Tom Kalil and David Danielson, Office of Science and Technology Policy -- The Department of Energy national laboratories are American science and engineering powerhouses. These national treasures are generating innovative solutions to the world’s toughest energy challenges. However, promising solutions discovered at the laboratory bench can’t effectively address energy challenges unless and until they are successfully transferred to the marketplace as commercial products and services.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Smart grid member companies from the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster asked U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) recently to promote a comprehensive energy approach that supports domestic production of both renewable and fossil fuel resources to help the nation achieve energy independence. Ellmers, whose district includes many Research Triangle Region counties, requested a briefing on the region’s smart grid cluster following her September launch of a bipartisan Grid Innovation Caucus in the House of Representatives with U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA-09).

WASHINGTON – U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet today announced the SBA’s support of four new Regional Innovation Clusters, adding to its portfolio of high-performing regional innovation networks across the country. “Clusters are public-private partnerships that are driving innovation and job creation in our most promising regional hubs for innovation,” Contreras-Sweet said.

On September 4th, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the 50 winners of the first Growth Accelerator Fund competition after reviewing more than 800 applications. The recipients represent 31 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The accelerators come from a broad set of industries and sectors - from manufacturing to tech start-ups to farming as well as a focus on a diversified range of demographic groups.

The homepage of EDA—America’s lead agency on economic development—was recently updated with a definition of “economic development” that might be considered somewhat unorthodox. At first glance, it might not seem strange to the unaided eye.  But notice what it does not say.  It does not say that economic development comes only from constructing roads, bridges, buildings, or other physical infrastructure.  It does not mention the common tactic of recruiting companies to relocate from other regions.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has received more than 800 applications from accelerators and incubators hoping to win one of 50 cash prizes of $50,000 each in the SBA's first Growth Accelerator Fund competition.  August 2 was the deadline to submit an application.

Retale -- Seven major dollar store chains account for more than 26,000 stores  - but where are they located? Retale, a web and mobile destination application for shoppers, has investigated the current state of dollar stores in America, observing that where these stores are located  - or aren't  - largely overlaps with household income. Tracking the dollar stores of America also revealed interesting results.

The U.S. Department of Commerce will hire its first chief data officer, joining a growing number of states and localities that have created data officer positions. "We must build a common platform that ensures greater technical capacity to liberate our data, an ability to combine data in ways that make them more valuable," she said. "We aspire to develop new suites of data products created to meet the needs of businesses, innovators, governments and others." Pritzker pointed to the U.S. Cluster Mapping Registry as an example of effective data use.

On Capitol Hill on July 22, 2014, I joined leaders of JP Morgan Chase as they announced a five-year, $30 million philanthropic investment to support the pioneering work of American small businesses joining “regional clusters.” Clusters are public-private partnerships that convene a region’s corporations, small businesses, universities, investors and regional economic organizations to achieve synergies and productivity levels that a single company could not. Chase’s commitment is believed to be the largest private-sector contribution to date in support of clusters.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. today launched Small Business Forward℠, a five-year, $30 million grant program to boost small business support networks that help growing enterprises in specific industries. Small Business Forward connects entrepreneurs with critical resources to help their businesses grow, create jobs and strengthen communities.