Purdue Center for Regional Development

What Purdue Center for Regional Development does

The Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) is a university-based research and extension center within Purdue University, established in 2005 to advance regional economic development across Indiana. It operates as a designated U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center, providing data-driven tools, advisory services, and technical assistance to communities, small businesses, economic development organizations, and workforce participants. Its work is organized around four engagement pillars: Strategies (evaluation, participatory planning, focus groups, ripple effect mapping), Digital Opportunities, Economic & Business Development (including the Indiana SBDC network, Economic Gardening, and READI), and Workforce & Talent Development. The center is led by Director Indraneel Kumar and operates through a 20-person team plus the Indiana SBDC network of 10 regional offices covering all 92 Indiana counties.

PCRD's core technology offerings include the EDA-funded Regional Clusters Website (launched April 2026 with 21 industry clusters, 68 subclusters, 38 skills-based clusters covering 800+ occupations, and 21 knowledge-based clusters), interactive data visualization dashboards covering demographic, economic, migration, digital equity, and workforce metrics, and a web-based interactive decision support system for regional planning. Supporting programs include the Indiana SBDC Agribusiness Initiative (launched March 2022), the Essential Digital Employability Skills (EDES) program (launched 2020 with Purdue Online), the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) funded by a nearly $40 million Lilly Endowment grant in 2018, and the Summer in the Cities Buyers Mission international trade program (which generated $9.72M in sales and 153 first-time exports in 2025).

PCRD's business model relies primarily on federal and state government grants and pass-through funding (EDA, USDA, SBA, ISDA, IEDC, Lilly Endowment), with secondary nominal-fee revenue from certificate programs such as the Remote Work Professional Certificate ($50 for Indiana residents, $55 for non-residents). The majority of services — including SBDC confidential business advising, community development assistance, and dashboard access — are delivered at no cost to clients. The center celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025 and continues to expand both within Indiana and nationally through the EDA-funded Regional Clusters platform.

Name

Purdue Center for Regional Development

Legal name

Purdue Center for Regional Development

Website

https://pcrd.purdue.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Purdue Center for Regional Development is a Purdue University research center that delivers GIS-based data tools, business advising, and workforce programs to Indiana communities, small businesses, and economic development organizations across all 92 state counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Training (611420), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Education (EDADALAD)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Regional data analytics
• Small business advising
• Workforce training programs
• GIS spatial analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

West Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grants: Primary funding from U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center designation, USDA Rural Business Development Grants, and state funding through Indiana Economic Development Corporation partnerships.
2. Fee-for-Service Training and Certificates: Revenue from certificate programs such as Remote Work Professional Certificate ($50 for Indiana residents) and Purdue certificate assessments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PCRD is a university-based research and extension center that delivers confidential business advising, technical assistance, and data-driven tools to Indiana communities, small businesses, and economic development organizations. Its portfolio includes GIS-based data dashboards, the Regional Clusters Website, small business development services (Economic Gardening, SBDC, READI), digital inclusion programs, and workforce certification programs. The center operates through a statewide network of 10 Indiana SBDC regional offices and partnerships with Purdue Extension, EDA, USDA, ISDA, and IEDC.

Product overview

The Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) operates as a university-based research and advisory center rather than a single unified software product. Its portfolio consists of data tools and advisory programs including the Regional Clusters Website (a data platform for regional competitiveness assessment), data visualization dashboards, and various advisory services for small business development, workforce training, digital opportunities, and economic development. The Regional Clusters Website serves as the primary data tool offering dashboards and interactive maps, while advisory programs like the Indiana SBDC Agribusiness Initiative and Small Business Development Services provide consulting support. Supporting programs include the Essential Digital Employability Skills (EDES) training program and engagement strategies services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indiana SBDC Agribusiness Initiative: A statewide specialty business advising program for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Indiana's agriculture and food sectors, launched in March 2022 as a partnership between ISBDC, ISDA, and Purdue University.
• Essential Digital Employability Skills (EDES) Program
• Regional Clusters Website

Products and services

• Regional Clusters Website A data-driven platform offering dashboards, interactive maps, and resources for U.S. regions to explore industry-based clusters (21 industry clusters with 68 subclusters), skills-based occupation clusters (38 clusters covering 800+ occupations), and knowledge-based occupation clusters (21 clusters) for regional competitiveness assessment. Funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
• Indiana SBDC Agribusiness Initiative A statewide specialty business advising program for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Indiana's agriculture and food sectors, providing confidential advising, training, and market research as a partnership between Indiana SBDC, ISDA, and Purdue University.
• Data Visualizations Interactive maps and graphs for key regional data including economic indicators, migration patterns, workforce/talent development metrics, digital opportunities, demographic data, unemployment rates, and educational attainment.
• Small Business Development Services Economic and business development services including Economic Gardening, Hoosier Heartland Indiana SBDC, Southeast Indiana SBDC, and Regional Economic Acceleration & Development Initiative (READI) programs providing no-cost confidential business advising.
• Digital Opportunities Program An ecosystem of programs, resources, and technical assistance to ensure communities and regions have access to and use digital technology, including planning, resources, and technical assistance components.
• Workforce & Talent Development Programs Certifications and badges to provide workforce skills needed in communities and regions, including Digital Ready Businesses, Reality Language, Remote Work Certificate Program, and Work Ready certifications.
• Engagement Strategies Assistance in conducting evaluations, community forums, local/regional planning efforts, focus groups, participatory planning, and ripple effect mapping for communities and organizations.
• Essential Digital Employability Skills (EDES) Program Foundational digital skills program providing training in professional communication, digital tools usage, project management, and collaboration, offering a Purdue certificate of completion upon assessment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84 business starts and 3,647 jobs created/supported in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022ISDA partners with Indiana SBDC and Purdue University to operate the Indiana SBDC Agribusiness Initiative, providing statewide specialty business advising to agriculture and food sector entrepreneurs.
• Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEDC provides funding and partnership for Indiana SBDC operations, collaborating on economic development initiatives across the state.
• Food Export-MidwestsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization supported by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, collaborating on the Summer in the Cities Buyers Mission to connect Indiana food businesses with international buyers.
• Ivy Tech Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-recipient of Lilly Endowment funding with Purdue University for the WHIN initiative, contributing to workforce development and educational programming.
• Purdue ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for delivery of community development programs, workforce training, and regional engagement initiatives across Indiana communities.
• Purdue OnlinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver the Essential Digital Employability Skills (EDES) program, providing digital skills training through online platforms.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent institution providing institutional support, research capabilities, and connection to academic resources for regional development initiatives.
• Indiana SBDC NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network of 10 regional SBDC offices covering all 92 Indiana counties, providing no-cost confidential business advising to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lightcast (formerly Burning Glass / Emsi): A leading commercial provider of labor market analytics, skills data, and regional economic intelligence. Comparable to PCRD's data visualization and cluster analytics products but as a well-capitalized incumbent with significantly larger data and engineering resources.
• Camoin Associates: A national economic development consulting firm serving municipalities, EDOs, and state agencies with data analysis, strategic planning, and workforce studies. Comparable to PCRD's economic and business development services but as a private consulting incumbent with broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Headlight Data: A private GIS and data analytics provider for economic development organizations, EDOs, and site selection. Comparable to PCRD's GIS-based regional decision support offerings as a commercial emerging player targeting the same economic development customer base.

Direct peers

• National Association of Development Organizations (NADO): A national association representing regional planning and economic development organizations. Comparable to PCRD in mission and constituency (U.S. Economic Development Districts and regional planners), and a potential partner/distribution channel for the Regional Clusters Website.
• Indiana SBDC Network: Statewide small business development center network of 10 regional offices that PCRD co-operates. Directly comparable as the regional SBDC infrastructure through which PCRD delivers advising services to Indiana entrepreneurs.
• Heartland Forward: A nonpartisan regional think tank focused on economic performance and quality of life in the central U.S. Strongly comparable to PCRD in its data-driven regional economic analysis mission and Midwest geography, though operating as a private nonprofit rather than university center.
• EDA University Centers Program: The U.S. EDA University Centers program designates university-based centers to provide economic development technical assistance. Other designated centers (e.g., University of Central Florida, Clemson) are the closest direct peer set, sharing the federal mandate and EDA funding model.
• Purdue Extension: Purdue University's outreach arm delivering community development, agriculture, and 4-H programs across all 92 Indiana counties. Sister organization to PCRD with overlapping geography, audiences, and federal partnerships, providing a natural integration peer.
• University of Illinois Extension: A land-grant extension service delivering community development, agriculture, and workforce programs across Illinois. Comparable as a peer university extension system with similar federal partnerships, regional development focus, and statewide coverage model.
• Iowa State University CIRAS (Center for Industrial Research and Service): A university-based extension and technical assistance center that helps Iowa manufacturers and small businesses grow through advising, training, and applied research. Highly comparable to PCRD as a land-grant university center delivering business development and workforce services statewide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pcrd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PurdueUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/purdueCRD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pcrd
• Instagraminstagram.com/purduecrd
• Pinterestpinterest.com/lifeatpurdue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Purdue Center for Regional Development