DSU Awarded $500,000 Grant for Virgin Island Project

The U.S. Commerce Economic Development Administration has awarded the DSU Center for Economic Development and International Trade (UCEDIT) a three-year $500,000 grant to implement an island-wide (St. Croix, St. Thomas, St,. John, and Water Island) geographic information system to map the regional assets of the Virgin Islands.

The principal investigator of the project is Dr. Michael H. Casson Jr., director of the UCEDIT and associate professor of economics.

The UCEDIT will do asset mapping as a critical first step in marshaling the resources that the U.S. Virgin Islands can leverage to support an integrated workforce and economic development initiatives. Asset mapping will be undertaken at several different levels including, but not limited to the following:

• An inventory will be undertaken of key resources that can be utilized in a development effort.

• Provide a deep understanding of the key networks and cultural attitudes that shape the regional economy, indicate “gap” areas that require further investment, and provide a baseline by which to judge future progress toward regional prosperity. To obtain this information UCEDIT will conduct significant research to assess the impact of regional assets—human, financial, institutional, and natural among others—on the innovation and productivity that ultimately drive the prosperity of local citizens. 

• Inform public and private sectors

 “To achieve its economic and workforce development goals, the U.S. Virgin Islands has its own unique set of assets – tangible and intangible – to call upon,” Dr. Casson said. “While these resources may or may not provide an advantage over other regions with similar goals, they do provide the foundation for actions that the U.S. Virgin Islands can take in realistic hopes of improving its overall competitive position.” 

UCEDIT has served the people of Delaware by improving their understanding of the state's economy -- past, present, and future since its establishment in 2011 through a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Commerce Economic Development Administration.  The Center focuses on providing timely information and reliable analyses of the State of Delaware economy, with specific attention to Kent and Sussex Counties. By mobilizing and directing the expertise available at Delaware State University, state agencies and entities, and the private sector, UCEDIT equips the public and decision makers with the foundation for systematic, thoughtful debate of public-policy issues. The Center takes a long-term, strategic view of economic forces, and is objective and transparent in its execution and delivery. 

“Dr. Casson's island-wide asset mapping grant award in the Virgin Islands further demonstrates the expertise and capacity of the College of Business to uniquely and effectively contribute to economic development initiatives both within the State of Delaware and globally,” said Donna T. Covington, dean of the DSU College of Business.