Economic Development and Developers in the News #95

Good morning and welcome to the 95th weekly edition of Economic Development and Developers in the News.

Today's issue contains news from 93 economic development executives and organizations in 24 states and Canada.

If this is your first time reading: Welcome!

As always, if you want to submit something, or if you spot an error, please email me.

Alabama

Capital investment in Alabama topped $9 billion and likely set a record in 2022. (Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield; Greg Barker, President, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama)

Chad Odom, who has served as The Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance executive director for more than two years, recently stepped down from the position.

Arizona

Micah Miranda, Economic Development Director at City of Chandler, and Chris Camacho, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, briefed the Chandler city council on the state of economic development in the city and region.

California

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to invest nearly $1.5 million to support entrepreneurs and job seekers by creating the North Fair Oaks Economic Advancement Center. In addition, the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center will provide services to local small businesses and entrepreneurs, courtesy of a $500,000 grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Roseville is prepared to develop a mixed-use development project- two hotels, three restaurants, an entertainment and sports complex, outdoor gathering space, and a craft brewery. The project was approved by Roseville City Council in 2021, and Economic Development Manager Wayne Wiley expects Electric Pickle to be completed by Summer of 2024.

The Pasadena Economic Development Division on Tuesday, January 31, gave updates as to the recent economic activities that have been occurring in Pasadena. At the meeting, Economic Development Director David Klug presented the city’s business outreach numbers.

Bill Emmerson and Gil Garcetti, members of an independent oversight agency called The Little Hoover Commission, wrote a commentary summarizing California's economic disparities and state's investment in the Community Economic Resilience Fund to support regional collaboration and inclusive economic development. They recommended the state prioritize historically disadvantaged regions to ensure that programs are equally distributed.

Canada

New Brunswick province will provide $40 million over 10 years for the 12 Regional Service Commissions to pursue their new economic development mandates. The funding will be split by population, amounting to about $8/person.

The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission has released its 2023-2025 Strategic Action Plan, aiming to support the mining and forestry economy of Northwestern Ontario, foster growth of service and supply companies, invest in research and innovation, attract and retain workers, promote tourism, support Indigenous partnerships, and boost the local economy. (CEO Julie Taylor)

Hamilton's economic developer Norm Schleehahn said the city needs a consultant to assess the impact of the Ontario Hockey League's Bulldogs departure.

Colorado

Richard Wobbekind, Associate Dean at the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business, delivered an in-depth review of current economic trends to the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation.

Connecticut

Alexandra Daum, Gov. Ned Lamont's nominee to head the Department of Economic and Community Development, told lawmakers at her confirmation hearing of her plan to focus on growth amid a recession and news of corporate layoffs, relocations and restructuring.

Indiana

Spencer County Economic Development, headed by Executive Director Heidi Young, held its annual meeting.

Evansville Regional Economic Partnership is promoting two key leaders, Audrie Burkett and Jenna Richardt, to more expansive roles to further their mission. Burkett will oversee the organization's daily operations, while Richardt will be the go-to for regional economic development and quality of place.

David Coates has been promoted to Director of Economic Development for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and will be responsible for managing staff, overseeing economic focus areas and coordinating with the Indiana Economic Development Corp.'s efforts. He will also lead the organization in aligning its strategies with these efforts.

Iowa

Toledo will hosting the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, for an overnight stay this summer. Katherine Ollendieck, Executive Director of Tama County Economic Development, is leading the effort and aims to showcase the city's unique hospitality.

Kansas

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Integra Technologies' $1.8 billion investment in a Kansas-based semiconductor facility, Wichita's second-largest private investment in history.

Kentucky

Kentucky Cornerstone, a collaboration of 12 local economic development organizations, is working to market the region as a favorable location for industrial prospects near Kentucky and Tennessee electric vehicle battery production centers. (Mark Manning, Murray Calloway Economic Development Corporation; Mark Welch, Fulton Hickman Counties Economic Development Partnership; Carter Hendricks, South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council; Bruce Wilcox, Greater Paducah Economic Development; Hannah Chretien, Ballard Economic & Industrial Development Committee)

Maine

$650 million in investments are slated for the central Maine town of Skowhegan. Town and economic leaders have made it clear that the investments in Skowhegan are the result of years — decades, in some cases — of planning and persistence in the face of economic adversity. (Jeff Hewett, Director of Economic and Community Development, Skowhegan; Hailey Howard, Executive Director, Skowhegan Regional Chamber of Commerce)

Massachusetts

The Latino Economic Development Corp. awarded nine grants to Latino-owned businesses that are focusing on growing in the new year. (Andrew Melendez, CEO, Latino Economic Development Corp.)

Michigan

Michigan communities fight mega sites despite the promise of jobs. (James Durian, CEO, Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance; Bob Trezise, President & CEO, Lansing Area Economic Partnership)

Market Van Buren seeks nominations for small business awards in Cass and Van Buren counties. (Zach Morris, Executive Director of Market Van Buren)

Mississippi

In 2022, Main Street Programs helped create 841 jobs in 551 new or expanded businesses in Mississippi Downtowns, amounting to over $242 million in public and private investment. (Thomas Gregory, Executive Director, Mississippi Main Street Association)

Calhoun County recently celebrated the expansion of Albany Industries into a 55,000-square-foot former lift chair plant. (Sheila Freely, Executive Director, Calhoun Economic Development Association)

Missouri

Legislation designed to bring the TV and film industry to bring projects to the Show-Me State is being considered by the Missouri House economic development committee.

New Mexico

Joe De La Rosa, Special Projects Chief with the NM Department of Transportation, has been appointed Senior Advisor for Global Trade and Infrastructure Investments for both NMDOT and EDD. He will work to strengthen the connection between transportation and infrastructure projects to promote global trade and economic growth.

North Dakota

Economic development officials in Grand Forks and the state provided testimony in opposition to a bill that would prohibit foreign ownership of real property in North Dakota and would retroactively apply to ownership interests in property acquired after July 31, 2020. Keith Lund, president and CEO of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation, said House Bill 1503, as originally written, would have negative impacts on businesses already in the state.

Ohio

Richland County Chamber & Economic Development Chief Operating Officer Jodie Perry gave an update to county commissioners.

Oregon

The City of Klamath Falls recently announced a new round of funding for Fiscal Year 2023-24 for the Economic Development Grant Program. (Kristina Mainwaring, City of Klamath Falls)

Pennsylvania

After 23 years, Linda Nitch has left the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation. During her tenure, she has helped to secure more than $33 million in grants and low-interest loans for multiple businesses and $27 million for the construction of business parks, remediation of Brownfield sites and construction of speculative buildings. (Joshua Skopp, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Economic Development Association; Kim Koller-Jones, President, Lawrence County Regional Chamber of Commerce; Diane Richardson, Assistant Director, Lawrence County EDC, Alex McCoy, Executive Director, Huron Co. Development Council)

The Progress Authority recently completed a three-year plan to promote economic development in Susquehanna County. (Anthony J. Ventello, Executive Director, Progress Authority)

Perry County has been designated as a regional Keystone Communities Main Street. (Michelle Jones, Executive Director, Perry County EDA; Julie Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Downtown Center)

Tennessee

Bottling Company International announced that the company will invest $9.5 million to establish a new bottling, storage and distribution facility in Morrison, Tennessee. The project will create 57 new jobs in Warren County. (Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner)

Texas

The Kilgore Economic Development Corporation announced a record-setting amount of local business investments in a recent report covering fiscal year 2022, which saw more than $100 million of new investment now under contract. (Lisa Denton, Executive Director, KEDC)

Charles "Chuck" Martinez resigned as CEO and president of the Katy Area Economic Development Council and started his new position as chief development officer at the Brazos Valley EDC in mid-January.

For the 15th year in a row, Site Selection magazine has honored Entergy Corporation as being among the top electric utilities in economic development for job creation and capital investments. (Ernest Peeples,  Director of Business & Economic Development, Entergy Texas)

The Tyler Economic Development Council purchased a 412-acre property for a new business park. (Scott Martinez, President & CEO, Tyler Economic Development Council)

The Port of Beaumont signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce to strengthen further ties and collaboration between the two organizations in their Economic Development efforts for the community of Beaumont. (Chris Fisher, CEO, Port of Beaumont)

Comal County Commissioners Court unanimously approved an eight-year Chapter 381 Economic Development Incentive Agreement between Ebony Energy Storage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Plus Power, LLC, and Comal County for a battery storage facility.

United States

The White House is targeting economic development in Central America to reduce migration. The total amount of public-private partnership investments total $4.2 billion from 47 companies.

Virginia

Radford University and the City of Radford are partnering to launch a new initiative: The Hub at Radford. The Hub will house economic development offices for the city and the university, providing a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs looking to grow their business or students looking for real-life experience. (Angela Joyner, Vice President of Economic Development, Radford University)

Washington

Business leaders will share how three projects are expected to create 750 jobs in the county during the Cowlitz Economic Development Council’s annual meeting. (Lindsey Cope, Vice President,  Cowlitz EDC)

West Virginia

The city of Princeton is offering annexation incentives to people or businesses who add their properties within the city boundaries. There are three incentives that will last between three to five years; business and occupancy tax forgiveness, free trash pickup, and forgiveness of building permit fees. (Samuel Lusk, Director, Princeton Economic Development Authority)

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.