October 2019
Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Q3 2019 GDP Growth: U.S. Economy Grows 1.9 Percent in Third Quarter
On October 30, 2019, the Department of Commerce?s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released the third-quarter GDP growth number for 2019. The Bureau found that real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 1.9 percent in the third quarter.
?Today?s report shows that the U.S. economy continues its steady growth in defiance of media skeptics calling for a recession,? said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. ?Since President Trump took office, wages have surged, unemployment has hit record lows, and poverty has fallen for all Americans, including the country?s most vulnerable.?
Secretary of Commerce Leads Trade Mission to the Indo-Pacific Region with Stops in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross will lead a Business Delegation to the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok, Thailand and subsequently to Indonesia and Vietnam from November 3 ? 8, 2019. This mission supports President Donald J. Trump?s goals of accelerating U.S. commercial activity in the region, supporting job-creating export opportunities for American companies, as well as meeting the region?s needs for economic growth and development.
?At the Department of Commerce, we are working to fuel American private sector growth at home and in nations around the world,? said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. ?With nearly $2 trillion in two-way trade in 2018, the Department is looking to cultivate key partnerships across the Indo-Pacific as U.S. companies are launching or expanding their businesses in these markets.?
Secretary of Commerce Travels to the United Kingdom, Asia, and Australia to Advocate for American Workers
Following the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross spent two weeks travelling to the United Kingdom, India, Singapore, and Australia to advocate for American workers and businesses, as well as to build upon the United States? robust relationships with these nations.
?Across the world, the Trump Administration is building better commercial partnerships with dozens of countries,? said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. ?Our efforts have led to countless new opportunities for American businesses and workers, further driving economic growth and job creation.?
Journeys of Innovation: Engineering a better life
Rory Cooper has always enjoyed tinkering and competition. As a kid growing up in Southern California, he ran track and cross country, and he often worked in his parents? garage, making improvements to skateboards and bicycles. He brought these skills to his work in the U.S. Army, but then an accident changed his life forever and set him on a path to become an inventor, engineer, and bronze medalist.
Eat Your Way to a Healthier You, Me, Country, and Planet
October often conjures images of colorful trees and pumpkins, but it?s also National Seafood Month?the perfect time to include more seafood into your diet! Seafood is delicious, nutritious, and the most environmentally responsible animal protein option you can eat. Seafood is central to a healthy population and a healthy planet.
FirstNet Helps Save Lives during Gas Outage in Rhode Island
?Without having the use of FirstNet and the FirstNet devices in Newport, it would have taken us hours to compile the data, relay it from one location to another, bring it in to the state emergency operations center, and then display it for the decision-makers,? explained Christopher McGrath, Operations Support Branch Chief at RIEMA. ?Having that real-time access to data and the guarantee that we wouldn?t be interrupted by commercial network overloading in any particular area really made our response much more efficient.?
Census Data Crucial in Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Planning
As people watched Hurricane Irma rage across their TV screens toward the Florida panhandle in 2017, the Cape Coral Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) prepared for action. . . The emergency response team and Cape Coral Fire Department sprang into action to safely evacuate 120,000 residents in the storm?s path and station additional police officers and firefighters around the community. Key to their efforts? Information from the U.S. Census Bureau, including stats gleaned from the most recent census.
Real Disposable Personal Income Rises in September
Personal income increased 0.3 percent in September after increasing?0.5 percent in August. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, showed no?change in September after increasing 0.6 percent in August.
EDA Invests to Help Spur Economic Development in Qualified Opportunity Zones and Related Areas Across the Country
Opportunity Zones were created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and signed into law by President Trump on December 22, 2017, to stimulate economic development and job creation by incentivizing long-term investments in low-income neighborhoods. More than 35 million Americans live in nearly 9,000 specially-designated Qualified Opportunity Zones (PDF), which were identified by Governors and certified by the Department of the Treasury, throughout the U.S. and its territories.
Richmond, Virginia: Providing a Soft Landing Since 1607
You could say that the first foreign direct investment occurred in 1607 when English settlers founded the Richmond Region in Virginia. Soon thereafter the nation?s first hospital was built, the first university was chartered, and the first ironworks were established. Today, the Richmond Region is home to more than 220 international firms from 26 countries employing 24,600 residents. From advanced manufacturing to supply chain and finance to technology, international firms love the region?s quality of life and affordable business costs.
2019 Minority Enterprise Development Week Highlights
"I am proud of MBDA?s success over the past 50 years, but with changing demographics and the rise of artificial intelligence, MBDA will have to take on a bigger role to help minority enterprises win the future" Henry Childs, National Director of MBDA
Relive the MED Week experience with videos and photos of these inspiring events!
NIST Final ?Big Data? Framework Will Help Make Sense of Our Data-Drenched Age
To improve approaches for analyzing very large quantities of data, computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have released broad specifications for how to build more widely useful technical tools for the job.?Following a multiyear effort, the agency has published the final version of the NIST Big Data Interoperability Framework, a collaboration between NIST and more than 800 experts from industry, academia, and government.
Social Media Cybersecurity
Now more than ever, consumers spend increasing amounts of time on the Internet. With every social media account you sign up for, every picture you post, and status you update, you are sharing information about yourself with the world. How can you be proactive to stay safe online and, ?Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.?? #BeCyberSmart and take these simple steps to connect with confidence and safely navigate the social media world.
Secretary Ross Signs SSA Cooperation Declaration with the French Space Agency
Recently, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross met with Jean-Yves Le Gall, President of the French National Centre of Space Research (CNES), to discuss cooperation on Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST). During the meeting, the two signed a Declaration of Intent on SSA/SST cooperation between the Commerce Department and CNES.
Highlights
- Halloween Facts for Features
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross Welcomes Release of the European Commission's Report on the 2019 EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework
- Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador Program Reaches 10,000 Strong
- EDA Investments Helps Turn Love of Laughter into a Top National Museum
- MBDA Awards NAIC Million Dollar Grant to Raise $1 Billion for Investment in Minority Entrepreneurs
- A New Approach to Public Safety Engagement Focused on Roadmap Priorities
- Gross Domestic Product, Third Quarter 2019
- Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday!
