Center for Economics Enterprise & Innovation
Ideas into action.
Building stronger communities through research, innovation, people and partnership.
CEEI is an applied community innovation institute working with communities and partners to understand opportunities, develop practical solutions, build local capacity and put promising ideas to work.
10
Central Texas counties in the region CEEI defines as its focus
CEEI definition · 2026-08
2024
Year CEEI was founded
IRS determination letter, effective 13 December 2024
We study. We connect. We build.
Understand · Research & Community Intelligence
We study communities, people, economic conditions, infrastructure, assets, needs and emerging opportunities to develop knowledge that can inform action.
Create · Applied Innovation & Enterprise
We explore ideas, technologies, partnerships and new approaches that can address practical community and economic challenges.
Build · People & Local Capacity
We help prepare people and organizations to participate in emerging opportunities and strengthen the capacity communities need to move forward.
Implement · Partnership & Action
We work alongside public, private, nonprofit and community partners to move promising ideas toward real-world implementation.
Questions shaping communities deserve serious attention.
Our work crosses disciplines because community challenges rarely fit neatly into one category. CEEI follows the connections between people, place, markets, infrastructure and opportunity.
Workforce · Economic Development · Infrastructure · Water · Enterprise · Technology & Innovation · Land & Place · Community
Ideas become meaningful when they are put to work.
FutureWorks
Preparing people for what is next. Workforce and career development connecting people with skills, practical experience, emerging industries and economic opportunity.
Community Infrastructure & Innovation
Rethinking what community infrastructure can do. Exploring how infrastructure, technology, data, workforce and local partnerships can work together to create useful community capability.
HealthCare Connect
Connecting people, opportunity and healthcare. Developing practical approaches that connect healthcare access, workforce, education, technology and partnership around community needs.
Nonprofit Capacity Building
Strong organizations help build strong communities. Helping mission-aligned organizations strengthen formation, governance, operating systems, compliance and organizational capacity so they can serve effectively and sustainably.
Ideas worth exploring.
Research
Applied research, briefs, analysis, maps and community intelligence.
Human Inquiry
People-centered stories that help explain larger community and economic questions.
Field Notes
Observations, questions and learning from communities, projects and the field.
Ideas start with people.
Some of the most interesting solutions emerge when people with different experiences, disciplines and ideas find one another. CEEI is interested in connecting with researchers, entrepreneurs, community builders, technologists, economic developers, creatives, practitioners, emerging professionals and problem-solvers.
Working where ideas can make a difference.
CEEI works with communities and partners where research, programs, enterprise, innovation and implementation can create meaningful opportunity. Much of our current programming is concentrated across Central Texas communities within the Eastern Crescent, alongside partnerships and opportunities that may extend beyond the region.
Ten counties east of IH-35
Boundaries from US Census county geometry. Hover or tap a county.
What could we build together?
Communities are changing. New ideas are emerging. Important questions remain unanswered. Whether you represent a community, are developing an idea, conducting research, building a company, investing in opportunity or looking for meaningful work, there may be a place for you in what CEEI is building.