The purpose of EDA’s University Center program is to enable institutions of higher education and consortia of these institutions to establish and operate University Centers (UCs) focused on leveraging university assets to build regional economic ecosystems that support innovation and high-growth entrepreneurship, resiliency, and inclusiveness. As early as FY 1980, EDA-funded UCs responded to the needs of small- and medium-sized manufacturers and processors for technology transfer and commercialization assistance. More recently, some UCs have been providing resources and guidance on how to create a digitally inclusive economy while others are working with stakeholders in their regions to address economic impacts from the closure of major plants.