Economic Development and Developers in the News #93

Good morning and welcome to the 93rd weekly edition of Economic Development and Developers in the News.

Today's issue contains news from 83 economic development executives and organizations in 22 states.

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.

Alabama

Hayden Camp is the new Workforce Program Coordinator at Southeast AlabamaWorks.

Arizona

Jessica Daley is the new Digital Marketing Director at Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

Molly Spangler is the new Economic Development Director for the Town of Camp Verde.

After more than a decade of work diversifying economic development, city officials say Bullhead City’s economic outlook is strong. (Tony Dias, President & CEO, Bullhead Regional Economic Development Authority)

Town of Fountain Hills economic development director Amanda Jacobs gathered community leaders, town staff and select members of the local business community to begin discussions on refining the Town’s Community Economic Development Plan. (Evelyn Casuga, Director of Community and Economic Prosperity, Center for the Future of Arizona)

California

Paul Nguyen is the new Chief Economic Development Officer with the City of Hayward.

Colorado

Fremont County Economic Development Corp. celebrated the 40th anniversary of becoming a not-for-profit organization during its annual meeting and banquet. (Rob Brown, Executive Director, FEDC)

Connecticut

Jamie Cuticello has resigned as East Haven's director of economic development and director of administration and management.

Florida

Antranette Forbes is the new Economic Development Director at City of St. Cloud.

Duke Energy Florida announced it has identified four locations in Franklin, Highlands and Marion counties for inclusion in its 2022 Site Readiness Program to evaluate and prepare industrial site opportunities for economic development investments. (Kevin Sheilley, President & CEO, Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership)

Commissioner Kyle Becker presented his plan for an economic development department and why it would be beneficial for Apopka.

Georgia

2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Garner Economics. (Jay Garner)

Illinois

The Village Board of Tinley Park named Daniel Ritter as the new Community Development Director. Dan has been acting as interim director since the resignation of Kimberly Clarke last year.

Indiana

The Indiana Chamber wants legislators to prioritize bills that will make Indiana more competitive in the national and global economy. (Kevin Brinegar, President & CEO, Indiana Chamber)

Iowa

The City of Cedar Falls released its application for tourism and economic development funding, replacing what formally was given out through community betterment grants. The funds are available to nonprofit and governmental agencies, and must "increase tourism through a one-time project or activity, or (make) significant contributions to and/or promotion of economic development, the creation of quality employment opportunities, and/or increase taxable valuation in Cedar Falls." (Jim Brown, Executive Director, Cedar Falls EDC)

Entertainment development continues in Bettendorf. (Jeff Reiter, Assistant City Administrator, Bettendorf)

Louisiana

Richard Cornelison is the new Director of Marketing and Economic Development at Cleco.

Michigan

Speaking on the stage of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an invitation: come to Michigan.

After some delays, construction of the new multimillion-dollar business center for the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County is slated to break ground later this year. (Dan Casey, CEO, EDA)

The Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s executive committee has approved a new four-year contract to have Quentin Messer Jr.  continue leading the quasi-governmental organization tasked with attracting jobs and businesses to the state.

Mississippi

The new year ushers in new businesses and economic development for George County. (Ken Flanagan, Economic Development Director, George County)

New Jersey

The Fair Lawn Economic Development Corporation has restructured as Fair Lawn Main Street Inc., a nonprofit entity charged with facilitating and coordinating the strengthening of Fair Lawn’s economic and commercial vitality. (Melanie Willoughby, Executive Director, NJBAC; Ryan Greff, Executive Director, Fair Lawn Main Street District)

New York

New York State awarded a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Investment Grant to East Harlem, Manhattan. (Governor Kathy Hochul; Hope Knight, President & CEO, Empire State Development)

A Niagara Falls City Council meeting plunged into chaos as a new member launched a tirade on economic development. (Roger Trevino, Niagara Falls Redevelopment)

Greenburgh is working hard to replace vacant storefronts with vibrant new businesses in 2023. (Stephanie Rodnick, Executive Director, Sleepy Hollow-Tarrytown Chamber)

North Carolina

Rowan Economic Development Council announced officers and directors for 2023. (President Rod Crider)

Gaston County is in higher demand as a location for new industry than at any time in the past 38 years, County Economic Development Executive Director Donny Hicks told Belmont Rotarians recently. And he would know, because that's how long he has been the county's chief industry recruiter.

Ohio

Creating a countywide Community Reinvestment Area would incentivize economic development by making it more attractive for property developers to build in Athens County, according to Mollie Fitzgerald, executive director of the Athens County Economic Development Council.

Pennsylvania

Dr. Bashar W. Hanna, president of Commonwealth University, has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for DRIVE. DRIVE is a five-county regional economic development Council of Governments — a collaboration between the County Commissioners of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties. DRIVE provides professional services to help businesses create and retain family-sustaining jobs. The board of directors provides a forum for communication and coordination of economic development activity.

Tennessee

Ted Townsend, president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber, said on Jan. 11 — at the organization’s 2023 State of the Economy for Greater Memphis — that it took the local economy about 10 years to recover job losses due to the Great Recession, while the national average recovery time was six years. In comparison, he stated it has only taken two years for Memphis to recover jobs losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, a quicker pace than the 2.5 years found nationally.

Texas

Partnership Lake Houston has been a staple in the community for a long time—100 years, to be exact. The nonprofit, which serves as a chamber of commerce and economic development corporation for the Humble, Kingwood and Atascocita areas, will celebrate its 100-year anniversary in April. According to President and CEO Kyle Sheldon, the organization—then known as the Humble Chamber of Commerce—was initially formed April 19, 1923. Stephanie Wiggins, the organization’s chief economic development officer, said the economic development side of the nonprofit’s aim is to attract and recruit businesses.

Panther Island got another boost in its continuing life cycle as Fort Worth and other partners awarded HR&A Advisors Inc. a $560,000 contract to lead the way in determining future plans for the project’s economic development angle. The city’s economic development director Robert Sturns praised the firm for its expertise and market knowledge as it considers different strategies for developing Panther Island and surrounding districts.

Denison Development held it’s 21st economic development summit. The purpose of the event is to educate the community on the future plans and projects, while also celebrating the growth the city saw in 2022. “It’s vitally important that we keep everyone informed on what we’re doing,” Denison Development Alliance President, Tony Kaai said.

Business Facilities’ Silver Deal of Year Award recognized Orange County Economic Development Corporation for Chevron Phillips Chemical to build its new $8 billion, 1,700-acre facility in Orange County. (Megan Layne, CEO)

Aransas County Economic Development President Jeff Sjostrom said the trend in Aransas County is on the uptick in every economic multiplier and metric. They're going to host an economic summit to discuss what needs to be done to expand the business base but keep the area's great quality of life.

Meg Winchester is the new Interim Chief Tourism Officer at Visit Galveston.

Carmen Roberts bought land in Celina over 21 years ago and promptly fell in love with the area. Since then, she has served as a member of both the Celina City Council and the Celina Economic Development Corporation Board.

Katie Britt, formerly vice president of marketing for the Wichita Falls Chamber, has been chosen as the vice president of Marketing and Economic Development for the Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County.

Amarillo EDC received not one, but TWO, CiCi Community Impact Awards from Trade & Industry Development. (Kevin Carter, President & CEO)

Economic development is all about making communities stronger and better, and stronger and better is what Lance LaCour is all about. A former national racquetball champion and triathlon participant, Granbury Economic Development Director LaCour is always working harder where his own personal best is concerned.

Virginia

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday announced $90 million in state grants to develop 21 business-ready building sites, including $22.2 million for the Commonwealth Crossing Business Park in Henry County.  (Mark Heath, CEO, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation)

The federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program has made two grants to projects in Dickenson County. (Virginia Energy Director of Coal Programs Randy Moore, Dickenson County Director of Economic Development Dana Cronkhite, Virginia Energy Manager of Economic Development Daniel Kestner)

Washington

The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board approved $10 million in low interest loans and $75,000 in grants for economic development and public infrastructure improvements intended to spur business growth and job creation in communities throughout the state. (Janea Delk, Executive Director & Tribal Liaison for the Community Economic Revitalization Board)

Alyce Brown, executive director of the North Central Washington Economic Development District spoke with the Oroville City Council at their Jan. 17 meeting.

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.