for small businesses and disadvantaged communities.

In 2023, Secretary Raimondo called on colleges and universities to triple the number of graduates in semiconductor-related fields. However, a labor shortage remains in this critical industry. Today's industry estimates show there will be a shortage of 300,000 engineers and 90,000 technical workers by 2030.

The U.S. has 101 accredited public and private HBCUs in 19 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. HBCUs award 24% of all bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The HBCU CHIPS Network is expected to provide opportunities to historically underserved students and communities and expand the geographic and institutional diversity of research institutions and the students and researchers they serve.

“With the launch of the HBCU CHIPS Network – working in conjunction with Georgia Tech – they are going to help ensure we have the talent and innovation we need while also bridging gaps in access and opportunity for Black Americans,” said Secretary Raimondo. “I want you to keep thinking about how your HBCUs can work together with private companies to ensure graduates are ready to start working on day one.”

Last year, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the CHIPS for America funding opportunity for smaller supply chain projects and businesses to access CHIPS for America funds. As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act includes incentives to strengthen supply chains, support smaller projects and businesses, and create good-paying jobs in local communities nationwide.

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Leadership

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CHIPS for America

Semiconductor Industry

Workforce Development

Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves Honors Employees for Distinguished and Exceptional Performance at the 75th Annual Commerce Honor Awards

KCPullen@doc.gov — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 21:48:38 +0000

Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves Honors Employees for Distinguished and Exceptional Performance at the 75th Annual Commerce Honor Awards

February 7, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Wed, 02/07/2024 - 16:48

Announces Recipient of the Ron Brown Excellence in Innovation Award

Yesterday, U.S. Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves joined Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration Jeremy Pelter, in announcing individual, group, and organizational Gold and Silver Medal Awards to employees at the Department’s 75^th Honor Awards. The Gold and Silver Honor Awards are the highest level of recognition that the Department of Commerce presents to employees for distinguished performance.

In a message to employees, Commerce Secretary Raimondo thanked gold and silver honorees for the service, humility, and dignity they bring to their jobs every day as well as their dedication in going above and beyond to deliver on the Commerce Department’s mission.

“The public servants who are receiving awards this year have used their talent, expertise, and extraordinary work ethic to make progress on a broad range of issues that are core to America’s success,” said Secretary Raimondo. “Because of their dedication, these exceptional employees have enabled the Commerce Department to fuel innovation, protect our country, and ensure that every community in America has the opportunity to grow and flourish.”

During his remarks at the ceremony, Deputy Secretary Graves echoed this sentiment and applauded Commerce employees as the best in Federal government who consistently apply their talents and expertise across a broad range of programs, including connecting every American to high-speed Internet, training a 21^st Century workforce, strengthening U.S. trade partnerships, or ensuring our country’s climate resilience.

“I like to refer to the Department of Commerce as ‘America’s Hall Closet,’ because no matter what you need, you can always find it in your hall closet,” said Deputy Secretary Graves. “Across our 13 bureaus, our 47,000 talented, devoted employees are engaged in important efforts all aimed at serving the American people. Those honored here today set a standard for each of us to strive toward.”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Deputy Secretary Graves announced the recipient of the Ron Brown Excellence in Innovation Award. This award honors the extraordinary leadership, legacy, and memory of the former Secretary of Commerce and is given to a person or team who exhibits extraordinary resourcefulness, develops novel, unique, and cutting-edge solutions, and takes calculated risks that result in creative answers and improved customer service. The award was presented to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Serial Cytometry team for pioneering the real-time cell analysis required to support early cancer diagnosis.

Every year since 1949, the Department has honored its most esteemed employees with individual, group, and organizational Gold and Silver Medals. These are the most prestigious Department awards. Yesterday, 96 awards were given, including 54 Gold Medals and 42 Silver Medals, encompassing 597 employees and organizations.

Gold or Silver Medals are awarded in the following seven categories: Leadership, Personal and Professional Excellence, Scientific/Engineering Achievement, Organizational Development, Customer Service, Administrative/Technical Support, and Heroism.

Watch the 75th Annual Honor Awards below.

Leadership

Economic Development Administration

Improving Program Delivery with Innovative Data Practices at the U.S. Department of Commerce

KCPullen@doc.gov — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 16:21:04 +0000

Improving Program Delivery with Innovative Data Practices at the U.S. Department of Commerce

February 6, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Tue, 02/06/2024 - 11:21

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Inflation and Reduction Act (IRA), and the CHIPS and Science Act provide the U.S. Department of Commerce with unprecedented new resources that can be leveraged to advance the mission of creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities.

To ensure these programs are delivered as effectively and equitably as possible, data practices play a critical role.

Improving program data practices is one of many aims of the Commerce Data Governance Board (CDGB). To support bureaus in their evidence-building practices, the CDGB chartered the Metrics Working Group in August 2022.

The Metrics Working Group was specifically set up to uncover obstacles and explore pathways for improving the use of data for program design, delivery, and evaluation.

It was also charged with proposing recommendations for facilitating large-scale observational studies for evaluating outcomes from DOC programs that have similar intended benefits.

Observational studies enable DOC decision-makers to understand the effectiveness of specific policy approaches intended to drive common outcomes, such as local job growth, business revenue, business formation, employment trends, educational attainment, and ecosystem habitat restoration.

In this blog post, we share more about this effort, as well as discuss major insights from the Metrics Working Group final report, “Innovation in Evidence-Building: Evolving Program Data Management Practices within the Department of Commerce.”

Breaking Down Silos: How the Metrics Working Group Coordinated Across Bureaus

To uncover obstacles and explore pathways together, the Metrics Working Group convened representatives from the following four bureaus that received new funding resources:

Economic Development Administration (EDA)
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

The Metrics Working Group also included representatives from other departments that support monitoring and evaluation efforts of these bureaus, such as those from the DOC Performance Excellence Office, the DOC Evaluation Officer, and the Commerce Implementation Coordination Office (CIC) within the DOC Office of the Secretary.

The group also conducted interviews with various stakeholders throughout the DOC, including program evaluation leads, program data managers, grants acquisition experts, GIS specialists, equity indicator experts, and economic projection experts.

Identifying Best Practices: How the Metrics Working Group Surfaced and Solved Challenges Together

The Metrics Working Group surfaced two program models that illustrate innovative approaches to evidence-based program delivery. Program models include a pathway for tracking outcomes at the individual-level (such as EDA’s Good Jobs Challenge) and a pathway for tracking outcomes at the community-level (such as NTIA’s- Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program).

EDA’s Good Jobs Challenge program is particularly groundbreaking for the way data is collected, linked, and analyzed for measuring outcomes for participants. The $500 million program funded by the American Rescue Plan is designed to improve labor market outcomes for unemployed and underemployed Americans by providing federal funding for 32 local workforce development programs across the country.

Some of the evidence-building best practices adopted in this program include:

Collect high-quality data for tracking equitable program outcomes:

The program validates core concepts such as a “good-paying job”.
The program identifies specific underserved populations as intended beneficiaries.

Streamline data collection processes based on the needs of program stakeholders:

The program was designed with multiple program stakeholders in mind, using online survey tools to improve data quality and reduce administrative burden and time lag.

Link program data with statistical data for analyzing program outcomes:

The program enables appropriate access to program data for operational insights and evaluation purposes by multiple parties, including with the U.S. Census Bureau’s Data Linkage Infrastructure and research partners.
The program includes a “counterfactual” approach to evaluation, comparing outcomes of Good Jobs Challenge participants to the outcomes of comparable workers in similar labor market conditions through linkage with statistical data sets.

Linking program data with statistical data enables researchers to learn more about long-term program outcomes, such as earnings, business revenue, and employment. The EDA Good Jobs Challenge is particularly noteworthy for its use of this innovative research approach.

These are just some of the best practices identified in the Metrics Working Group final report. Read more here.

Moving forward, the Commerce Data Governance Board, and related teams are working to support bureaus in scaling next-generation evidence-building practices.

At the Department of Commerce, our duty is to ensure that we continuously improve the effectiveness of the federal programs we administer to meet the needs of the communities we serve. Data practices are a key enabler for effective program implementation. We’re excited to continue this work at the Department of Commerce in the year ahead.

This post is authored by Barbara Downs, Evaluation Officer, U.S. Census Bureau; Nancy Ritchey Archive Branch Chief, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and Shannon Arvizu, Senior Advisor to the Department of Commerce Chief Data Officer.

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U.S. Census Bureau

Minority Business Development Agency

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

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America's Data Agency

Bureau of Economic Analysis

By the Numbers: U.S. Economy Adds Over 350,000 Jobs in January Exceeding Expectations

KCPullen@doc.gov — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 21:11:48 +0000

By the Numbers: U.S. Economy Adds Over 350,000 Jobs in January Exceeding Expectations

February 5, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Mon, 02/05/2024 - 16:11

Economic indicators

Hiring Increases Due to Rise in Consumer Confidence and Spending

Kicking off 2024, the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week that the U.S. economy added over 350,000 jobs in January – far exceeding expectations. The unemployment rate was 3.7 percent for the third month in a row coming in below 4% for two straight years – the longest such streak since the 1960s. In total, 14.8 million jobs have been created under President Biden, with 3.1 million created last year alone.

In addition to last week’s jobs numbers, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently reported an increase of 3.3 percent in real gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2023 .

“Last week’s jobs report made it explicitly clear that the United States has the strongest economy in the world,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “This significant increase in jobs is a direct reflection of President Biden’s ongoing commitment to build an economy from the middle out and bottom up.”

Wages rose faster than expected in January as well. Average hourly pay climbed a sharp 0.6% from December, the fastest monthly gain in nearly two years, and 4.5% from January 2023. Average hourly earnings increased 0.6%, double the monthly estimate. On a year-over-year basis, wages jumped 4.5%, well above the 4.1% forecast. In addition, consumer spending on both goods and services beat expectations in November and December.

America’s economy is the strongest in the world with 14.8 million jobs created under President Biden. As part of his economic agenda, President Biden is committed to creating more American jobs and making smart economic investments in our country to safeguard U.S. competitiveness. For more information, see last week’s statement by President Biden on the January Jobs Report.

By the numbers is a new series that showcases the Commerce Department’s economic indicators and how they impact the American economy.

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Leadership

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Jobs

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Department of Energy to Help NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory Go Net-Zero

KCPullen@doc.gov — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 17:14:27 +0000

Department of Energy to Help NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory Go Net-Zero

January 24, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Wed, 01/24/2024 - 12:14

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded NOAA $5 million to support the conversion of the Mauna Loa atmospheric baseline observatory in Hawaii to a net-zero carbon facility.

The award, part of $250 million in funding announced by DOE’s Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) program, will help NOAA’s Global Monitoring Laboratory purchase solar panels and battery storage systems that will enable the observatory to operate on renewable energy. AFFECT provides grants from funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support energy and water efficiency projects and processes at U.S. federal government-owned facilities.

The Mauna Loa Observatory is considered to be the benchmark site for monitoring the global increase in greenhouse gases which are driving climate change. The observatory has been without road access and electricity since November 2022, when lava from the erupting Mauna Loa volcano buried a little more than a mile of the access road and destroyed power poles.

“Over the past year, staff visiting the site once a week by helicopter have restored limited power to four key observatory buildings by augmenting existing solar generation and adding battery systems,” said Vanda Grubišić, the Global Monitoring Laboratory’s director. “This project will allow us to operate fully on renewable energy to generate the electricity needed to make measurements critical for understanding our changing climate. It is fitting that Mauna Loa will be the first net-zero facility operated by NOAA and I’m proud of my team’s achievement.”

Approximately 33% of the atmospheric measurements on the mountain site have now been restored, including consistent measurements for all of the Global Monitoring Laboratory’s primary research groups: greenhouse gases, halocarbons and trace gases, ozone, global radiation and aerosols.

Relying on renewable energy to power the research site will help prevent future interruptions due to volcanic activity, said Christine Smith, acting Observatory and Global Network Operations Division lead. “This project will make the observatory more resilient to future volcanic activity and eliminate carbon emissions from the facility itself,” she said.

Over the past 3,000 years, Mauna Loa has erupted on average once every six years. During the last eruption in 1984, measurements were interrupted for 34 days. In 2022, daily carbon dioxide measurements were interrupted for 10 days before staff could establish a temporary monitoring site at a University of Hawaii observatory on nearby Mauna Kea.

Since the Mauna Loa Observatory already uses roof collection systems to capture water needed to run the 8-acre campus, the observatory would be the first Department of Commerce facility to be net-zero for both electricity and water.

Prior to the eruption, the Global Monitoring Laboratory had planned to initiate a significant site redevelopment for the 8-acre campus in 2023. The first phase called for upgrading the interior and exterior of the historic Keeling Building, constructing an addition for the Keeling Building, replacing a number of smaller buildings and reworking the site’s power and grounding infrastructure. NOAA has committed to using “green” practices and materials wherever possible and incorporating LEED principles into the construction effort.

Construction is now on hold until road access is restored. NOAA has signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation to re-open the 18-mile access road. “When this project is complete, the Mauna Loa Observatory will be a more effective and efficient research campus for NOAA and partner scientific research for decades to come,” Grubišić said

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Clean Energy

NOAA Satellites Helped Save 350 Lives in 2023

KCPullen@doc.gov — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 20:54:44 +0000

NOAA Satellites Helped Save 350 Lives in 2023

January 23, 2024

KCPullen@doc.gov Tue, 01/23/2024 - 15:54

Weather and satellites

NOAA’s satellites, known for their pivotal role in tracking weather and climate, were behind the rescue of 350 people from harrowing, life-threatening ordeals in the U.S. and its surrounding waters in 2023.

NOAA’s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites are part of the global Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system, or COSPAS-SARSAT, which uses a network of U.S. and international spacecraft to detect and locate distress signals sent from 406MHz emergency beacons onboard aircraft, boats and handheld Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) anywhere in the world. Since its start in 1982, COSPAS-SARSAT has been credited with supporting more than 48,000 rescues worldwide, including more than 10,455 throughout the U.S. and the waters that surround it.

Of the 350 U.S. rescues last year, 255 people were pulled from the water, 44 were saved from aviation incidents and 51 were rescued on land, where PLBs were used. The record one-year total for SARSAT rescues in the U.S. stands at 421 in 2019.

Florida had the most people rescued with 83, followed by Hawaii with 52 and Alaska with 49.

When a NOAA satellite pinpoints the location of a distress signal in the U.S., the information is relayed to the SARSAT Mission Control Center at NOAA’s Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Maryland. From there, the information is quickly sent to Rescue Coordination Centers, operated either by the U.S. Air Force for land rescues, or the U.S. Coast Guard (USGC) for maritime rescues. NOAA also supports rescues globally by relaying distress signal information to international COSPAS-SARSAT partners.

Here’s a glimpse at three notable rescues from 2023:

On June 12, just south of Gulf Shores, Alabama, the USGC rescued nine people from a fishing boat after its engines lost power. The crew activated the onboard beacon, which provided the location of the stranded vessel.
On September 5, a mid-air collision between a helicopter and an aircraft resulted in minor injuries to seven passengers. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received the coordinates from an onboard Emergency Locator Transmitter and correlated the position to a collision report provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Alaska National Guard arrived on the scene to treat the passengers.
On September 14, two people on a hike in Kukuihaele, Hawaii, fell into a ravine and were disabled. The USGC detected the distress signal from their PLB and alerted the Hawaii County Fire Department. The department dispatched a helicopter, which airlifted the hikers to a nearby hospital.

“With each life saved, the SARSAT program proves its worth,” said Steve Volz, Ph.D., assistant administrator for NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service. “NOAA’s partnerships with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, NASA and others around the world are the foundation of SARSAT’s long success.”

By law, 406MHz beacon owners are required to register their devices online with NOAA. Registration information helps provide better and faster assistance to people in distress, reduces false alarms and may also indicate what type of help is needed.

Bureaus and Offices