Economic Development and Developers in the News #84

Good morning and welcome to the 84th weekly edition of Economic Development and Developers in the News.  Today's issue contains news from 91 economic development executives and organizations in 18 states, and Canada.

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

Alabama

Governor Kay Ivey announced Hyundai's plans to invest $205 million to open an EV battery module plant in Montgomery that will eventually employ at least 400 people. (Greg Canfield, Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary; Anna B. Buckalew, President & CEO, Montgomery Chamber of Commerce)

The Small Business Development Center at Troy University has been partnering with the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce and Butler County Economic Development, creating joint efforts to both support existing businesses and attract new companies to the county. (Juliana Bolivar, Director, Small Business Development Center at Troy University; Tracy Salter, Executive Director, Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce)

Arizona

The City of Kingman Department of Economic Development launched its newly-updated website, www.ChooseKingman.com, with a new design and enhanced features. The site is one part of ongoing efforts and commitment to ensure the support of Kingman’s growing economy, with continued resources and materials that are readily available and widely circulated. (Aaron Brossoit, CEO, Golden Shovel Agency; Gary Kellogg, Executive Director, Kingman Economic Development)

California

The Antioch Chamber honored the city’s economic development director at its first State of Business luncheon. (Kwame Reed, Economic Development Director, City of Antioch)

Arcata Economic Development Corp. has been awarded a $5 million grant from the California Community Economic Resilience Fund to support a planning process developing sustainable industries that will create high-quality, accessible jobs for all. (Ross Welch, Executive Director, AEDC)

Canada

The Six Nations Development Corp. may be joining Six Nations Elected Council in changing the way it governs. ( Matt Jamieson, President & CEO)

As part of the corporate calling program, Burlington Economic Development staff met with members of Cogeco’s leadership team to learn about the company’s future space strategy. (Anita Cassidy, Executive Director, Burlington Economic Development)

Georgia

The City of Centerville is moving forward on plans for a new town center. In late September, the city council approved a moratorium on new construction and land disturbance permits in the designated town center area for the next six months. (Shannon Bryant, Economic Development Director, Centerville)

Indiana

Linda Walczak is the new Vice President of Business Retention & Expansions at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

The boards of directors for the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and the Posey County Economic Development Partnership have approved a merger of the two organizations. The groups call the unification a natural next step to their ongoing collaboration. (Jenna Richardt, Executive Director, Posey County Economic Development; Tara Barney, CEO, Evansville Regional Economic Partnership)

Kansas

Teaming up with Dodge City and Liberal economic development teams, Great Bend Economic Development spent three days at the New Mexico State Fair to expose potential workforce in New Mexico to what western Kansas has to offer. (Joann Knight, Executive Director,  Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation; Cindy Wallace, Economic Development Director, City of Liberal; Sara Arnberger, Director, Great Bend Economic Development)

Louisiana

According to a press release from his attorney, Drew Mouton is no longer the Director of Shreveport's Office of Economic Development.

Maryland

Montgomery County Council voted unanimously to pass Thrive2050, the 30-year planning document that’s intended to guide future development. (Bill Tompkins, President & CEO, Montgomery County EDC)

Minnesota

Pine River is going to be the first city to receive funding through the Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant, with an approximate $430,000 injection of assistance into local businesses hit by COVID related challenges. (Mike Paulus, Executive Director, Cass County Economic Development Corporation; Steve Grove, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development; Michaela Reed, Executive Director, Pine River Chamber of Commerce)

Nebraska

Vanessa McCain is embracing her new role as project manager at Cuming County Economic Development.

Voters are being asked to renew the Grand Island economic development plan. (Dave Taylor, President, Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation)

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development will host a series of town halls across the state to discuss LB1024, also known as the Economic Recovery Act. (Javier Saldaña Jr., Economic Recovery Division Administrator)

North Carolina

During a presentation given to the Rockingham Rotary Club Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Board Chair Gene McLaurin explained the role of the hybrid public/private organization in attracting and retaining business investment in the state and shared inroads the EDPNC has made towards that mission. (Martie Butler, Richmond County Economic Developer)

Leigh Cockram, the Rockingham County Economic Development and Tourism director, is a Triad Business Journal 2022 Power Player.

Nate Groover is the new Economic Development Director for the Town of Garner.

Ohio

Green Fox Plastics, in collaboration with JobsOhio, OhioSE, and the Holmes County Economic Development Council, announced an investment of over $7.2 million to construct a new facility in Millersburg, creating 12 new jobs. (Mark Leininger, Executive Director of Holmes County Economic Development Council)

Sensing a need to spur economic development and grow its tax base, Olmsted Township recently hired Jeremy Rowan as a part-time economic development director.

After 50 years as a mall, the new Upper Valley Business Park and the initial tenants already coming into the business park could have the area poised for further development, county and township leaders say. (Greater Springfield Partnership vice president of economic development Horton Hobbs)

Oregon

Oregon lacks a clear vision. That’s the conclusion of a new, nearly 100-page report when it comes to the state’s economic development plans and how higher education institutions throughout the state fit into that picture.

Pennsylvania

For the past three years, the York County Economic Alliance has published a lengthy, data-rich report analyzing COVID-19’s impact on York County’s economy and made the report available to the public. In 2020 and 2021, the data reports — prepared in partnership with economic consulting firm Fourth Economy — informed the work of the YoCo Strong Recovery Task in developing recommendations for our county commissioners and other policymakers as they considered how to allocate $132 million in federal and state pandemic recovery funds to the highest and best uses. Last year at this time, they concluded that York County remained in an “economic crisis.” But their 2022 report reveals a more optimistic picture. (Silas Chamberlin, Vice President, Economic & Community Development)

Texas

The Texas Economic Development Council recently announced the recipients of its annual Community Economic Development Awards for 2022. The City of Corsicana won an award for transferability in the population of 20,001 to 50,000 category. Corsicana Economic Development Director John Boswell said the TEDC recognized Corsicana for using multiple tools to bring Audubon Metals LLC. to Corsicana. The company recently expanded its operation from a plant based in Kentucky, to a second location in Corsicana.

The Williamson County Economic Development Partnership has hired Dave Porter as their executive director. From 2004 to 2014 Porter was senior vice president of economic development for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and helped launch its economic development wing, Opportunity Austin.

Carlton Crothers stepped into the role of executive director for the Rusk Economic Development Corporation Oct. 3, replacing Bob Goldsberry, who now serves as the assistant city manager.

The Port of Galveston is investing an estimated $33 million in cruise-related infrastructure projects as the demand continues to grow.  Royal Caribbean International will open the world’s first zero-energy, state-of-the-art terminal at Pier 10 next month to homeport Allure of the Seas, one of the world’s largest cruise ships. According to RCI, the 161,000-square-foot terminal will generate 100% of its needed energy through on-site solar panels and is on track to be the first in Texas to achieve LEED Gold certification. (Dane Carlson, Galveston County Economic Development)

Katie Britt is the new Vice President of Marketing & Economic Development for the Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County.

United States

Tim Giuliani, President & CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership; Shane Chadwick, Business Intelligence and Marketing Manager for Florida's Great Northwest; and Kathryn Baird, Tourism and Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Maple Ridge were the winners of the 2022 GIS WebTech Award for Technology Leadership in Economic Development. (Ron Bertasi, GIS WebTech CEO)

Virginia

Chesapeake officials preparing to rezone 1,400 acres of farmland for ‘mega’ industrial park. (Economic Development Director Steven Wright)

Bryan Rothamel completed the OU Economic Development Institute.

Washington

The City of Vancouver estimates there will be up to $4.5 million in Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, HOME American Rescue Plan and Affordable Housing Fund dollars available for local projects in 2023. (Teresa Brum, Deputy Economic Development Director, City of Vancouver)

Wyoming

The Wyoming Economic Development Association has awarded Dan Starks, founder and chairman of The National Museum of Military Vehicles, its 2022 Innovation Award. Kevin Kershisnik, executive director of IDEA, Inc.

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