Economic Development and Developers in the News # 217

Welcome to the 217th weekly edition of Economic Development and Developers in the News!

This week: updates from 54 executives and organizations across 23 states.

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The Econ Dev Show is a podcast and email newsletter delivering actionable strategies, fresh news, insights, and ideas from the economic development community and your host, Dane Carlson.

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Alabama

The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Commerce and Innovate Alabama, has launched a statewide strategy to attract and support high-growth technology companies, emphasizing founder-focused initiatives like corporate pilot funding, company retention programs, and targeted tech sector recruitment. (Jackson Pruett, director of technology company business attraction, EDPA)

Colorado

The City of Pueblo has announced it will end its economic development services contract with the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO) after more than forty years, seeking new partners for broader economic initiatives; PEDCO (Jeff Shaw, President and Chief Executive Officer) will continue operations and remains committed to its mission of supporting job creation and business growth.

Delaware

Delaware’s annual Developing Delaware conference, hosted by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, spotlighted statewide strategies to fuel economic growth, with Governor Matt Meyer prioritizing streamlined regulations, workforce development partnerships with technology leaders, and expanded business grant programs to diversify and modernize Delaware’s economy as it competes for corporate investment and talent. (Governor Matt Meyer; Delaware State Chamber of Commerce)

Florida

Visit Sarasota County, led by President and Chief Executive Officer Erin Duggan, has unveiled a 2030 strategic plan focused on targeted marketing, collaborative campaigns, and partnerships to attract high-value visitors and drive economic growth, emphasizing tourism’s critical role as a catalyst for broader economic development in the region.

Miami-Dade County is pioneering an entrepreneur-led approach to economic development under Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, with major organizations like the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the Miami-Dade Beacon Council expanding initiatives such as new small business membership tiers and the Strive305 program to empower local entrepreneurs and foster inclusive, community-driven growth.

Georgia

The City of Mableton is considering establishing Tax Allocation Districts to fund infrastructure improvements supporting redevelopment, with Economic Development Director Artie Jones recommending a 2026 referendum to advance the initiative. The proposed districts would leverage future tax increments to finance public projects, following models successfully implemented in Atlanta. (Economic Development Director Artie Jones)

Illinois

The Effingham Regional Growth Alliance, under the leadership of Chairman Courtney Yockey, has advanced regional economic development by securing $323,000 for childcare, supporting expansion and workforce initiatives, and enhancing enterprise zone efforts. Yockey also serves as president of the Illinois Enterprise Zone, broadening access to statewide programs and resources.

Indiana

Indiana is shifting its economic development strategy by prioritizing wage growth, upskilling the current workforce, and supporting existing businesses, with initiatives led by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and highlighted by Governor Mike Braun. Average wage for incentivized jobs has risen to $41, while the investment per job has declined, reflecting an emphasis on efficiency and fiscal responsibility. (Governor Mike Braun and IEDC)

Iowa

The West Des Moines Planning and Zoning Commission has designated an Urban Renewal Area around Valley West Mall as an initial step toward site redevelopment, following significant loss in value and tenant occupancy; the move, described as “enabling” by Ryan Moffattt (Community and Economic Development Director), supports mixed-use revitalization in accordance with the city’s land use plan.

Kentucky

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is leading a delegation to the United Kingdom, France, and Ireland to strengthen international business ties and attract new investment, with meetings planned at more than 45 companies representing over $3.5 billion in potential investment and up to 2,900 full-time jobs. (Governor Andy Beshear; Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Jeff Noel)

Louisiana

Real estate developer Salman Chaudhry is urging for vital infrastructure investment in newly designated Economic Development Districts along Interstate 10, highlighting the need for sales tax revenue to fund such improvements. Economic Development Director Cesilee Oliver is also advancing initiatives to certify “shovel ready” sites and attract large-scale industrial projects, including a $32 million proposal projected to create 116 jobs in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development.

Maryland

Charles County Commissioners have advanced a proposed zoning text amendment to define and regulate data centers, aiming to balance economic growth with environmental safeguards. The draft, presented by Charles Rice (planning director) and Jim Chandler (director of economic development), supports the county’s strategy for sustainable tech sector expansion while addressing concerns over energy and resource use.

Massachusetts

Tax increment exemptions, combined with state and historic tax credits, have enabled eight redevelopment projects totaling $15 million in Fall River, supporting market-rate housing and urban revitalization. Ken Fiola (executive vice president, Bristol County Economic Development Consultants) emphasized these incentives as crucial for attracting investment and stimulating broader economic growth.

Eric Paley, the new Massachusetts economic development secretary, is prioritizing strategic investment in research, housing, and infrastructure to strengthen the state's competitive edge, emphasizing urgent action on the DRIVE legislation and fast-tracking housing development as central to supporting talent retention and broader economic growth. (Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley)

Michigan

Jim Perialas, serving as economic developer for the Village of Roscommon, has played a key role in revitalizing the community by leveraging Michigan Economic Development Corporation Redevelopment Ready Communities resources, leading local business support initiatives, and facilitating redevelopment projects—efforts that contributed to a downtown resurgence and recognition for innovative tourism development.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s latest Tourism Impact report highlights record-high visitor spending in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties, with over $130 million spent in 2024—a 2.6 percent and 3.7 percent increase for each county, respectively—driven by increased per-visitor spending. (Visit Keweenaw Executive Director Brad Barnett)

Minnesota

Mortensen Development is seeking approval to build a data center in Hermantown on behalf of an unnamed Fortune 50 client, spurring community concerns about environmental impact and transparency. Hermantown Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti noted that confidentiality about the client is standard in such developments. (Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti)

Sheri Wegner has been appointed as the new economic development manager for Kandiyohi County Economic Development, where she will focus on supporting business retention, expansion, and recruitment alongside Executive Director Barbara Carr. Wegner brings experience from leadership roles in nonprofit and business organizations across Minnesota.

Nevada

Ania Calvillo-Mason, now strategic planning and economic development coordinator in the UNR University Center for Economic Development at the University of Nevada, Reno, has played a key role in evolving the UNR Innevation Center into a vital hub for entrepreneurship and regional collaboration, and is focused on expanding innovation and entrepreneurship programming statewide.

New Mexico

Pacific Fusion, a billion-dollar fusion energy company, is establishing a new 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Los Lunas to support its planned $1 billion fusion energy headquarters in Albuquerque, a move expected to create 200 jobs and position Los Lunas as a key player in the region’s clean energy sector (Victoria Archuleta, Senior Economic Developer, Village of Los Lunas).

New York

Ogdensburg is seeking community input as it finalizes its application for the state's Downtown Revitalization Initiative, a competitive program offering up to $10 million for economic development projects. (Director of Economic Development Tyler Park) The initiative aims to gather resident feedback to prioritize projects that will revitalize the city’s downtown and waterfront.

Oregon

Oregon State University has been designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, recognizing its strong commitment to economic engagement with industry, government, and communities statewide. (Rebecca Robinson, associate vice president for economic development and industry relations)

Pennsylvania

Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (Secretary Rick Siger) have announced $39 million in new PA SITES awards to prepare 11 sites for business development, part of a broader $500 million statewide initiative to attract investment, generate jobs, and create shovel-ready sites across Pennsylvania.

Tennessee

The Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County (EDGE) recognized significant regional achievements at its third annual awards ceremony, honoring AAON Inc. for its $238 million investment and over 800 planned jobs, and celebrating the late FedEx founder Fred Smith’s impact with a Lifetime Achievement Award. (EDGE President and Chief Executive Officer Joann Massey)

Texas

The Lufkin Economic Development Corporation has partnered with Casey Aviation on a one-million-dollar airport hangar project as part of the Lufkin Innovative and Aviation Complex, aiming to address the growing demand for aviation mechanics and foster industry growth through expanded facilities, job creation, and workforce training initiatives. (Economic Development Director Bob Samford)

Virginia

The Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development and GO Virginia Region 9 are advancing plans for an Innovation Corridor along U.S. 29, leveraging recent public and private sector investments in technology and biotech. This regional initiative aims to accelerate economic growth, with Emily Kilroy (Albemarle Economic Development Director) facilitating strategic discussions.

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has introduced SizeUpWI, an online tool that leverages comprehensive business data from hundreds of sources to provide small and medium-sized businesses with competitive benchmarking and analytics. SizeUpWI aims to help businesses grow by offering insights on industry performance, data-driven decision-making, and resources for enhanced competitiveness.