Economic Development and Developers in the News This Week

Alabama

A new name and new logo at the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority reflect a new energy that has the organization on better footing to pursue economic growth in today’s economy. “We needed one very shared goal and brand around this economic development initiative that we’re doing within the county,” said TCEDA Executive Director Danielle Winningham.

California

Leaders of the B3K regional economic development project unveiled an extensive local-market assessment that points out steep challenges — and potential opportunities — for Kern County's long-term prosperity and quality job creation.

Connecticut

A new Economic Development Coordinator position is part of Clinton's 2021 spending proposal.

Georgia

Alan Peterson named Economic Development director for City of Stockbridge

Governor Kemp: Georgia economic development in FY 21: 24,000 new jobs, $8.43 billion in new investment.

The Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance has launched a new Thrive Ally program to help potential relocators and new residents moving to the area get connected to the community and local resources through trained community advocates.

Indiana

Incentivizing speculative development is necessary in today’s economy, say industry experts. "Three quarters of companies say they want a completed warehouse that is ready to move into," said Amanda Rubadue, vice president of economic development at Aspire Johnson County.

Four Indiana counties selected for Duke Energy’s 2021 Site Readiness Program to spur economic development, jobs: Carroll, Clark, Posey, Tippecanoe counties chosen.

Iowa

Greater Dubuque Development Corp has hired Jason White as vice president of business services.

Kentucky

Brad Davis has been hired as the Vice President of Business Development for the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, while Madison Krampe has taken on the role as Executive Assistant.

Kentucky tops the south central region for economic development projects per capita in 2020.

Louisiana

Should developers continue receiving special tax breaks for locating their projects in north Baton Rouge?  It's a question the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council will answer this week when it considers extending another five years the economic development district it created in the area.

Maryland

Social service community organizations in Anne Arundel County will soon be able to apply for financial support through the Non-Profit Economic Development Recovery Grant Program, a new initiative managed by the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation.

Michigan

Nearly a year since his appointment as Grand Rapids’ economic development director, Jeremiah Gracia reported his office has made great strides in leading the city’s equitable economic development plan, adopted in January 2020, including a commitment from two developers to invest more than $1 million in minority contractors.

Assisting residential development, including at the Fruitport Golf Club, is the driving force behind a new tax-capture district aimed at growing one of Muskegon County’s busiest areas.

Minnesota

Joshua Mankowski has been hired as the City of Montgomery’s new Planner and Economic Development Specialist.

Adam Keinberger has been hired as the new community development director for Rosemount.

Wright County Economic Development Partnership is seeking resident input for workforce development survey.

Mississippi

Two major renewable energy projects are being planned, including the state’s first wind-power farm in Tunica County.

A group of international investors from India visited Natchez to tour the area for a multi-faceted economic development project with Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ and other officials.

Montana

More than a year after the pandemic struck last spring, the national economy is on the mend, and Missoula is trending ahead of the curve. The unemployment rate is ticking back down, help wanted signs are posted in windows, and construction is on the rise.

Nebraska

Melissa Norgard resigned as Sidney Economic Development Director to work in the family business.

The North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corp. has received the entire $500,000 state grant it sought to help power an expanded Phase 3 of the chamber’s Shot in the Arm housing incentives. said Chamber President and CEO Gary Person

The Southeast Nebraska Development District is now in the process of preparing the 2021 to 2026 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the 15 counties in southeast Nebraska.

New Mexico

Economic developers from across New Mexico are invited to participate in an online gathering on Monday as the state Economic Development Department begins the process of creating a new 20-year economic development plan, according to a news release.

North Carolina

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners will consider two proposed economic development agreements.

Mills River Town Council came to a consensus to eliminate funding for the Economic Investment Fund of Henderson County — an affiliate of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development.  The fund is used to secure properties for due diligence purposes while working with clients, Cobb said.  Council members agreed allocating money to the fund doesn't benefit Mills River.

Duke Energy has selected a new potential park in Randleman, located at an interchange on I-74 for business and infrastructure development. Duke Energy will provide a $10,000 grant which will help cover the cost of additional steps such as site selection consultation and mapping.

Natalie Dean Hawkins has been tapped to lead Moore County Partners in Progress, the county’s economic development arm. She will succeed outgoing executive director Pat Corso who is stepping down in May.

State funds will go to help a Green County company expand and add between 9 to 17 additional jobs, said Mark Pope the senior vice president of [North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development](https://www.ncgtp.com/.

"Nash County is open for business, especially for aviation and aerospace and we welcome all future development to the county", said Andy Hagy, Nash County economic development director.

Abzena Holdings LLC, a life sciences contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), will locate a significant biopharmaceutical manufacturing site in Lee County, creating 325 jobs and investing $213 million in Sanford, Governor Roy Cooper announced.

Gusmer Enterprises, Inc., a manufacturer of filtration and fermentation products, will create 73 new jobs in Catawba County, Governor Roy Cooper announced.

A leading pressure pipe company will create 44 jobs at a new production facility in Columbus County, according to Governor Roy Cooper.

The Southern Pines Town Council met in closed session on Tuesday evening to consider a proposed economic development project.

North Dakota

The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation has been awarded funding to help students explore local career options. Grand Forks is one of eight North Dakota communities selected to receive funding from the North Dakota Department of Commerce’s Main Street Initiative Partners in Planning Grant. The $15,600 grant will be used to analyze the availability of workforce programming in the region, including the need for a career and technical education workforce development center. (Becca Cruger)

Ohio

The city of Gahanna has hired Nathan Strum as new economic development director.

Oklahoma

A Texas-based company is bringing a new wind energy facility to Lawton, along with 300 jobs over the next five years.

Oklahoma State Representative Mark Lawson is the new Economic Development Director for the City of Sapulpa.

Oregon

The Springfield Economic Development Agency heard two proposals to revitalize a portion of the Glenwood area Monday night, and  protestors, well, protested.

Pennsylvania

The Chester County Economic Development Council announced organizational changes to respond to the transformed needs of local businesses as they rebuild from COVID-19.  Patti VanCleave, who has served as Project Director for CCEDC’s STEM and youth activities, is now Vice President, Workforce Development and STEM, where she will lead CCEDC’s efforts to help employers source and train the talent they need to rebuild and grow in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia schools lose more money to tax breaks than any district in the country, a new report says.  Good Jobs First, a nonprofit that tracks economic development subsidies, completed the study, which found that public school systems nationwide lost $2.37 billion in 2019 to tax subsidies.

South Carolina

Is economic development happening in the dark? Rendering plant opposition raises larger issues about access to information.

Researchers from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina estimated that the Greenville Area Development Corp., Greenville County’s economic development arm, has a total economic impact in the county exceeding $6 billion annually and sustains 64,784 jobs in Greenville County alone.

Tennessee

Tech giant Oracle is planning to bring 8,500 jobs with an average salary north of $100,000 to the River North development, Nashville Mayor John Cooper's office confirmed.  As described, it would be the largest economic development deal in the state to date.

Economic development activity during the first quarter was “really slow,” NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership CEO Clay Walker told the organization’s board during a Zoom meeting.

Texas

Round Rock Chamber Momentum investors recently gathered for a luncheon event featuring Jay Garner, president and founder of Garner Economics, a global economic development and site location consulting practice, who has been tapped to revise Round Rock's five-year economic development strategy.

The Houston and state economies are gaining strength as vaccinations slow the spread of the coronavirus, increase consumer confidence and improve business outlooks, according to recent economic indicators.

Demolition ensures final motel checkout; sale & community development planned next in Nederland. (Kay DeCuir)

Calhoun County ISD approves Economic Development application with plastics manufacturer.

Hitchcock EDC has hired Tyler Robert to be their new Executive Director.  Tyler was my assistant at Galveston County Economic Development, and will be missed.

The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation considers expanding their Foreign Trade Zone.  According to President and CEO Kevin Carter, the Foreign Trade Zone item would allow a business to take advantage of the FTZ without being inside the current area.

Virginia

A funding source to help economic development in Southwest Virginia appears to be gone, with nothing so far left to replace it.  The General Assembly voted to end the Coal Employment and Production Incentive and the Coalfield Employment Enhancement tax credits after tax year 2021 and prohibit allocation of the credits after Jan. 1, 2022.

The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority was awarded a $400,000 loan to help purchase equipment for an expansion of Lawrence Brothers, Inc. in Tazewell County.

This month, Arlington Economic Development is celebrating innovation and all the business community members that contribute to the innovation economy. From venture capital raises to project announcements, Arlington has kicked off 2021 with great momentum in many areas that contribute to their innovation ecosystem. (Adam Henry)

Washington

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation shared their plans with the Pasco Chamber of Commerce outlining their economic development projects in Pasco, including a possible casino.

Wisconsin

Green Lake’s ad hoc economic development committee provided a status update on multiple possible projects that are in the works, including a potential dog park, and brewery.