Economic Development and Developers in the News #90

Good morning and welcome to the 90th weekly edition of Economic Development and Developers in the News.  

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

Who's ready for Christmas?  I am.  The house smells of cookies and evergreen-scented candles. The presents are wrapped, and the stockings are hung. And the weather man is predicting a dry, but very cold Christmas here in Houston this year.  Tomorrow the temperature is expected to drop from the 70s to the low 20s in a matter of a few hours.  Brrr!

If it's going to be that cold here, I can only imagine what it must be like where you are.  Bundle up, and enjoy the season with your family and friends.

Unless there's something earth shattering in the economic development world over the holiday, I'm going to take a break next week from the Economic Development and Developers in the News.

Today's issue contains news from 108 economic development executives and organizations in 22 states and Canada.

If this is your first time reading: Welcome!

As always, if you want to submit something, or if I messed anything up, please email me.

California

The Sonora City Council heard an update on the Central Sierra Economic Development District’s strategic planning process. (Courtney Farrell, Project Manager, North State Planning and Development)

The California Strategic Growth Council voted to award $1.5 million to the Siskiyou Economic Development Council and the Siskiyou Climate Collaborative Program to develop plans to prepare for climate change in the county. (Tonya Dowse, Executive Director)

Canada

The Town of Clarenville has hired Colin Holloway as their new Economic Development Officer to help guide business development in the town and surrounding area.

Florida

Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, is working on a collaborative effort to define the area and develop a brand for it. (Peter Cranis, Executive Director, Space Coast Office of Tourism)

Winter Garden is an example of economic development success.  (Tanja Gerhartz, the Economic Development Director from Winter Garden)

Illinois

Moran Economic Development announced the promotions of Jared Kanallakan to vice president and Jake Zambaldi to director of development programs.

Indiana

Indiana's commerce agency is reporting that its economic development efforts have produced this year the greatest pledged investment in business operations at the highest average wages in state history. The Indiana Economic Development Corp. obtained pledges over the past 12 months from 218 companies to invest $22.2 billion in new or expanded Indiana business operations in coming years.

Iowa

Andre Abadie is the new economic development director for Osceola County. He fills the role vacated by Stephanie Neppl in September.

Kansas

Nearly $2.7 million in Strategic Economic Expansion and Development grants have been awarded to rural communities to invest in childcare or senior programming, community vibrancy, food services and libraries. (David Toland, Secretary of Commerce; Lisse Regehr, President & CEO, Thrive Allen County; Julie Turnipseed, Director of Economic Development, Anderson County Development Agency; Jody Hoener, President & CEO, The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc.; Mikaela Moore, Hiawatha Foundation for Economic Development; Kary Zweygardt, President, Cheyenne Community Development Corporation; Natalie Muruato, Executive Director, Grow Clay County; Leah Johnson, Director, Doniphan County Economic Development; Heather Strate, Edwards County Economic Development Corporation; Jason Moses, Director, Gove County Economic Development; Christy Hopkins, Growing the Vision; Heather Huntington Fuesz; Main Street Director, City of Eureka; Kevin Alexander, Executive Director, Harper County Community Foundation; Lori Banks, Director, Holton-Jackson County Chamber of Commerce; Leslie Schrag, Economic Development Director, City of Kingman; Sheryl White, President, Haviland Heritage Foundation; Kelly Gourley, Executive Director, Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation; Justin Wieland, Director, Logan County Community Foundation; Tom Simpson, Interim Executive Director, City of Cherryvale; Stacey Jackson, City of Osborne Economic Development; Ashley Swisher, Executive Director, Ottawa County Community Development Foundation; Wendy J. Pfeil, President & CEO, Belleville Chamber and Main Street; Karly Frederick, Executive Director, Rice County Community Foundation; Karl Pratt, Executive Director, Sheridan County EDC; Julica Oharah, Executive Director, Sherman County Community Development Corporation; Kathleen Norman, Executive Director, Stafford County Economic Development; Stacy Davis, Executive Director, Sumner County Economic Development; Cathy Albert, Director, WaKeeney Travel & Tourism; Jim MacGregor, Director, Wabaunsee County Office of Economic Development; Emily Beesley, Organizational Management Director, Woodson County Revitalization Alliance)

Kentucky

Dearborn-based apparel firm Carhartt plans to hire up to 125 more workers in Dearborn with an average $43 hourly wage, rather than in Kentucky or Mexico, with help from a recently approved $937,500 state grant. The project has an anticipated $4.65 million capital investment.

Maryland

Pittsville's town commissioners have approved a resolution to create an Economic Development Commission.

The Greater Cumberland Committee surprised Timi Hadra, with the 2022 Greater Good Award. Hadra, an associate partner with IBM and economic development advocate, was recognized for her efforts to promote business and job opportunities.

Massachusetts

Harvard professor sees self-determination sparking economic growth in Indian Country. (Joseph Kalt, Co-Director, Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development)

Michigan

The Wells Township Board will hold a special meeting on to consider a Forest Products Processing Renaissance Zone. (Ed Legault, Executive Director of the Delta County Economic Development Alliance; Vickie Micheau, Executive Director, Delta County Chamber)

Despite supply chain snags, inflation, labor shortages and rising construction costs, Grand Rapids is eyeing a record number of new developments in the works — including a few big projects expected to come online in 2023. (Jeremiah Gracia, Economic Development Director, Grand Rapids)

Missouri

Corey Mehaffy, executive director of the Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council, announced that the Coffee Barn, a new drive-thru coffee shop, is scheduled to open its doors for business by the second quarter of 2023. (Maria Kuhns, Entrepreneurship Specialist, SBDC)

New York

Governor Hochul December 16 announced that 11 projects in Chinatown will be funded as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

Element 46, a tech accelerator in Westchester, NY, concluded its fourth cohort with a Demo Day. (Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County Director of Economic Development; Deborah Novick, Westchester County Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation; John Lynn, Co-Founder, Cela Innovation)

North Carolina

Governor Roy Cooper announced that 42 local governments in rural areas across the state have been awarded grants from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund, supporting rural economic development projects in North Carolina. A total of $19.76 million will be issued in this second round of grantmaking from the Fund, which helps local governments overcome challenges that limit their economic competitiveness.

Ohio

Abbott Laboratories, a healthcare company, has selected Ohio as the location for a $536 million infant formula powder production plant. The governor and JobsOhio worked with local and regional entities to bring the Abbott manufacturing facility to Bowling Green, including the Ohio Department of Development, Northwest Ohio’s Regional Growth Partnership (RGP), Bowling Green Economic Development.(Bowling Green Economic Development Executive Director Kati Thompson)

Oklahoma

The Duncan, Oklahoma Area Economic Development Foundation has launched the “Move Duncan Talent Relocation Incentive”, an incentive aimed at bringing new residents to the area. The program offers up to $7,500 in relocation assistance. (President and CEO Lyle Roggow)

Oregon

Over the next five years, local leaders in St. Helens will join a cohort of rural communities across the state who are committed to supporting strong entrepreneurial growth and “bottom up” economic development using the Growing Rural Oregon framework.  (The Ford Family Foundation Community Economic Development Director Kathleen Flanagan; Columbia Economic Team Executive Director Paul Vogel)

Rhode Island

The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce conducted its annual Business Walk.  Local businesses report stability and growth despite challenges. (Erin Donovan-Boyle, Executive Director)

Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced 10 grants to economic development organizations, including Lake County Industrial Board, Roane Alliance, McMinn County Economic Development Board, and Obion County Industrial Board.

Texas

Governor Abbott of Texas announced that Boingo Wireless, a company specializing in wireless services, will open a new office and future headquarters in Frisco, Jason Ford. He was joined by Jason Ford of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation for the announcement.

State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt created a new branding term for proponents of public-private partnerships at Urban Land Institute Austin’s monthly breakfast panel last week: "lazy dirt". “Something I’ve discovered after 20 years in local government is governments have a tendency to have very lazy dirt and own a lot of dirt that’s not being maximized because there’s no carrying costs on government dirt,” she said.

Garin Giacomarro has been appointed acting director of Economic Development for the City of Grapevine, Texas.

The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance is using $287 million in sales tax revenue bonds to finance projects for the first time. LEDA's Chief Executive Officer, John Osborne, believes that the bonds will provide more resources to the city and fuel job creation.

The City of Beaumont, Texas has approved tax incentives to encourage investment in business developments downtown.  The Business Attraction Incentive Program will provide financial assistance and support economic development, retention and expansion efforts. (Economic Development Manager Kyle Warsinski)

United States

The Site Selectors Guild has released their report: Economic Development Practices to Prioritize in 2023.

Vermont

The town of Norwich, Vermont has hired a former Rutland Redevelopment Director, Brennan Duffy, as its Interim Town Manager. Murano previously worked as an economic developer in Bennington and has experience as an economic development director in Rutland.

Virginia

MS International has announced the creation of a new manufacturing and distribution center in Suffolk resulting in the creation of 143 job opportunities and a $56 million investment. (Town of Suffolk Economic Development Director Kevin Hughes)

Roanoke Regional Partnership executive director John Hull is celebrating five "wins" in 2022.