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The U.S. and World Population Clock is one of the most popular features on Census.gov. More than 2.4 million users a year access it to find national and world population estimates, as well as statistics on states and regions, age, sex and population density. Today, I’m excited to showcase the addition of several new features to the World Population Clock. For the first time, basic population facts and visualizations are available for 228 countries and areas around the world, just as they are for U.S. states. http://1.usa.gov/1IN4cG4

Yesterday, NOAA announced more than $4.5 million in grants to states and tribes to support endangered or threatened species recovery efforts. The agency is also opening a call for 2016 proposals under this program. The NOAA Fisheries Species Recovery Grant Program’s 2015 funding supports five new projects and the continuation of 14 multi-year projects. http://1.usa.gov/1JPHyC6

I’m pleased to announce the beginning of data collection for the inaugural Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs. This new survey will be a supplement to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners, which is conducted every five years as part of the Economic Census. It represents an exciting public-private partnership between the Census Bureau, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Minority Business Development Agency. http://1.usa.gov/1UkkTEA

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership has built a strong network of centers that support manufacturing across the United States. When Hurricane Katrina struck, this network of manufacturers from across the country was called into action to help track and coordinate the tremendous outpouring of support to those affected by the disaster. Learn more --> http://1.usa.gov/1hsfWb8 ‪#‎Katrina10‬

In the ten years since the flood waters subsided, the people of the Gulf Region have demonstrated incredible resiliency and a strong will to restore the area to the vibrant, bustling community it was before the storms hit. That meant not only repairing the physical damage left by the storm, but working to repair the economic havoc the storm wreaked. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) and U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) are proud to be partners in those efforts. http://1.usa.gov/1Ui8iln ‪#‎Katrina10‬

Last week, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker wrapped up a three-state visit to National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) institutes that are developing tomorrow’s transformative technologies and industries.

NNMI is a key element of the Administration’s competitiveness agenda and commitment to ensuring the next great revolution in manufacturing happens right here in America.

Learn more - http://1.usa.gov/1EsXnhF

Around Commerce, we focused on the economic recovery and environmental resilience of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I encourage you to read the many posts on how Commerce has found innovative solutions from improving technology that improves weather forecasting to incorporating data in economic recovery.

Planning for communities to prepare for and recover from hazardous events like these—to be more resilient—is complex and requires input from a wide range of disciplines and people. ‪#‎Katrina10‬

Today, the marsh is flourishing. There is no difference between the areas that were oiled and burned 10 years ago and nearby areas that were untouched.

Ten years ago, one of the deadliest hurricanes in history struck the Gulf Coast, decimating coastal cities and communities from Gulfport, Miss., to New Orleans. A decade later, we are better positioned to deal with these types of disasters. (cc National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA))

Ten years later, Coast Survey reflects back on the planning and response to Hurricane Katrina, and looks to their progress in developing tools to aid in coastal resilience.

The Department of Commerce and several agencies, plus non-profit organizations, held a Twitter chat to highlight the entrepreneurial ecosystem in New Orleans.

As we prepare for the future, it is important to identify how individuals can get assistance with their innovation or business after a disaster. There are a variety of ways independent inventors and small businesses can easily contact the United States Patent and Trademark Office and get access—electronically or in person—to resources that can help get your business and your ideas up and running.

During her remarks, Secretary Pritzker highlighted the deep and growing commercial partnership between our two countries; the vital importance of the U.S.-Mexico border to our bilateral economic ties; and the need for action to spur North American competitiveness in the increasingly globalized economy of the 21st century.