60 - Economic Development and Developers in the News

Welcome to the 60th weekly edition of Economic Development and Developers in the News.

Today's issue contains economic development news from 133 economic development executives and organizations in 38 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and New Zealand.

Arizona

Global Water Resources President and CEO, Ron Fleming, was appointed Chairman of the Maricopa Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors. (Adam D. Saks, Executive Director; Christian Price,
President & CEO)

The 2022 Economic Development Summit of WESTMARC, was held this week. The annual event, titled “Where is Our Workforce?,” featured three panel discussions with leaders in the community examining workforce trends in target industry sectors, employer strategies, and workforce housing and transportation. (Sintra Hoffman, President & CEO)

Alisha Murphy, Navajo Nation’s first-ever full-time economist, discussed her vision of a robust tribal economy and the importance of community input.

Director Heath Vescovi-Chiordi shared the changes in economic development in Pima County. (Patrick Cavanaugh, Deputy Director of Economic Development, Pima County; Kelle Maslyn, Assistant Director for Strategic Affairs, Pima County; Barbra Coffee, Economic Initiatives Director, City of Tucson Economic Initiatives)

Arkansas

Earlier this month, Governor Asa Hutchinson met with state and local economic developers to present the proclamation of Economic Development Week. (Kaitlyn Rigdon, Economic Development Project Manager, El Dorado Chamber; Shelby Fiegel, Director, University of Central Arkansas Center for Community and Economic Development and the Community Development Institute; Danny Games, Director, Business & Economic Development at Entergy Arkansas; Shelley Short, Executive Director, Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives; Courtney Dunn, Director of Community & Economic Development, City of Maumelle, Arkansas; Jack Pillow, Project Manager, Arkansas Economic Development Commission; Corey Parks, Vice President of Economic Development, Conway Development Corporation; James Lee Silliman, Executive Director, CAIDC; Katherine Holmstrom, Business Expansion & Retention Representative, Entergy; Nancy Lee McNew, Vice President, Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County, Arkansas; Theda Mahoney, Executive Director, Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce; Jon Chadwell, Director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission; Randy Zook, President & CEO, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce; James Bell, Vice President, Bentonville Economic Development; Stephen Houserman, Economic Development Director, City of Clarksville, Arkansas; Olivia Womack, Project Manager, Arkansas Economic Development Commission; Ben Walters, Arkansas Economic Development Commission; Chung Tan, Deputy Director of Economic Vitality, City of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Mallory Darby, 2022 president of AEDCE and project manager at West Memphis Economic Development)

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the U of A received the 2022 Arkansas SBDC Excellence and Innovation Center Award at the statewide ASBTDC meeting in Little Rock. (Edward Haddock, Director, Arkansas SBA; Laura Fine, State Director, ASBTDC; Mike Malone, Vice Chancellor, Division of Economic Development; Lori Lieblong, Business Consultant, ASBTDC; Mary Beth Brooks, Director, ASBTDC; Scott Lacy, Business Consultant, ASBTDC; Catherine Corley, Business Consultant, ASBTDC)

California

The City of Indio is celebrating the early success of its economic development efforts downtown and recognizing the conclusion of economic development week with a ribbon cutting and 2nd Saturdays · Center Stage Celebration. (Carl S. Morgan, Director of Economic Development, City of Indio)

Kern County announced an allocation of nearly $8.7 million for park improvements and maintenance throughout the county. (Richard Chapman, President & CEO, Kern Economic Development Corporation)

David Klug is the new economic development director for the City of Pasadena.

Colorado

Four Cherry Creek groups representing more than 1,000 businesses have teamed up to form the Cherry Creek Alliance to better address business support, economic development and policy issues in the east Denver neighborhood. (Nick LeMasters, President and CEO, Cherry Creek North; Christine Des Enfants, Executive Director, Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce; Kourtny Garrett, President & CEO, Downtown Denver Partnership)

The Colorado Tourism Office is accepting applications for the Reimagine Destinations Program. The Reimagine Destinations Program assists Colorado tourism destinations to advance projects that foster the long-term resilience of the Colorado tourism industry. (Andrew Grossman, Director of Destination Development, Colorado Tourism Office)

Florida

The Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation is the only organization focused solely on growing and diversifying the economy of Sarasota County. (Lisa Krouse, President & CEO, Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation)

Expanding its strategic outreach and assistance to small businesses at the heart of their communities, the Florida Small Business Development Center at FIU Business — FSBDC at FIU Business, has partnered with the City of North Miami Beach and its Community Redevelopment Agency to provide confidential, free consulting to small businesses in its three major commercial districts. (Brian Van Hook, Regional Director of FSBDC at FIU; Joann Milord, Economic Development and CRA Director, City of North Miami Beach)

Georgia

The search for what an Savannah economic development leader calls a “Super Bowl” economic development project for the Bryan County megasite is over. A Kia Motors assembly plant will be built on the 2,284-acre site. The manufacturing facility would make Kia electric vehicles and employ as many as 8,500 workers. (Trip Tollison, President & CEO, Savannah Economic Development Authority; Anna Chafin, CEO, Development Authority of Bryan County; Benjy Thompson, CEO, Development Authority of Bulloch County; Brandt Herndon, CEO, Effingham County Industrial Development Authority)

Idaho

The City of Idaho Falls has hired eastern Idaho native Christian Ashcraft as the new Economic Development Administrator. Ashcraft was selected to fill the vacancy created when former Administrator Dana Briggs left to take a position in the private sector.

Illinois

The Aurora City Council this week approved a new deal with Invest Aurora, the city’s not-for-profit redevelopment arm. The new contract includes more delineation between what Invest Aurora does, and the responsibilities of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. (Bryan Gay, President & CEO, Invest Aurora; David Dibo, Executive Director, Mayor's Office of Economic Development, City of Aurora)

The City of Batavia is hosting a series of focus groups as it works to create its first economic development plan. (Beth Walker, Executive Director, Batavia MainStreet; Shannon Malik Jarmusz, Economic Development Manager, City of Batavia; Margaret Perreault, President & CEO, Batavia Chamber of Commerce)

Indiana

The Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation and local elected officials and community leaders May 10 announced the start of the Hoosier Homes program in Kosciusko County, and provided updates on the ongoing effort to encourage greater housing development in the community. (Stephanie Overbey, CEO, KCCF; Lori Shipman,  Workforce Housing RLF Program Administrator, KEDCO; Alan Tio, CEO, KEDCO)

Hammond economic development director touted $160M in projects. (Anne Anderson, Economic Development Director, Hammond)

Iowa

Stacy Borgeson of Grow Clinton was one of 91 economic development professionals to attend the Heartland Economic Development Course in April in Blue Springs, Missouri. Heartland attendees receive fundamental economic development training on topics ranging from business, retention and expansion, workforce development, real estate, and entrepreneurship to marketing, finance, ethics, and managing economic development organizations.

Kansas

Governor Laura Kelly has announced the 11 recipients of the Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grants. The grants were presented by Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland. The Attraction Development Grant Program is administered by Kansas Tourism, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce. The grants assist in the expansion of sustainable, market-driven travel experiences within the state that will influence travel decisions, increase visitation to Kansas and generate economic impact resulting from the creation of jobs, capital investment and tax revenue.

Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation marked Economic Development Week with a commitment to drive Dickinson County forward through economic development efforts including business retention and expansion, workforce development through housing, childcare, and quality of life initiatives, supporting entrepreneurship across the county, and recruiting businesses and assisting start-ups ready to help each of Dickinson County’s vibrant business communities grow. (Executive director Chuck Scott; Administrative Assistant Courtney Dixon)

Kentucky

For the last few years, Covington’s Economic Development Department marketed the City to prospective businesses, investors, and transplanted talent using different versions of a branding message that touted Covington’s historic spaces and edgy charm. Now that “message” has been adopted formally.  (Economic Development Director Tom West)

Gov. Andy Beshear named a longtime Whirlpool Corp. executive as the new secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development. Jeff Noel, Whirlpool vice president of communications and public affairs, will join the Kentucky state agency after his retirement this year from the Benton Harbor appliance manufacturer. He will replace Interim Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Larry Hayes.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced the City of Bowling Green and its officials will implement upgrades at the Kentucky Transpark behind a $1 million investment, building on one of the fastest-growing industrial parks in Kentucky. The Bowling Green location was selected for funding through the Product Development Initiative in 2022. PDI was created through a partnership between the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the Kentucky Association for Economic Development to provide competitive grants to Kentucky economic development organizations and local governments to supplement site and building improvement projects.

To help small businesses expand and grow, the Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation has introduced a new newsletter. Economic Development Vice-President Ruthann Padgett said the entrepreneurial newsletter will benefit anyone that is a small business owner or entrepreneur.

Louisiana

As Tangipahoa Economic Development continues to attract new businesses and help existing businesses grow and expand, Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller and the Tangipahoa Parish Council proclaimed May 9–13 as Economic Development Week. (Economic Development Director Ginger Cangelosi)

Maine

Governor Janet Mills congratulated Heart of Biddeford, a nonprofit organization focused on economic development and quality of life in downtown Biddeford, for being awarded the 2022 Great American Main Street Award. The award from Main Street America recognizes communities for excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization. (Delilah Poupore, Executive Director)

Maryland

The National Association of Counties named The Grove Best in Category for Community and Economic Development, receiving its highest 2022 award. The Grove at Harford is an agribusiness incubator for local farmers, artists and food processors to sell their products directly to consumers, and to promote local agriculture commerce and sustainability. Vendors lease space in The Grove’s barnlike open-air building with eight interior stalls, two kiosks and available exterior stands.

Massachusetts

Brookline recently selected Meredith L. Mooney to serve as the town’s next economic development director.

Michigan

It will be a busy couple of months ahead for local businessman and Adrian resident Jay Marks. Last week, the city of Adrian along with Adrian’s Main Street/Downtown Development Authority board of directors announced the selection of Marks as Adrian’s Main Street/DDA executive director. The position will help implement a unique approach to historic preservation-based economic development strategies.

Greater Muskegon Economic Development chose its next leader. Muskegon County’s economic development agency said it appointed Marla Schneider as president and CEO, effective June 1. She will take the reins from Jim Edmonson, who was hired in 2019 to help implement a three-year transition plan for the organization.

The Kalamazoo area will be facing challenges if it hopes to grow and thrive as an industrial center. That’s according to the new director of Southwest Michigan First, who says any industrial developer who looks near Kalamazoo will find there are few places to build and if they do a site, it would be hard to find skilled workers. Director Jonas Peterson briefed Kalamazoo County officials earlier this month and said they need more sites that are competitive with those in other communities.

This Economic Development Week, and a plan has been launched to attract new businesses to an 8-county region including, Saginaw, Bay and Midland. It’s an effort to help the area recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been branded “Great Lakes Bay Michigan-Centered.” Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot and Isabella Counties are part of the collaborative. Seven regional economic development organizations have launched the initiative to bring investment in targeted industries by promoting regional assets to decision makers of companies through site selection, and to engage key stakeholders in promoting the benefits of doing business in the region.

Minnesota

Samantha Markman, former Economic Development Director for Anoka County Regional Economic Development, is the new Corporate Economic Development Manager for Xcel Energy.

Rochester, Winona, Mankato, and Faribault are among the communities benefiting from over $40 million in grants announced Tuesday by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.  The second round of funding in the Main Street Economic Revitalization Program will provide money to non-profit groups that are designed to address the greatest economic development and redevelopment needs that have arisen in communities across Minnesota since March 15, 2020.

Missouri

Cargill, a global leader in food production and agricultural services, announced that it will build a new soybean processing facility near Caruthersville in Pemiscot County. When complete, the new facility will be one of Cargill’s largest soy processing facilities in North America and create 45 new high-paying jobs in the region. (Maggie Kost, Acting Director for the Missouri Department of Economic Development)

The Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development Corporation has named Marcie Lawson its next President and CEO. Lawson has served as executive director of the Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development Corporation since 2017. She will succeed Mike Marshall as President and CEO on June 1 with a transition time until June 30 when Marshall will officially retire.

Officials say O’Fallon has rebounded from the pre-vaccine pandemic times to not only be surviving but thriving in projected business growth. Economic development initiatives put in place several years ago have come to fruition — as indicated by new construction, rehabbing of old buildings and recently approved projects in every corner of the city. (Community Development Director Justin Randall)

St. Louis Development Corporation is proud to announce that it has been chosen as one of five communities to make up the inaugural Equity Communities Cohort, a component of the Equitable Economic Development Playbook Initiative developed by the International Economic Development Council.

Montana

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that four Montana organizations will receive nearly $10 million in revolving loan funds to clean up brownfields. (Sara Hudson, Executive Director, [Snowy Mountain Development Corporation](https://www.snowymountaindevelopment.com); Brett Doney, President & CEO, Great Falls Development Authority; Paul Tuss, Executive Director, Bear Paw Development Corporation, and Joe Willauer, Executive Director, Headwaters Resource Conservation & Development Council.)

Montana State University has appointed Alison Harmon, its dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Development, as its interim vice president of research and economic development.

Nebraska

The November ballot will bring an opportunity for Grand Island voters to put funds towards jobs, housing, and child care. The city is set to renew its economic development plan and voters could expand this program’s reach, both in terms of dollars and eligibility. (Dave Taylor of the Grand Island Economic Development Corporation.)

Voters in the city of Deshler have approved an economic development program using proceeds from the existing 1% municipal sales tax.

New Mexico

Carissa Vender has been hired as small business liaison in the Economic Development Department for the City of Albuquerque.

New York

Livingston County Economic Development marked the two-year anniversary of the Grow LivCo brand in conjunction with Economic Development Week. Two years ago, Livingston County Economic Development launched a long-term, sustainable brand, Grow LivCo which represents the office’s dedication to growing and developing all aspects of life in Livingston County. (Bill Bacon, Director of Livingston County Economic Development)

North Carolina

Janet LaBar, president and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, has been named to Business North Carolina’s Power List 2022.

Jenn Bosser, president and CEO of the Iredell County Economic Development Corp, saw the spike in interest in Iredell County sites for warehouse development coming around 18 months ago. It started with one project — Troutman Industrial Park, a 1 million-square-foot industrial shell building on Murdock Road. The building was, at the time it was among the largest speculative projects in a part of the region without much history of that kind of activity. In late 2020, Walmart Inc. bought the building for $69 million for a distribution center that would create 500-plus jobs.

Cosmoind Co., Ltd., a polyethylene infrastructure piping manufacturer, will create 168 new jobs in Nash County, Governor Roy Cooper announced. The company will invest more than $12.8 million to build its first North American manufacturing campus for industrial, natural gas, and drinking water pipes in Middlesex. (Andy Hagy, Economic Development Director, Nash County Department of Economic Development; Susan Phelps, Economic Developer; Emily Moore, Economic Development Administrative Assistant)

Rod Crider: We thank you for your support and hope you join us in celebrating National Economic Development Week! Economic development means making the lives of our citizens better. Our core principles at the Rowan Economic Development Council are to reduce poverty, increase prosperity, and improve quality of life.

Concord City Council voted Thursday to approve an economic development incentive for NASCAR to support the company’s expansion in Concord. NASCAR plans to invest over $28 million in a new technology center, adjacent to the existing NASCAR Research and Development Center in West Winds Business Park. (Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Page Castrodale)

Wake County Economic Development recently welcomed a new senior economic development manager, Sam Rauf.  The organization is expecting big things in 2022 and beyond.

North Dakota

The U.S. Economic Development Administration has awarded $1 million to the North Dakota Department of Commerce through the federal agency's Statewide Planning program. The purpose is to enhance the statewide attraction of businesses, promote economic activity, and attract and retain workforce, according to Gov. Doug Burgum.

Ohio

Youngstown’s Economic Development Director has resigned and her position will be reassessed before being filled. Sharon Woodberry’s resignation is effective May 27. She had worked in economic development for 24 years. Sources said she has accepted a job in Florida. Nikki Posterli, Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, said the position will not be filled immediately. Posterli wants to reassess the job description of Economic Development Director.

A hydrogen-fueled power plant is being proposed for the site of the toxic Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in the southern Ohio community of Piketon. The Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative, an economic development group working with Ohio University and the Texas company Newpoint Gas, hopes the project will produce clean energy and replace some of the jobs lost when the uranium enrichment facility shuttered in 2001.

An economic development agreement with the city of Springfield has pumped millions of dollars earmarked for services in annexed territory into Springfield Twp.'s coffers for more than 20 years. But in the wake of the city annexing more land for proposed housing development projects in recent years, one Springfield Twp. trustee says the Cooperative Economic Development Agreement — needs to be reexamined.

Shalersville is working with Streetsboro to establish a Joint Economic Development District after a developer purchased a large vacant parcel of land just north of the Ohio Turnpike that has been zoned industrial for more than 60 years.

This spring, OhioSE recognized local economic developers across Southeast Ohio for their outstanding efforts. For Best Community Development Project, Gwynn Stewart and the Noble County Infrastructure Expansions were honored; the expansions will increase access to public water and broadband in the county. For Best Building Development, Joy Davis and the Logan-Hocking Industrial Park in Hocking County were recognized.  For Best Site Development, Bill Dingus, Robert Horton, Lawrence County and Scioto County were recognized for the NS Haverhill/SOID Sewer Extension project. For Best Project, Gary Arnett and Daphne Mosley, along with RK Administrative Services, LLC (operating as Rural King) in Pike County, were honored. So far in 2022, OhioSE has assisted 13 company expansions and new locations. Those companies will create 446 new, quality jobs and invest over $40 million in fixed assets.

Olmsted Falls' City Council is currently considering a one-year contract renewal for economic development consultant Tom Jordan. As for the current state of economic development in Olmsted Falls, Jordan said the focus is on revitalizing the city’s downtown with a community revitalization district designation.

City officials will meet this week to discuss what Fremont should do in terms of its roads and whether to put another income tax levy on the ballot, the city's economic development director said Monday. Bob Gross, the city's economic development director, said the city had made a bipartisan effort to promote the proposed new 0.5% income tax levy, which leaders hoped would fund a five-year road program, after it failed at the polls in November. Voters once again rejected the levy earlier this month.

Oklahoma

The Norman Economic Development Coalition will host its quarterly Economic Development Luncheon on May 25. During the event, the coalition's leaders will provide an update on Norman’s new economic development strategic plan, and national business leader Quint Studer will share with attendees his experience building communities. (Lawrence McKinney, President & CEO; Daniel Johnson, Project Coordinator)

The Durant City Council is celebrating small businesses this week by approving a plan to award $260,000 in grants. "We've had a pretty high turnover rate," said Durant Industrial Authority executive director Lisa Taylor. "Vacancy rate in the downtown areas, especially. That was really at the forefront at the discussions and decisions in creating these small business grants."

South Carolina

A new face on the city payroll took the podium at the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast to talk tourism and the effects it has on longer-term economic development. Randy DuTeau was hired on as the city of North Augusta’s tourism and marketing coordinator six months ago, but his background in the industry of tourism promotion stretches back several years.

Tennessee

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council is proposing four commercial redevelopment districts to facilitate the improvement of these areas. “Enhancing the vibrancy of our downtown core is tremendously important and these redevelopment districts are instrumental in that effort, ” said Buck Dellinger, EDC CEO.

Texas

Landis Adams is the new Deputy Director for the Dickinson Economic Development Corporation.

Effective July 7th, Sally Bane will retire from the City of Plano. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Sally Bane has led Plano’ s economic development team with decades of experience. In the last 16 years, Bane and her team have been involved in 149 corporate relocation and expansion projects resulting in over $3 Billion in Plano tax base improvements and over 45,000 jobs.

The Breckenridge Economic Development Corporation recently approved a 2022-2023 Economic Development Action Plan. Colton Buckley, CEO/ Executive Director of Breckenridge Become said. Breckenridge Become is the strategic organizational alignment of the BEDC, Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Foundation, and Improvement Council.

The Fort Worth Chamber announced the launch of its Regional Economic Development Partnership, promoting regional growth and economic development across the western side of the DFW metro. The first of its kind collaboration brings together more than 18 municipalities and counties to strengthen community relationships, track business trends and share data and resources. The partnership will have a dual focus: supporting existing local businesses through enhanced retention efforts as well as marketing the region as a target destination for relocating companies. “We’re proud to launch this initiative with nearly 20 organizations committed to date,” said Chris Strayer, Executive Vice President of Economic Development for the FWC.

After years of economic development partnerships between the city, county, and chamber that ultimately failed, the city of Granbury is trying a different approach. Lance LaCour, who has years of economic development experience, has been hired to fill the city’s newly created economic development director position. His first day on the job will be Monday, June 13.

The Victoria Economic Development Corporation and city of Edna announced Tuesday a partnership to recruit and support businesses and industry. The development corporation will serve as the economic development staff for the city as per the agreement, which runs through the end of 2024. (President Jonas Titas)

The Development Corporation of Abilene had cause to celebrate Friday, when the city was named eighth in the nation for economic development among cities with populations of 200,000 people or fewer. “Abilene’s being noticed for the top notch community that we are, and it represents real opportunity,” said DCOA President and CEO, Misty Mayo.

Entrepreneurs in the Pearland area have a new resource to help them grow their businesses. The Pearland Economic Development Corp. has launched the Pearland Innovation Hub, aimed at connecting small businesses with programs and services that are designed to contribute to their success. The Pearland Innovation Hub is managed through a partnership between the Pearland Economic Development Corp. and The Cannon, a Houston-area business networking community for entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate innovators. The Cannon hired Brandy Guidry to run the Pearland hub.

It’s easy to drive through Hitchcock without realizing you’re driving through Hitchcock. But plans are underway to give Hitchcock a heart, said Tyler Robert, executive director of the Hitchcock Economic Development Corp. Hitchcock voters last week overwhelmingly approved a proposition allowing the city and corporation more flexibility on economic development incentives. Previously, the sales tax funds were limited incentives meant to attract industrial and manufacturing firms.

Utah

Shanny Wilson was recently named the new Carbon County Economic Development and Tourism Director, coming into the position with many years of experience at the local university under her belt.

Vermont

The in-person return of the annual Southern Vermont Economy Summit advertised a post-pandemic, fast-forward theme of “Cultivate Change.” But first came a rewind to all-too-familiar Covid precautions. Still, the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp. aimed to steer the conversation toward a future of welcoming more individuals and institutions to the southernmost counties of Bennington and Windham. (CEO Adam Grinold)

Virginia

The Economic Development Director of Patrick County said he is blown away by plans to bring back the county’s old hospital. Sean Adkins, who has been on the job about seven months, traveled to Chicago two weeks ago to visit with the team of people working to restore the hospital’s services.

The Town of Culpeper’s Economic Development and Tourism Office announced Tuesday the addition of Tori Buell and Nicole Warner to its team.

It is the end of an area for the Landmark Mall in Alexandria, Virginia. The demolition process began Thursday morning on the vacant commercial space that opened in 1965 but has been closed since 2017. The $2 billion development project will house an expansion of the Inova Alexandria Hospital with a 10-acre site with services catered to the West End community.

When Amazon announced it would be bringing its second headquarters to Arlington, local officials wasted no time pitching it as a chance to build something much bigger: This corner of Northern Virginia, they said, could transform into a dense, urban technology hub — a kind of eastern outpost for Silicon Valley. More than three years later, that vision seems like it’s no longer just an idea. (Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, executive director of the National Landing Business Improvement District)

In a recent interview on This Week at the Lake, host Ron Krauss interviewed County Administrator Eric Dahl and Director of Economic Development Jennifer Schmack and discussed the current state of economic development in Fluvanna County.

Washington

Seattle is giving $1 million to keep the Seattle Maritime Academy operational as declining enrollment forces Seattle Colleges to seek new funding. John Lederer, key industry and workforce development manager for the city’s Office of Economic Development, said Friday that the source for future funding isn’t clear, but the office will look for a way to maintain the academy.

Beginning Tuesday, May 17, the city of Spokane will begin installing new single and dual space on-street parking meters in the downtown paid parking area. This is the next step in the on-street parking renovation project that began with the Downtown Parking Study in 2019. “It’s exciting to see the new meters on curbs and the thousands of hours of preparation by the team come to life to enhance the parking environment downtown,” says Steve MacDonald, Community & Economic Development Director.

West Virginia

Bill Woodrum has been named Senior Program Officer at the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation where he will lead community and economic development initiatives in West Virginia.

Kris Warner, director of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, addressed a full house during the recent annual Banquet Meeting of the Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.

United States

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and U.S. Economic Development Administration Assistant Secretary Alejandra Y. Castillo today unveiled a joint resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic development in rural America.

Puerto Rico

The Board of Directors of Invest Puerto Rico, the economic development organization whose mission is to attract investment to the island, announced that Rodrick Miller will not renew his contract as Chief Executive Officer of the entity after it expires on June 30. As of that date, Ella Woger-Nieves, InvestPR's current Chief Operating Officer, will continue to lead the organization as Acting Chief Executive Officer.

Virgin Islands

In observance of National Economic Development Week, the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority released a Virtual Panel Discussion featuring local industry leaders. A frank conversation between tourism, manufacturing, technology and energy, and small business sectors delved into issues businesses face. (VIEDA's CEO Wayne Biggs, Jr.)

Canada

Cyndy Phillips is leaving her current position at MRC Pontiac to join the Renfrew County CFDC as their executive director.

For the second month in a row, Saskatchewan is leading the nation in year-over-year growth in the two key indicators of manufacturing sales and wholesale trade. (Larry Heggs, Executive Director, Weyburn Regional Economic Development; Jeremy Harrison, Trade and Export Development Minister)

The Town of Innisfail celebrated Economic Development Week. Innisfail Mayor Jean Barclay it is a way to celebrate a new strategy the town has put in place. (Jane Duncalfe, Executive Director, Innisfail & District Chamber of Commerce)

The District of Saanich recently hired Mitchell Edgar as its new manager of economic development, a position that will see him oversee related programs and work to expand, retain and attract business to the community.

Grey County’s Economic Development and Planning Advisory Committee is endorsing an investment attraction strategy. (Savanna Myers, Director, Grey County Economic Development and Planning Advisory Committee; Steve Furness, Manager of Economic Development and Tourism, Grey County; Luigi Presta, Managing Partner, ThinkCOMPASS)

A series of rural development grants are coming to the Nicola Valley to support economic development and diversification. This is the next step in the StrongerBC Economic Plan and the ongoing recovery efforts in Merritt following the floods in November last year.

Lacombe County is booming with development, with construction values increasing by 264 per cent in 2021 over pre-pandemic levels. That according to County officials who say the trend highlights the opportunities for businesses to grow and succeed in the County, thanks to important steps council has taken to create a business-friendly climate. (Monica Bartman, Economic Development Officer, Lacombe County; Jeffrey Hanger, Executive Director, Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce)

"Experience Ashcroft” Pocket Guide received an Economic Development Marketing Innovation Award from the BC Economic Development Association. (Margaret Moreira, Economic Development & Tourism Coordinator, Village of Ashcroft; Dale Wheeldon, CEO, BCEDA)

New Zealand

Rotorua Economic Development, also known as Destination Rotorua, is changing its name to RotoruaNZ. The organization's representatives say the name change provides "a really clear signpost of what we're all about - our people and our place". (Chief Executive Andrew Wilson)

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