Economic Development and Developers in the News # 265

Welcome to the 265th weekly edition of Economic Development and Developers in the News.

Today's issue contains 77 stories from 31 states and across the country.

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Alabama

Birmingham Business Alliance’s Steve Ammons convened regional leaders to improve site readiness, workforce development, and investment attraction.

St. Clair County EDC’s Blair Goodgame outlined how tourism and community branding attract investment while supporting local businesses.

Lowndes County approved development agreements for Project Red Clay, a proposed data center backed by Cloverleaf Infrastructure, amid resident opposition.

Arizona

Winslow’s Jack Fitchett is offering up to $30,000 in business incentives, with retention and expansion applications due December 18.

Pima County Economic Development and SBA invite Small Business Week award nominations by December 7, recognizing entrepreneurs and employers.

Rio Nuevo and Groundswell Capital are offering grants of $5,000 to $25,000 for district businesses, with applications due October 30.

Arkansas

Forward Searcy’s Darrell Welch announced Select Site certification for a 44.46-acre industrial property from Entergy Arkansas.

SAU Tech hosted regional discussions on defense manufacturing and workforce needs, bringing together South Arkansas leaders and industrial partners.

California

Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative’s outlook reports slowing growth as energy and borrowing costs rise.

GO-Biz is accepting applications for Made in California, offering manufacturers shared branding and marketing support.

Pasadena Chamber’s Paul Little will host an October 22 economic summit on innovation, university partnerships, and local development.

Alameda’s Abby Thorne-Lyman outlined a proposed hangar lease for Poseidon Aerospace, which plans cargo aircraft manufacturing and up to 100 jobs.

Pacific Steel Group’s Mojave Micro Mill is expected to create 700 Kern County jobs, with state incentives and workforce training support.

Delaware

Georgetown Chamber’s economic summit examined barriers to affordable housing, linking faster approvals, infrastructure, and childcare with workforce and business needs.

Florida

Zephyrhills’ Rodney Corriveau and Pasco EDC examined industry, workforce, and infrastructure needs at the city’s tenth annual economic summit.

Orlando Economic Partnership outlined lessons from its Austin leadership mission, emphasizing business retention, workforce alignment, innovation, and regional cooperation.

Ocala renewed its $190,000 economic development contract with Matt McCormick’s Ocala Metro CEP, raising business recruitment and retention goals.

Georgia

A Ledger-Enquirer guide maps the roles and funding of Columbus’ economic development groups, covering recruitment, startups, tourism, and neighborhood investment.

Illinois

Four Madison County townships will hold advisory votes on data center development in November; the measures would not create binding bans.

Kendall County Economic Development is accepting Made in Kendall nominations through December 1, recognizing local manufacturers and makers.

Illinois River Cities and Towns Initiative and We Work the Waterways formed a partnership to connect students with maritime careers.

Indiana

Warsaw’s Jeremy Skinner introduced a proposed tax agreement for senior housing renovations, with council approval still pending.

Fishers’ Megan Baumgartner will leave for a private-sector opportunity in early November, following eleven years with the city.

A new profile of Elizabeth Rowray highlights business support and regional funding partnerships at the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber.

Indiana EDC’s Jim Rawlinson will discuss the creative economy October 29 at MuncieArts’ celebration, connecting arts, investment, and community development.

Indiana EDC’s Mitch Frazier highlighted employer training and talent partnerships at the statewide workforce summit, including Power Up Indiana.

AEP, Amazon, and X-energy are studying a 960-megawatt nuclear project at a former Sullivan County coal plant site.

Carley Hauk will become executive director in January 2027 at Hancock Economic Development Council, following a two-month transition.

Iowa

Joe George became shared senior economic development director for Advance Southwest Iowa and Mills County Economic Development Foundation.

Local officials and economic developers studied Stanton’s approach to layering project funding, including grants, utility investments, philanthropy, and local incentives.

Kansas

Digital Realty offered De Soto households annual utility and property tax credits of $1,000 for ten years as part of its data center proposal.

Kentucky

Brian Mefford became executive vice president of economic development and innovation at Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.

Louisiana

IEDC will mark its centennial in New Orleans October 25–28, bringing nearly 2,000 professionals together to discuss economic development priorities.

Maryland

Washington County Economic Development is accepting agricultural grant applications through October 30, with awards from $1,000 to $25,000.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts lawmakers are negotiating AI regulations in an economic development bill, with proposals that could rank among the nation’s strictest.

Michigan

Alliance for Economic Success’s Niki Schultz and Cadillac’s Travis Owens showcased redevelopment opportunities during Developer Day, attracting about 40 participants.

Upjohn Institute’s Tim Bartik recommends redirecting incentives toward business services, distressed communities, and housing to improve economic returns.

Minnesota

Itasca, Aitkin, and St. Louis counties joined the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to launch a regional 10-year economic development plan.

Hermantown’s Chad Ronchetti highlighted construction at a former Superfund site for a 230,000-square-foot FedEx facility, following cleanup and infrastructure investments.

Mississippi

Great City Foundation is studying a 110-acre medical business district around Jackson’s new cancer center, combining research, housing, retail, and private investment.

Nebraska

Norfolk’s Melissa Garcia is using retail and shopper data to target businesses and grow local sales.

New Jersey

Pennington Economic Development Commission’s Jason Meyer sought a larger role in redevelopment, downtown connections, public spaces, and wayfinding.

Plainfield’s Zenobia Fields outlined plans for a 90-room downtown hotel, with an initial MOU approved and further development approvals required.

NJEDA’s Evan Weiss announced $16.5 million in startup investments through the Innovation Evergreen Fund, supporting eight businesses.

New York

Orange County’s Steven Gross convened its fifth economic summit, focusing on technology, workforce needs, infrastructure, and business growth.

NYCEDC and NYU announced a $284 million quantum fabrication facility, giving the city board seats and a share of technology proceeds.

Operation Oswego County’s Austin Wheelock announced microenterprise grants of up to $35,000, paired with training and business support.

North Dakota

Brekka Kramer of Minot Area Chamber EDC won the Large Community Economic Developer of the Year award from EDND.

North Dakota’s Crack the Code 2.0 partners are preparing field-scale oil recovery tests, seeking financing and industry participation for phase two.

Ohio

Ohio Chamber’s Steve Stivers urges communities to set clear data center rules, contrasting Quincy’s tax gains with Lordstown’s moratorium.

Ohio University’s Brent Lane and Laurie McKnight found 37 Appalachian airports could support electric aviation with modest infrastructure upgrades.

Oregon

Northeast Oregon Economic Development District is accepting matched-savings lottery entries through November 1, helping residents save for businesses, education, training, and transportation.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania DCED’s Rick Siger helped launch a 10-year agriculture strategy focused on careers, innovation, market access, and land.

Harrisburg’s Edquina Washington launched a business needs survey to shape grants, support programs, and downtown revitalization.

South Dakota

Sioux Metro Growth Alliance’s Berk Ehrmantraut is helping Garretson and Hartford grow businesses, improve downtowns, and plan housing.

Texas

League City’s Scott Livingston outlines Grand Parkway site planning, predictable permitting, and infrastructure financing to guide commercial growth.

New Braunfels EDC extended Co-Op Marketplace’s incentive deadlines by five years, giving developers until December 2031 to complete required public improvements.

Mission EDC launched its search for a new CEO, with applications due November 18 and a planned March 2027 start.

Greater Houston Partnership will advocate for freight, port, and flood protection investments during Texas’s 2027 legislative session.

Frisco’s proposed Toyota Stadium agreement includes a 250-bed hotel and convention center, with state and local incentives.

Fort Worth’s Historic Northside Main Street pilot has supported more than 440 small businesses, with $84 million in active and planned corridor investments.

Fate approved an incentive agreement for Fate Yards, a planned 274,000-square-foot entertainment, hotel, retail, and commercial development.

San Antonio will present Wolff Stadium redevelopment concepts October 21, seeking public feedback on the site’s future.

Buda EDC marked 25 years with a giant dachshund sculpture, creating a visitor attraction tied to the city’s annual wiener dog races.

Dallas Fed examined Central Texas’s growing regional economy, highlighting coordinated responses to workforce shortages, housing pressure, and energy needs.

Plano’s Michael Talley and Fairview’s Dave Quinn explain how regional cooperation supports business recruitment across North Texas.

United States

Technical.ly examines research favoring early startup support, incubators, and accelerators over costly business recruitment incentives.

Schenetoga Ventures’ Christian Gullott outlines a framework for communities pursuing lunar industries, covering transportation, energy, research, manufacturing, and resilience.

National League of Cities will host a December 9 webinar on housing changes to Community Development Block Grants.

Vermont

Rutland Redevelopment Authority and CEDRR sought public ideas for downtown redevelopment and tax increment financing.

Virginia

Warren County’s Patrick Barker outlined a plan to retain businesses and attract employers, targeting industries that can expand local job opportunities.

Danville faces growing housing pressure as employers add jobs, according to a Cardinal News interview about thousands of expected new workers.

Pittsylvania County’s Matt Rowe outlined early grading plans for Stack Infrastructure’s proposed $100 billion campus, dependent on utility commitments.

Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Facility Authority will remarket land after a proposed $750 million data center deal collapsed in Dublin.

West Virginia

Brian Tracey took charge as director of Bluefield Economic Development Authority, prioritizing existing businesses, new jobs, collaboration, and outside funding.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation signed five data center nondisclosure agreements, including three for projects without previously disclosed local agreements.

Sun Prairie’s Colleen Burke shared a new community wayfinding toolkit from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to strengthen downtowns and tourism.