Economic Development and Developers in the News #85

Good morning and welcome to the 85th weekly edition of Economic Development and Developers in the News.  Today's issue contains news from 130 economic development executives and organizations in 24 states, and Canada.

If this is your first time reading: Welcome!

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

Vince Perez is the new Director of Economic Development at Southeast Gas.

Hayden Camp is the new VP of Membership Development & Investor Relations at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.

Ozark Dale County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Holle Smith has graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.

Statewide Amendment 7 on ballots across Alabama would bring uniformity to how cities and counties can use public funds to help promote economic development.

Arizona

Chris Pasterz, [Coconino County](https://coconino.az.gov/2237/Economic-Development Economic Development) economic development manager, is the new chair-at-large on the Northern Arizona Council of Governments' Economic Development Council for 2022-23.

Gina Kremper is the new administrative specialist with the Mohave County Economic Development Department. (Tami Ursenbach, Director of Economic Development, Mohave County)

A new development agreement is in place for Old Town Peoria. (Jennifer Stein, Economic Development Director, Peoria)

Prescott Economic Initiatives’ business promotion campaign won the state Golden Prospector award. (Ann Steward, Manager, Prescott Tourism and Economics Initiatives; John Heiney, Community Outreach Manager, Prescott Tourism and Economics Initiatives)

Arkansas

Cody Slater is the new Vice President of Programs at Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce.

California

Kelly LoBianco is a new Director at Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity.

The City of Eureka held a grand opening ceremony for the new old town location of Eureka's Economic Development team, Eureka Main Street, and the Visitor Center. (Swan Asbury, Economic Development Manager , City of Eureka)

Longtime city employee Christopher Koontz has been named director of Long Beach Development Services.

Canada

Daniel Bard, former executive of a Moncton economic development agency has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging fraud, theft, possession of property obtained by crime and money laundering. (Susy Campos, CEO, 3+ Corporation)

Guilliame Boudreau was voted in as the new Director of Economic Development for the Municipality of Pontiac.

Colorado

Businesses in Northglenn are being honored for their work in the community at the 10th Annual Northglenn Business Appreciation event. (Debbie Tuttle, Economic Development Director, City of Northglenn)

Florida

Scott Maynard is the new Vice President of Economic Development at the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.

The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast announced its slate of officers for the new fiscal year. (Lynda L. Weatherman, President & CEO, EDC of Florida's Space Coast)

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)

King’s Hawaiian will invest more than $85 million in expanding its Oakwood facility, creating more than 160 new jobs. (Kit Dunlap, President and CEO, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce; Pat Wilson, Commissioner, GDEcD; Marie Gordon, Director of Communications, Georgia Department of Economic Development)

Georgia Southern University was named a recipient of an EDA Build to Scale Grant. (Dominique Halaby, Director of Business Innovation Group, Georgia Southern University; Jen Bonnet, Executive Director, The Creative Coast; Hugh "Trip" Tollison, President & CEO, Savannah Economic Development Authority)

Joon Georgia, Inc., an automotive parts manufacturer, will create 630 new jobs and invest $317 million in Bulloch County. Plans for the company’s new manufacturing facility mark the first confirmed supplier for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County. (Benjy Thompson, CEO, Development Authority of Bulloch County; Andrew Isenhour, Deputy Director of  Communications, Office of Governor)

Idaho

Boise State University faculty and staff may notice recent changes to the Division of Research and Economic Development’s leadership team. Deputy Director Matt Smith will assume the responsibilities of Interim Associate Vice President for Sponsored Programs.

Indiana

Marce King, CEO of the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development, graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.

Governor Eric Holcomb will lead an economic development trip to Egypt next week, where he will join global leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. (Brad Chambers, Secretary of Commerce)

The DeKalb County Economic Development Commission will hold a public meeting later this month. (Paul J. Borek, Executive Director, DeKalb County EDC)

City leaders in Westfield have approved a tax abatement for the development of a 60,000-square-foot medical office building. The company will receive a 10-year tax abatement with the first three years abated at 40 percent and the remainder of the term at 30 percent. (Kai Chuck, Director of Economic Development, City of Westfield)

Iowa

Hancock County Economic Development will hold its Candy Canes and Cocktails – Make Contact event. Participants will also learn about Hancock County Economic Development’s 2022-2024 action plan, initiatives, and tactics for success. (Jill Kramer, Economic Development Director, Hancock County)

Seed corn company Wyffels Hybrids will expand to a site in Ames, with plans to break ground in the spring. (Dan Culhane, President & CEO, Ames Chamber of Commerce & Ames Economic Development Commission)

The Iowa Economic Development Authority today awarded $934,430 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 10 communities around the state. The grants will benefit local improvement projects, such as historic building rehabilitation and upper story renovations. (Debi Durham, Executive Director, IEDA)

Kentucky

Louisville is giving the much larger metro a run for its money with more than $1.5 billion in investment recorded over a 18-month period. (Jeff O'Brien, Chief, Louisville Forward)

Maryland

The Charles County Economic Development Department released its 2022 Annual Report, showcasing the projects, programs, and partnerships that marked another year of progress in Charles County. (Kelly Robertson-Slagle, Director, Charles County Economic Development Department)

Minnesota

James Hartshorn is the new Economic Development Director at Kanabec County.

The Latino Economic Development Center led by Henry Jiménez, has been named as one of the 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardees for their work in the Twin Cities removing economic barriers, advancing economic opportunity, and building generational wealth.

The Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development announced grants under two programs that support economic development in Indian Country, the Native American Business Incubators Program and the Native American Business Development Institute Feasibility Study Program. (Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs)

The state’s Destination Medical Center Corporation EDA board will hold its final meeting of the year. (Geno Palazzari, Communications Manager, DMC EDA)

Mississippi

Larkin Simpson is the new Chief Operating Officer at the Madison County Economic Development Authority.

Gov. Tate Reeves says the biggest economic development project in Mississippi history is coming to the Golden Triangle. The $2.5 billion project is expected to create 1,000 jobs and produce an average salary of $93,000.

Missouri

Blake Schreck, CEO of the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce and director of the Lenexa Economic Development Council, will step down in February.

The Department of Economic Development announced that Sandra Cabot and Brendan Dungan, project managers for DED’s Regional Engagement Division, are now Missouri Certified Economic Developers. (Maggie Kost, Acting Director of the Department of Economic Development)

The City of Independence appears poised to contract with the Chamber of Commerce for economic development services, after decades of working with the Independence Economic Development Council. (Jodi Krantz, Vice President, Independence Economic Development Council; Tom Lesnak, President, Independence Chamber of Commerce)

The Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson City Regional Economic Partnership developed a workforce coalition to address challenges the region faces. One of the coalition's action teams is focused on addressing concerns about childcare capacity in the area. (Luke Holtschneider, President, JCREP; Gary Plummer, President & CEO, Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce)

New Jersey

The Fair Lawn Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with the Fair Lawn Chamber of Commerce and Fair Lawn’s Main Street NJ Program, will be commemorating Small Business Saturday on November 26. (Toni Delisi, Director Fair Lawn Economic Development Corporation)

New York

Development interest in Sullivan County remains high with companies looking to locate in the Catskills while existing ones consider expansion. (Marc Baez, President, Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development)

A fire at the former Riverside Hotel has sparked questions about “what’s next” for the property. The hotel, on East Main Street has been vacant for about four years. (CEO of Rochester Economic Development Corporation, Baye Muhammad)

North Carolina

One year after Danny Chavez arrived as the chief business recruitment officer at the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, he has assembled a six-person economic development team and installed county-specific playbooks to better tailor pitches as needed.

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners and Boone Area Chamber of Commerce have reached a funding agreement that returns the Chamber to its role of coordinating and administering the county’s Economic Development program. (David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce)

Pennsylvania

The Economic Development Company of Lancaster County supported 100 businesses and agricultural operations with financing for capital investments totaling $226 million since the spring of 2020, President Lisa Riggs said Tuesday.

Fay-Penn Economic Development Council will held its first Housing Summit at Penn State Layette this week.  “This event is intended to start the conversation about area housing needs,” said Fay-Penn Executive Director Laura Kuhns.

South Carolina

Edgefield County near Sweetwater is 'teed up' for commercial growth. (Will Williams, president and CEO of Western SC)

Economic development is surging in Lexington County, according to an annual report from the Lexington County Department of Economic Development. (Sarah Johnson, director of the county’s Department of Economic Development)

Texas

Mona Ferguson is the new executive director of Lamesa Economic Development Corporation.

One of Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation biggest announcements during Economic Development Week was the launch of SizeUp, an empowering tool that provides markets research and business intelligence to help small and emerging businesses.

The agenda for the San Angelo City Council meeting Tuesday includes an item concerning removing the vice chairman of the City of San Angelo Economic Development board after a contentious COSA-DC board meeting recently.

The Taylor Economic Development Corporation was honored with a Community Economic Development Award from the Texas Economic Development Council at their annual conference. (Mark Thomas, CEO)

The Sherman Economic Development Corporation, along with the City of Sherman, Sherman Independent School District, Grayson County, and Grayson College, are the recipients of the Texas Economic Development Council’s 2022 Community Economic Development Award Population 20,001 to 50,000 for their efforts in securing the biggest deal in Texas history – Texas Instruments.

United States

"Congress is finally thinking about innovation and economic development in a new way," said Bobby Franklin, president and CEO of the National Venture Capital Association.

Entergy named top utility in economic development for the 15th year in a row by Site Selection Magazine.

Virginia

Ryan Touhill is the new Director of Arlington Economic Development.

Adam Henry has passed the International Economic Development Council's Entrepreneurship Development Professional exam.

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)

Wisconsin

Thomas Cox is the new Executive Director at the Sauk County Development Corporation.

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