International Trade and Competitiveness
Governors play an important diplomatic and leadership role in states' international trade and competitiveness by leading activities to unite state clusters, trade associations, universities, businesses, and state agencies. The role of governors in promoting global integration is especially important as companies expand across national borders and states establish trade offices around the world to support trade relationships and partnerships.

Rural Development
Every state has areas with rural characteristics. Rural areas are often noted for providing an enhanced quality of life and some of the distinctive and treasured dimensions of a state's culture and character. However, these regions also face economic development challenges such as geographic isolation, infrastructure deficiencies, poor links with metropolitan and global markets, and the flight of skilled human resources to metropolitan regions.  Rural economic development policies must build upon the inherent strengths of rural America: abundant natural resources, strong local business networks and a largely untapped tradition of entrepreneurial creativity. State policies that understand this new environment can be successful in creating sustainable and replicable economic development where it is needed most.

Cluster-based Economic Development
State economies have distinctive structures and governors must use their states' unique advantages. Clusters are geographically bounded concentrations of similar, related or complementary business, with active channels for business transactions, communications and dialogue, that share specialized infrastructure, labor markets and services, and that are faced with common opportunities and threats. States have several policy options to promote clusters, including -- organizing service delivery around clusters, targeting investments to clusters; strengthening networks and building bridges; and developing cluster-specific workforce training programs.