9️⃣ Economic Development and Developers in the News This Week

Alaska

The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors released a letter to Governor Dunleavy and the Alaska Legislature, recommending a number of strategies to combat the state’s ongoing fiscal policy crisis. (Bill Popp)

Arizona

The city of Surprise Economic Development Department is teaming up with the Arizona Small Business Association to support the small business community with free ASBA memberships.

Arkansas

The city of Siloam Springs will work with the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Siloam Springs, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and Retail Consultant Rickey Hayes to develop a promotional campaign to advertise what the city has to offer and programs to attract desired jobs, the list states.

California

New deputy city manager, Jennifer Macarthy, returns to Chico roots, offers expertise in community economics.

Colorado

Denver leaders will ask voters in November to approve a $400 million bond issue for construction projects to rejuvenate its economy to pre-pandemic levels. Eric Hiraga, executive director of Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, said the goal is to reduce the city’s unemployment rate back to its 2.8% pre-pandemic level — a drop that would require the creation of 40,000 new jobs.

The Transportation Technology Center, Inc. plans to relocate to the Pueblo Memorial Airport Industrial Park thanks to a $4.2 million incentive package negotiated with the help of the city of Pueblo, Pueblo County and the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation. (Jeff Shaw)

Apple will expand to 700 jobs in Boulder as part of a nationwide investment of $430 billion in U.S. projects and addition of 20,000 new jobs nationwide over the next five years.  Boulder Economic Council executive director Scott Sternberg called the tech giant’s move “great news for Boulder” and credited the region’s higher-education and federally funded research institutions with fostering an innovative business ecosystem in which Apple wants to invest.

Florida

Two different economic reports released last week reveals what has been an ongoing trend for years: Tampa ranks behind many of its peer cities nationally and in Florida when it comes to key economic measures such as job growth rate, local average wage, household income and education attainment. (Moez Limayem)

The Palm Coast Mayor touted the city's economic development and infrastructure improvements in the annual State of the City address.

Pinellas County Economic Development Director Mike Meidel has retired.

Georgia

North Georgia Technical College has named Leslie McFarlin as the school’s new vice president of economic development.

Illinois

The Southside Task Force is hoping to bring new events and development to Galesburg’s south side. (Ken Springer)

Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center released the Manufacturing Concierge report on economic recovery.

New Castle Henry County Economic Development Corporation President Corey Murphy recently completed the National Development Council’s Economic Development Finance Professional Certification Program courses.

Indiana

Indiana’s economy expects a boost with thousands of jobs are on the way.(Jim Staton)

With Toyota announcing on Wednesday the company would be adding 1,400 new jobs to the Princeton area, realtors and economic development leaders have turned their focus toward providing more housing in the area. (Tami Muckerheide)

Jasper eyeing TIF district to fund apartment complex and economic development.

Kentucky

The largest producer of tofu in the United States plans to build a plant to make the protein-rich soybean product in southwest Louisville, creating 109 local jobs in the process. (Sara Bowman)

Louisiana

The Board of Commerce and Industry may change Industrial Tax Exemption Program economic incentive process for more local control. (Heather Malone)

City of Shreveport announced a new economic development director: Drew Mouton.   The former director, Brandon Fail, left quietly in March.

Maryland

On Wednesday, regional economists, economic development directors and business leaders gathered for the 33rd Annual Southern Delmarva Economic Forecast.  The event – presented by the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and the Business, Economic and Community Outreach Network at Salisbury University – featured an analysis of challenges facing the regional, national and global economy, as well as discussions on local issues, initiatives and opportunities.

Massachusetts

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration awarded a $842,522 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to develop and implement an economic recovery and resiliency plan and provide technical assistance to bolster the region’s ability to withstand future economic disruptions. (Thomas Matuszko)

Michigan

Economic development firm Lakeshore Advantage was one of 10 organizations to receive Michigan Strategic Fund grants to promote Industry 4.0 adoption and readiness among area manufacturers.

The City of Howell’s Community Development Director Tim Schmitt has resigned.  He left for Charter Township of Meridian to take over for their retiring Director of Planning and Community Development.

Minnesota

Park Rapids Economic Development Authority is exploring tax abatement options to revitalize old J&B Foods building. (Mary Thompson with the Heartland Lakes Development Commission)

Mayo Clinic Health System – Austin Foundation is giving two acres of land to the Austin Port Authority.  (Jerry McCarthy)

Missouri

The Dallas County Economic Development group recently gathered together with community leaders and other economic developers from Missouri cities to walk through three local sites of interest. (Donna Brown, Mark Dawson)

The City of York has passed a resolution that recognizes Economic Development Week and the value of economic development in general.

New Mexico

A public meeting, via Zoom, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 10, for applicants and the general public to learn more about El Paso Electric’s (EPE) $20 million economic development grant. (Carina Mendoza)

New York

Restaurateur and founder of Shake Shack, Danny Meyer has been named chairman of the New York City Economic Development Corporation board.

The Broome County Industrial Development Agency and Local Development Corporation hopes to improve Broome County’s economy. (Stacy Duncan)

Congressman Chris Jacobs has introduced legislation to add Wyoming County to the region covered by the Northern Border Regional Commission. The Northern Border Regional Commission was created by the 2008 Farm Bill and is a federal-state government partnership that spans the states of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The commission provides community and economic development funding for economically underdeveloped counties. (Scott Gardner, president and CEO of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Promotion Agency)

Empire State Development has announced the Niagara Falls Strategic Economic Development Fund, a fund dedicated to the revitalization of Niagara Falls through capital investments in targeted areas. Projects funded through the program will enhance mixed-use, walkable commercial corridors; support and grow new businesses and entrepreneurship; connect to the waterfront and existing state investments; and attract tourists from downtown into adjoining neighborhoods. (Eric Gertler)

North Carolina

The EDA has awarded $900,000 grant to support the economic revitalization of the downtown Bladenboro business district. Bladenboro suffered major damage during hurricanes Matthew and Florence.

Sandy Dunbeck has been named the interim director of High Point Economic Development Corporation.

Norwich Public Utilities agreed to boost funding for the Norwich Community Development Corporation.

During the past four years, Anthony Copeland has been a familiar face at major economic development announcements in the Triad and across North Carolina. As North Carolina secretary of commerce, his office helped recruit, incentivize and facilitate more than $18 billion in corporate investment and the creation more than 81,000 jobs.  Although he left government service in January, Copeland remains focused on serving the interests of economic development across the state.  Also an attorney, Copeland has joined the law firm of Brooks Pierce to launch the firm’s new economic development practice area as senior economic development and corporate strategist.

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce released its first Economic Indicators Report, a quarterly examination of five key statistics within the Watauga County and High Country economy.

North Dakota

The schedule of events for the 2021 Williston Economic Development Summit has been announced. The Summit will include panel discussions on housing, Unmanned Aerial Services and health care.  Speakers include Dennis Lindahl, Tioga Economic Development Director; Everette Enno, Executive Director Tri County Regional Development Council; Kaycee Lindsey Community Development Director, Divide County; and Keith Olson, Regional Director, North Dakota Small Business Development Center.

Ohio

The May Virtual Economic Network Alliance goes virtual via Zoom at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 6. (Dessie Rogers)

A core group of manufacturers located in Canton, Massillon, Alliance, Louisville and other Stark County communities have worked together to form the Stark County Manufacturing Workforce Development Partnership.

Leaders of four economic development organizations in Northeast Ohio agreed Thursday that they want to work together to help the region grow.  Steve Millard, Ray Hexamer, Baiju Shah, and Guy Coviello)

Oklahoma

The City of Tulsa announced Monday its plans to develop 11 acres on the Evans-Fintube property, the site of the former Oklahoma Iron Works building, for a mixed-use project potentially including up to 200 units of housing and 75,000 square feet of commercial and cultural space.

Pennsylvania

With only one lot remaining at the business park, the Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership is placing land acquisition as a high priority, according to Executive Director Stan LaFuria.

Rhode Island

The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce has named Isabel Marsh as Business Outreach Specialist working with the chamber's Regional Economic Development division and the stakeholders of Connect Greater Newport.

South Carolina

New economic and community development director looks to 'put stamp' on McCormick.  Mark Warner served as the CEO of the former Greenwood Partnership Alliance.

There’s a new initiative in Georgetown County to help promote minority-owned small businesses and to register them in the county’s procurement program. (Brian Tucker)

Texas

The Greater Waco economy exploded in March, with spending on cars, homes and hotel stays accelerating. So robust is the continuing recovery that several business people Thursday said they have jobs they can’t fill.  “Travel around the city, and you’ll see help-wanted and hiring signs popping up,” said Kris Collins, senior vice president for economic development at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.

S&P Global upgraded the rating for the Round Rock Transportation and Economic Development Corporation's (RRTEDC) sales tax-backed debt issuance to AA- from A+, which will result in significant interest savings. The RRTEDC is a seven-member board that promotes economic development in the City through transportation projects and other projects as allowed by state law.

The City of Dayton recognized National Economic Development Week. (Ann Marie Miller)

Chapter 313, a decades-old law designed to lure companies to Texas with property tax breaks, expires in 2022. Lawmakers looking to renew it face opposition from critics who say it's unfair to many Texas schools.

A new Economic and Community Development project is bringing more destination development to the popular Cedar Park Town Center.

Virginia

The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance shook up tradition when it decided to hold its annual meeting Wednesday evening outdoors at the Lynchburg Hillcats field at City Stadium. (Christine Kennedy)

Graze to Griddle, Culpeper Cheese Company, Libertas Integrative Health and PepBoba are the winners of Culpeper Competes, a nine-week entrepreneurship competition.  The Town of Culpeper Tourism & Economic Development Department awarded $45,000 in grants and prizes to the local entrepreneurs either planning to open a shop downtown or looking to expand. (Paige Read)

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan, who has been involved with the Foxconn Technology Group incentive negotiations for about two years, said the new deal puts the company’s tax incentives back in line with awards to other businesses investing large amounts in the state.  The total amount of tax credits in the new incentive deal is $80 million, still a record for Wisconsin.

The Racine County Economic Development Corporation will celebrate its 38th Anniversary by hosting the 2021 Annual Meeting on June 3rd. The event will be broadcasted live from Foxconn’s High-Performance Computing Data Center in Mount Pleasant.

Vernon County is now offering economic development loans to assist businesses looking to expand or locate in Vernon County. The County Board of Supervisors approved funds to be administered by the Vernon County Economic Development Loan Committee to help enable local businesses to grow, create jobs and improve the economy.