Western Carolina University

An EDA-Designated University Center

The Rapid Center has been designated a university center by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

The EDA-supported University Center (UC) Program is specifically designed to marshal the resources located within colleges and universities to support regional economic development strategies in regions of chronic and acute economic distress. The UCs, which EDA considers long-term partners in economic development, are required to devote the majority of their funding to respond to technical assistance requests originating from organizations located in the economically distressed portions of their service regions.

North Carolina Partnerships

The Rapid Center partners with other universities and institutions across North Carolina to further improve our collective research, business and educational services. These partnerships include:

Innovation Collaborative: The Carolinas Innovation Collaborative was launched to generate innovative ideas for products to improve health care delivery and to improve independence and quality of life for senior citizens.

Carolinas Photonics Consortium: Launched in May 2006, its unique mission is to translate intellectual property developed at our outstanding institutions into investment-ready packages (viable prototypes, marketing and business plans) for new products in the booming area of photonics.

Carolinas MicroOptics Triangle: CMOT was formed to synergize the technology platforms of the partnering institutions for technology advancement, local education support, support to local companies and economic development for the region.

Learn More

If you want to know more about the work of the Rapid Center, or if you would like to tour our facilities or talk with faculty, please contact Patrick Gardner or Ryan Taylor.

Visit the School

Please visit the Kimmel School to learn more about what the school is doing as a leader in higher education and as a partner in technology-led economic development throughout the region.