Business Xpansion Journal: July/August 2023

2023 INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY

July/August 2023 | bxjmag.com

OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

PORTS & FOREIGN TRADE ZONES ATTRACTING MORE BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITY ZONES BETTER HOUSING

FORESTRY

NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES

I L L I N O I S | M I C H I GA N | N E W YO R K | N E W J E R S E Y | WA S H I N G TON

The Highway to Investment Success Leads to Middlesex County Middlesex County offers a rich rural-urban landscape in the heart of southern Ontario complete with all the must haves for business is looking to establish or expand operations.

Companies prospecting for the optimal mix of location including attractive property pricing, and additional amenities, really strike it rich in Middlesex.

If your company relies on ‘on time’ delivery, you’ll appreciate access to three border crossings within a 2 hour drive. Our 401 and 402 series highways are vital in the moving of goods to destinations across the globe. Rail and air transport are available with both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific travelling through the County, and the London Ontario International Airport offering a central location for moving both cargo and people in and out of the region with ease. The County also sits within an hour’s drive of port access to the Great Lakes shipping channels.

Our honest, reliable workforce is the heartbeat of our County. We’re located within 62 miles of 6 Universities and 4 Colleges, making us a prime location for talent retention and attraction.

Middlesex County celebrates innovation and is home to local and multinational firms across the manufacturing sector including those in pharmaceutical, stormwater management, ag-tech, and automotive like Nortera Foods Inc., Gray Ridge Eggs, Catalent Pharma Solutions, Armatec Survivability, Goss Global, and Algonquin Bridge.

Short commutes, traffic that moves, fresh air, safe spaces, many active living options, and access to world-class healthcare are all just part of the Middlesex appeal. The county’s added rich offering of arts, entertainment and culture that create an amazing quality of life for families of all types.

www.investinmiddlesex.ca

MPA Interim Acting Executive Director Brian Miller

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

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FEATURES INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: The economic benefits of resurging foreign trade zones is attracting more business A streamlined method of getting foreign goods delivered to U.S. consumers features plenty of economic advantages–and some ongoing concerns

By David Hodes

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Alan Reyes-Guerra areyes@bxjmag.com 205-862-5175

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS David Hodes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Clint Cabiness

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INNOVATION AND STRATEGIES: Communities Find a Better System of Housing Development Through Opportunity Zones This historically unique economic development experiment is beginning to pay off, especially for high poverty areas

By David Hodes

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Forestry Today: Wildfires, Climate Change, and New Economic Opportunities U.S. forestry overseers are creating value and promoting the benefits of a better managed stewardship for thousands of hectares of forests

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The economic benefits of resurging foreign trade zones is attracting more business BY: DAVID HODES

A streamlined method of getting foreign goods delivered to U.S. consumers features plenty of economic advantages–and some ongoing concerns

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he U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency defines foreign trade zones (FTZ) as secure areas supervised by the CBP and located near CBP ports of entry, serving as the U.S. equivalent of free-trade zones worldwide. ..........................................................................................................................................

There are dozens of ports of entry in and around seaports on the coasts of the U.S. But others are inland—Omaha, Nebraska; St. Louis, Missouri; Des Moines, Iowa and others—and often located in or near airport properties. For example, there are six ports of entry in airports in California alone.

FTZs can be established by qualified public or private corporations that operate the facilities themselves or contract with zone sponsors. These facilities often provide leasable storage and distribution space, and some projects include industrial park sites for zone users to construct their own facilities.

These zones, first developed in 1934 under the Foreign Trade Zones Act and designed to expedite and encourage foreign commerce, allow for the movement of foreign and domestic

consulting, told BXJ. Grogan is a global trade practitioner experienced in FTZs, duty and tariff mitigation strategies, general U.S. customs compliance and global trade function assessments. “We’ve seen a real explosion in use of FTZs over the last decade or so. The three biggest contributing factors to that growth are the FTZ board’s streamline procedures and new regulations, which came out in 2012. Secondly, FTZ is being used to address the recent rise in punitive tariffs. And third, FTZ is being used to mitigate supply chain disruption and contribute to the effort towards supply chain resiliency.”

Zones Profiled The Greater Kansas City Foreign Trade Zone, Inc. (GKCFTZ), has two trade zones: FTZ 15 in Kansas City, Missouri, and FTZ 17 in Kansas City, Kansas. Zone 15 serves 23 contiguous counties in the western half of Missouri. Zone 17 presently serves nine counties in metropolitan Kansas City, Kansas.

The GKCFTZ has over 450 million square feet of approved foreign trade zone space. The two trade zones handle more volume than those of Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis and St. Louis.

Companies that use an FTZ are typically either a warehouse/ distributor or a producer/manufacturer. Some of the top FTZ operators, which are generally state or local governments, port authorities, and economic development organizations, work with vehicle and vehicle parts companies, oil and petroleum companies, electronics companies, machinery and equipment companies, textiles and footwear companies, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and chemical companies.

Issues

merchandise for storage, assembly, manufacturing, and processing.

The companies operating within FTZs must meet certain physical security and access and inventory control requirements.

The FTZ program can help businesses reduce production, transaction, and logistics-related costs as a result of lower duty rates, allowing special entry procedures, and encouraging production closer to market. Delays at the U.S. port of entry can be avoided by bypassing customs and moving the goods directly into the zone. Customs clearance is not required until the goods are ready to leave the zone, saving on import processing time.

Foreign goods imported into FTZs duty-free in 2018 accounted for almost 10 percent of total U.S. goods imports, according to a Congressional report.

“We are in the middle of an FTZ renaissance,” James Grogan, managing director at the Houston office of Washington D.C.-based FTI

With all of the help provided by FTZs in storing and moving goods, they can create some challenges.

For example, there are complex customs regulations and compliance requirements for FTZs. And there is uncertainty in trade policies, such as tariffs, regulations, political landscape issues and movements in trade agreements that can affect FTZ operations.

According to Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington, DC-based think tank, because customs oversight and other regulatory checks are weak or nonexistent, FTZs have become hotspots for illicit and trade-based money laundering operations, tax evasion, terrorist financing, and other forms of financial crime.

There are also ongoing concerns that FTZs are being increasingly used to manufacture, sell, and move counterfeit and pirated goods across the world.

Data from the Organization for Economic Development (OECD) shows that the counterfeit and pirated goods trade grew by 80 percent between 2008 and 2013.

The OECD also reported that some FTZs have been found to be key trans-shipment points for illicit goods that have been repackaged or relabeled to conceal their point of origin before entering the legitimate supply chain.

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tool for the assessment of the performance and the compliance of FTZs with a code of conduct.

“I think such things as circumvention, money laundering and some of those concerns are what we see more of in the application of programs overseas than we do in the U.S.” Grogan said. “But it’s certainly something that everyone in the U.S. government and industry alike want to make sure doesn’t happen here.”

There are also trade policy uncertainties—TPU—to deal with as they impact FTZs. TPU uncertainty refers to the possibility of changes in a country’s trade policy, mainly the possibility of the non-renewal of tariff preference programs, temporary trade bans, economic sanctions, intellectual property disputes, and anti-dumping measures, among other issues.

According to an article penned by researchers at the School of Economics, Beijing Technology and Business University, since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), countries worldwide have been conducting international trade under the framework of the multilateral rules of the WTO. The level of trade policy uncertainty has greatly decreased. Most recently, trade policy uncertainty had a significant impact on the trade margins of Chinese exports of goods to America.

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Other researchers demonstrated how trade policy uncertainty and sustainable development policies affected investment in medical innovation from 1980 through 2020, according to the article, concluding that reducing tariff uncertainty “has large economic and statistical effects on medical innovation, and these impacts are suggestive of real innovation rather than merely an increase in patent applications.”

The Recovery of Shipping and FTZs The problem with shipping traffic stacking up in various U.S. ports because of the pandemic is being corrected—for the most part. But it’s impact is still being felt.

In a sign of this ongoing recovery, the Port of Long Beach just had its second-busiest year on record, according to a report by the port, by moving 9.13 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2022, marking a return to near-normal operations.

Asked about how FTZs can contribute to the normalization of port traffic, Grogan said that FTZs actually complement the reshoring efforts better than any incentive program or customs program that exists in the U.S. “What we’re seeing is that the industries that are reshoring the most, like electric vehicles, electric vehicle batteries, semiconductors, renewable energy, are the same ones that we’re seeing the most interest in FTZs,” he said. “A lot of that is about supply chain predictability with these companies, in that they want

to make sure they can be close to market in the U.S. so that they’re not a victim to these port disruptions and supply chain disruptions.”

He talked about direct delivery as one angle that the FTZ program plays. “Direct delivery is a benefit that FTZ operators can apply for and customs can grant for goods to move directly to the FTZ zone site, often bypassing the examination or port congestion at the first port of arrival,” he said. “So companies that understand direct delivery can model their supply chains in a way to avoid port disruption. Those companies are poised to mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.”

Another way that FTZs are being used to alleviate congestion is inventory staging, he added. “So if you have a distribution center that imports a bunch of stuff, they can store all that inventory in there, at a U.S. FTZ, without paying duty, and stockpile a little bit more inventory than they would normally,” Grogan said. “Then they just pay

the duty when it leaves the FTZ. So they’re able to reshore, or onshore, a little bit more inventory without increasing the cost.”

Business Advantages Still Murky A recently released report by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) discussed the operation of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program and similar FTZ-type programs in Canada and Mexico, as well as the impacts of these programs on employment and the cost-competitiveness of products of firms operating in U.S. FTZs. The report found that the cost-competitiveness effects of the U.S. FTZ program and FTZ-type programs in Canada and Mexico are impacted by multiple factors, including the design of the programs, national tariff regimes and applicable rates of duty, other trade policies, and material sourcing and the destination markets for firms’ shipments.

Other findings include:

of U.S. firms primarily through duty reduction on shipments that make customs entry in the United States and duty exemption on direct export shipments from U.S. FTZs. Firms producing in FTZs experienced duty cost savings of $1.2 billion in 2021 using these two features of U.S. FTZs. - Although most firms producing in U.S. FTZs experience net cost savings through use of the program, fewer firms consider their FTZ use to be a factor that can cause increases in investment, output, or employment in the U.S. Grogan said that he thinks what they’re seeing is that grantees are getting a lot more proactive and creative in promoting this program. “It’s because the things they’re after, such as jobs investment in the region, boosting exports, boosting international trade, are the same things that Congress intended with the program when they enacted it in the 1930s.”. X

- U.S FTZs improve cost-competitiveness

The Port of Lake Charles The Port of Lake Charles and the Calcasieu Ship Channel have been a catalyst for economic growth for nearly a century. Today, the Calcasieu Ship Channel drives $39 billion of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to the 2021 study “The Economic Impacts of the Calcasieu Ship Channel” conducted by Martin Associates and commissioned by Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District. In addition, the Calcasieu Ship Channel drives two-thirds of the GDP in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes.

The Port of Lake Charles is a deepwater seaport in Lake Charles, Louisiana, located on the Calcasieu Ship Channel, north of the U.S. Gulf Coast.

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The Port of Lake Charles is a deepwater port located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, located on the Calcasieu Ship Channel, north of the U.S. Gulf Coast. The Port opened in 1926 and today is the 12th-busiest port district in the nation, based on tonnage, as ranked by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It also was named by Forbes magazine as the seventh-fastest growing seaport in America.

The Port manages the Calcasieu Ship Channel, which runs inland 36 miles and extends out into the Gulf of Mexico another 32 miles. The Port of Lake Charles’ official name is the Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District, a public body created by the Louisiana Legislature. The District encompasses 203 square miles in Calcasieu Parish and operates on 5,420 acres.

The Port of Lake Charles owns and operates two marine terminals— the City Docks and Bulk Terminal No. 1—and two industrial parks—the Industrial Canal and Industrial Park East. In addition, this deepwater port serves as landlord to companies leasing Port-owned property and owns several leasable sites on and near the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

Lake Charles is a port of choice along the gulf coast for breakbulk, specialty and project cargo. Principal cargoes moving through the Port’s terminals are project cargoes, aluminum, forest products, steel, bulk grain and other agricultural food products, petroleum coke and other petroleum products, barite and rutile.

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Governor Moore Announces Strong First Quarter Growth for Port of Baltimore Key Commodities ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore announced increases in key targeted cargo at state-owned, marine terminals at the Port of Baltimore during the first quarter of 2023.

General cargo is up 8% and containers are up more than 7% compared to the first three months of 2022, and roll on/roll off farm and construction machinery is up 42% year over year.

“Maryland’s Port of Baltimore is one of the largest economic engines in the state, and that engine is now firing on all cylinders,” said Gov. Moore.

“The maritime industry knows we have the critical tools they need: world-class infrastructure, state-of-the-art technology, outstanding leadership and the men and women of the hardest working longshore labor force in the business.”

This past weekend, the Port of Baltimore set a record with 6,383 container moves off a single vessel, the Maersk Eindhorn.

The Eindhorn is a 13,000-plus Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) container ship which Baltimore can handle because of its ultra-large, Neo-Panamax cranes and 50-foot-deep channel.

The Port of Baltimore generates about 15,300 direct jobs, with nearly 140,000 jobs overall linked to Port activities. The port is first among the nation’s ports for autos and light truck volume, roll on/ roll off farm and construction machinery, and imported gypsum and is responsible for nearly $3.3 billion in personal wages and salaries, $2.6 billion in business revenue and $395 million in state and local tax revenue annually.

“Our operation at Maryland’s Port of Baltimore—our people, our partners, our logistics, our infrastructure and our dedication to service—gives customers tremendous confidence in our ability to bring their goods to market,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We have the total package, and it’s driving economic opportunity for Maryland and for our workers.”

The strong start to 2023 follows a watershed year in 2022 when the Port of Baltimore handled a record $74.3 billion worth of foreign cargo and established other new marks despite lingering worldwide supply chain issues and pandemic impacts to the international maritime shipping industry. The port’s terminals—including those managed by the Maryland Port Administration and private terminals—handled 43.3 million tons of cargo last year, nearly eclipsing the pre-pandemic 2019 record of 44.2 million tons.

“Our success is due to our one Port of Baltimore family,” said Maryland Port Administration/Port of Baltimore Executive Director Doyle.

“No other U.S. seaport has the cooperation from its full supply chain like Baltimore. Our private marine terminals, our great International Longshoremen’s Association, and our incredible truckers, pilots, tugs, freight forwarders, and terminal operators—we’re all a great team.”

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The Port of Baltimore’s continued success relies on factors related to business, technology, community involvement and environmental stewardship. Recent milestones and achievements include: • Ultra-Large Cranes – Four additional Neo-Panamax, ultra-large cranes became operational at the Seagirt Marine Terminal. The port’s container business has grown under the public-private partnership with Ports America Chesapeake and is poised to grow more in the next several years.

• Welcome ZIM – ZIM Shipping Lines began its E-Commerce Baltimore Express service from China and Southeast Asia to the U.S. East Coast.

ZXB was named for Baltimore. Earlier this year, Governor Moore announced ZIM would increase its service into Maryland from bi-weekly to weekly and increase the size of its ships coming to Baltimore by 50%.

• Receiving Diverted Ships – With many U.S. ports experiencing port congestion and supply chain issues, the Port of Baltimore handled nearly 100 “ad hoc” ship calls during the recovery stages of the pandemic; the vessels were not on a regularly scheduled call.

• Top Security Grade – For the 14th consecutive year, the port’s state-owned marine terminals received a top security grade during an annual assessment by the U.S. Coast Guard. The assessment focused on cyber security and reviewed security procedures and protocols at the six public terminals.

• Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration – The Port Administration’s newest coastal restoration initiative will restore island habitat at James and Barren islands off the coast of Dorchester County and protect the shoreline. The project is a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and will use dredged sediment from Port of Baltimore shipping channels to rebuild the islands.

• Community Outreach – The Port Administration’s Masonville Cove is one of Maryland’s largest environmental restoration projects and welcomes more than 2,000 local students and adults annually for hands-on and classroom environmental learning. The Port Administration also has worked with communities to plant hundreds of trees in neighborhoods and is a proud partner of the Ministers Conference Empowerment Center of Baltimore’s Cradle to Career Pipeline, which provides youth and adult career counseling and workforce training at employment centers including the port.

The expansion of the CSX-owned Howard Street Tunnel will enhance port commerce. The project will allow for double-stacked container cars, giving the East Coast seamless double-stack capacity from Maine to Florida. The project will improve the 127-year-old tunnel and 21 other locations between Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Following completion in 2025, Baltimore will be able to send double stacked containers by rail into the Ohio Valley and onto Chicago. The project benefits from public-private investment from the federal government, Maryland, CSX and others and is expected to increase port business by about 160,000 containers annually, generating an estimated 6,550 construction jobs and 7,300 jobs from the increased business.

relationships it maintains with industry, community, environmental advocates and partner agencies.

For more information on the business opportunities of Port of Long Beach, please contact the Business Development Division at 562-283-7750 or visit their website at www.polb.com .

Leading the way to an environmentally sustainable and economically robust future, the Port of Long Beach is partnering with industry and community to strengthen competitiveness, modernize facilities and enhance operational excellence. The Port is focused on improving service throughout the supply chain by collaborating, innovating and imagining.

As the West Coast’s premier container seaport, the Port of Long Beach handles trade valued at $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million jobs across the United States, including 575,000 in Southern California and 1 in 5 jobs in Long Beach.

Spanning 3,200 acres with 31 miles of waterfront, 10 piers, 72 post-Panamax cranes and some of the deepest berths in the country, the Port’s world-class facilities can accommodate the largest shipping vessels in the world. Goods moving through the Port originate in or are destined for every U.S. congressional district.

The Port is pursuing a comprehensive capital improvement program to modernize its facilities and ensure that cargo is moved with reliability, speed and efficiency.

In the next 10 years, the Port is planning $2.2 billion in modernization projects to further prepare for the demands of global trade. Plans include investing $1.3 billion in on-dock rail projects, adding capacity, improving speed-to-market and allowing for the rapid movement of cargo throughout the harbor.

By operating Foreign Trade Zone 50, the Port of Long Beach lessens the impacts of tariffs and eliminates Customs clearance delays by having shipments delivered directly to qualifying businesses within Orange County and parts of San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.

Customers choose the Port of Long Beach for the most dependable, cost-effective and fastest delivery of goods in the world, along with the strong

S I D E B A R

THE PREMIER GATEWAY FOR TRANS-PACIFIC TRADE FOCUSES ON THE FUTURE

Save with FTZ-50 Avoid delays and save money – take advantage of the benefits of a Foreign Trade Zone. Find out how the Port of Long Beach can help your business at polb.com/ftz.

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Quonset’s 229 companies benefit from world-class infrastructure Quonset’s 229 companies benefit from world-class infrastructure as we consistently make substantial investments in fast-growing sectors that will drive our economy for generations to come.

As New England prepares for a slate of new offshore wind farms in the coming decade, Quonset is prepared to serve as a key Northeast hub of the growing industry. The Port of Davisville supports nearly 1,700 jobs, $98.9 million in household earnings for Rhode Island families and $374.3 million in business output annually.

In coordination with the State of Rhode Island, Quonset is making bold, strategic investments at the Port of Davisville. The $234 million dollar master plan includes building a new multi-purpose pier, as well as expansive docking space to support crew transfer and support vessels for offshore wind construction. With convenient access to Quonset’s railroad, state airport and highway access, Davisville is well-positioned to serve as a major offshore wind hub.

Plans also include the development of the Quonset Multi-Modal Offshore Wind Transport Center (QMTC), a nearly 150,000 s/f facility to house four aircraft hangars and space for eight companies in the offshore wind space. This $35 million investment will provide additional space and infrastructure for the development, operations and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

Quonset and the Port of Davisville are uniquely positioned to offer offshore wind companies the space they need to configure various components of wind turbines, as well as the pier space they’ll need to construct and service the wind farms.

Learn more at www.Quonset.com

Port of South Louisiana: A Better Way to Cargo As America’s leading grain exporting port district, the Port of South Louisiana is the premier sea gateway for U.S. export and import traffic. Governed by a board of nine Commissioners, the Port of South Louisiana, which stretches 54 miles along the Mississippi River, is one of the largest tonnage port districts in the western hemisphere.

Louisiana’s River Region is located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, along the Mississippi River and includes the parishes of St. Charles, St. John The Baptist, and St. James. The River Region has one of North America’s largest concentration of heavy manufacturing, a reflection of the strategic location, competitive market access, and highlyskilled labor pool that it harbors.

Initiative (RREDI) for the economic benefit of the region.

In the heart of the Port of South Louisiana’s jurisdiction is a 335-acre maritime industrial park. The Globalplex Intermodal Terminal is a public terminal, owned by the Port of South Louisiana and operated by Associated Terminals, for both vessels and barges that provides handling and storage for bulk, breakbulk, and containerized cargos.

Globalplex is an excellent location for manufacturing, distribution, and logistic companies. Flexibility, efficiency, and connectivity are the hallmarks of the redesign and new construction.

Globalplex Intermodal is world-class, with storage and warehousing, space for light manufacturing, and the most active Foreign Trade Zone.

For more information on Port of South Louisiana, please visit www.portsl.com or call 985-652-9278/855-SLA-PORT.

Energy and chemical industry magnates continue to invest billions of dollars as they expand operations to capture market opportunities. Over and above, these comparative advantages have attracted millions of dollars of investment by companies in the logistics, business services, and metals industries.

The growth of the River Region is a result of sound planning and support from a diversified cross-section of public and private stakeholders. The region’s overall strategy is to focus on diversifying its economic base by targeting industries that are conducive to growth in the River Region. It is why the River Region governing bodies have an established plan for economic growth that focuses on diversification and increased employment.

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OPPORTUNITY ZONES

Aerial view of Colorado Springs. Eight opportunity zones have been designated by the U.S. Department of Treasury in the area. Picture courtesy Mohit Kumar free images

Communities Find a Better System of Housing Development Through Opportunity Zones BY: DAVID HODES

This historically unique economic development experiment is beginning to pay off, especially for high poverty areas

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O

ne of the relatively newer methods of economic development for U.S. communities is the opportunity zone (OZ) program, created to address the economic and social inequities that have been building up as a result of the Great Recession from 2007-2009. ...........................................................................................................

As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, OZs were first proposed in the bipartisan Investing in Opportunity Act, which was originally introduced in Congress in 2016.

The program provides a capital gains tax credit for investments made in more than 8,000 high-poverty neighborhoods across the U.S. Two types of investments qualified: investment in new or existing businesses that largely operate in OZs, or investment in the development of properties located in OZs. The Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that this incentive will reduce tax revenue by an average $3.4 billion per year from 2019 to 2023.

According to a report by the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), a bipartisan public policy organization, since 2018, OZs have already achieved a “combination

studied, according to the report. OZ designations were found to have had positive economic effects on neighboring communities and contributed to development on a city-wide scale.

COLORADO’S OZ STORY

of expansive geographic reach, large- scale private investment, and significant economic effects that is unique in the history of U.S. place-based policy.” They are “an experiment in what placebased policy can achieve through a more decentralized, flexible, and scalable model.”

OZs are an approach to community and economic development efforts that is designed to increase access to capital for a wide array of uses in eligible low-income communities.

The EIG report also found that OZ investment reached approximately 3,800 communities from mid-2018 through 2020, representing nearly half (48 percent) of the total number of designated OZ communities nationwide.

Total OZ equity investment was at least $48 billion by the end of 2020.

This capital came from approximately 21,000 individual investors and 4,000 corporate investors who put their money into 7,800 Qualified Opportunity Funds.

The likelihood of investment in a given month increased by more than 20 percent in designated areas across 47 cities that were

One example of the successful implementation of opportunity zones is in Colorado, which embraced OZs in 2018. In fact, Colorado was one of the first states to be approved for OZs by the U.S. Department of Treasury. There are 126 OZs designated in the state, with eight new programs or initiatives launched by the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). Of these, 56 percent are located in metropolitan areas.

The state formed the Colorado Opportunity Zone Program in February, 2019 inside of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), designed to encourage long-term private investments in real estate projects and operating businesses located in designated OZs by helping economically distressed communities leverage the OZ program, support businesses in securing OZ investment, and connect investors and projects through Colorado’s Investment Database.

According to a press release, the program office will offer grants to support economic modeling, prospectus development, and other technical assistance needed to help community-oriented projects come to fruition.

More than 20 communities in Colorado have attempted to attract OZ investment by developing an investment prospectus, creating OZ marketing materials, and/or ensuring that information pertinent to OZ investors was included on their websites, according to an overview of deliverables about known OZ activity in Colorado through 2022.

To be eligible for a Colorado OZ designation, a community in the state must have a poverty rate of at least 20 percent, and median family income cannot exceed 80 percent of the statewide median family income if located outside of a metropolitan area.

Here are two success stories about Colorado’s OZs: • The Eddy Apartments in Grand Junction, which opened in August 2022, and was fully leased within 60 days. This multi-family project created 96 rental homes close to downtown Grand Junction, with affordable one- and two-bedroom rental houses.

• Camp V, on 120 acres of desert between Telluride and Moab, Utah. It is part of the Four Points. Funding outdoor hospitality portfolio.Camp V’s lodging and recreation has a mission to connect people, art, and community in the historic mining town of Naturita.

“My office really was quite proactive and getting all of its ducks in a row,” Jack Tiebout, senior program manager of business funding and incentives for the OEDIT, told BXJ. “It was a really short period between the announcement of the OZ program and the designation of the zones. We did a deep dive on the data, but we also had plans specifically for each zone, and which projects would be feasible for investment, and who would be the local person that bxjmag.com

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OPPORTUNITY ZONES

Aerial shot of Craig, Colorado, population 9,000. The city has one designated opportunity zone. Investors receive tax benefits when they reinvest capital gains, or profits from the sale of an asset, into opportunity zones.

Picture courtesy of COEDIT

was someone that we could connect them with. So I think kind of building that infrastructure was really crucial.”

Tiebout discussed one way of measuring how an OZ program is by working through the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, which ranks OZs relative to OZs within the same county, city, state or across the entire country. The higher the score, the more likely it is that indicators of inclusive growth are trending in the right direction over time. “They aggregate together different factors like new business starts, lending activity, broadband access, things like that within opportunity zones,” Tiebout said. “And going back to 2017, 62 percent of the census tracts that were designated as OZs in Colorado have seen an increase in that total score.”

He said that the OEDIT continues to make a huge push to educate community leaders, investors, and all the stakeholders across the state to make sure they had an understanding of the OZ program. “Once you get past the kind of headline summary of how it works, it does get almost intimidatingly complex,” he said. “So just educating them, making sure that they knew they have us as a resource, and that they were building out investment prospectuses for investors—all that really makes a huge impact.”

The complexities of OZs included such things as how to ensure that the investment stays compliant. “It’s 100-plus pages of rules.

It kind of takes an accountant or a tax lawyer to parse it,” Tiebout said. “We’ve seen this in Colorado where people are dissuaded from participating in the program just because it’s so intimidating.

So to whatever extent we can even just make introductions to accountants and lawyers, that helps a lot.”

Tiebout said that they don’t get as granular data as they would like where they could say that a certain OZ investment created certain effects in this community. “But one impact I definitely like tracking is just the number of new housing units that have been built as a result of OZ investment in Colorado. We have a bit of

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a housing crisis here. So knowing that this program has helped add at least 1,000 if not multiple thousands new housing units at market rate that is workforce affordable, it’s been great to see that.

I think that’s probably the clearest indicator that we can point to statewide.”

And beyond OZ, but inspired by OZ, is a strategy of having municipalities and counties and other more local entities create not just plans for their entire city, but plans to show what will happen for an investor who is interested in their area, Tiebout said.

“They can point to these catalytic projects that are both going to get them their returns and help make a huge impact in their community. I think that kind of prospectus building, that sort of pipeline building strategy, is really crucial, both in opportunity zones and beyond in other economically distressed areas.”

LOOKING AHEAD The EIG report added that there is still a lot of work to be done to educate investors, local leaders, and other potential market players about the OZ incentive and how it functions. “It is becoming clear that many of the loftiest hopes—that a tweak of the tax code could fundamentally transform the economics of investing in low-income communities overnight—and greatest fears—that an OZ-fueled tidal wave of resident-displacing gentrification would crash across the designated communities—proved foreseeably off the mark.”

The market is in the process of figuring out where the OZ as a new tool of development finance fits in the broader toolkit, the EIG report found. “Broadly, the early 2020s are shaping up to be a ‘proof of concept’ phase for the policy. The early results are promising but also suggest that further tweaks to the policy will be necessary for it to fulfill its promise.” X

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Wood City, to be built in Stockholm, Sweden, will be the largest urban construction project in wood. The first buildings are expected to be completed in 2027. Illustration courtesy of developers Atrium Ljunberg and Henning Larsen

Forestry Today: Wildfires, Climate Change, and New Economic Opportunities

BY D AVI D HO D E S

U.S. forestry overseers are creating value and promoting the benefits of a better managed stewardship for thousands of hectares of forests

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here are currently nearly 15 million hectares (37 million acres) of forest in the U.S. under forest management—only Canada (47 million hectares) and Sweden (20 million hectares) have more government-managed forest land. ...............................................................................................................................

In general, about 304 million hectares of the U.S. land mass is forested, privately and publicly owned, or about 32 percent of the total landmass, according to figures from United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Now there are new ways to manage and control forests as outlined by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which has taken steps to broaden its scope and address the provision of ecosystem services, according to an FSC report, “Global Strategy 2021-2026.”

This means that forests are now recognized for not only their timber, but also for the valuable way they help the environment by addressing global warming fears.

The FSC anticipates an enhanced relevance of market mechanisms, products, and services that work in favor of forests and the landscapes. This means that economic opportunities can be created that not only promote sustainable forest

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

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management but also drive positive environmental outcomes.

The FSC also aims to improve the integration and leverage of forest stewardship within forest governance systems, policy frameworks, and regulations. By strengthening the ties between responsible forest management and governance structures, according to the report, the FSC can ensure that sustainable practices are part of both the decision-making processes and regulatory frameworks that govern forests.

THE WILDFIRE DILEMMA According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) for 2022, there were 68,988 fires that burned 7,577,183 acres of forest in the U.S., which averages out to 109 acres burned per fire. It was worse in 2020, where 10 million acres of forest were burned, representing 176 acres burned per fire.

An average of 7 million acres were burned by wildfires each year from 2001-2020, according to NIFC data.

A new study by the USDA forest service proposes five suggestions shifting the approach of wildfire from a simple to complex risk, and building solutions that increase adapting to and coexisting with wildfire.

Huge wildfires in Canada in 2023 brought the need of containment into sharper focus as the U.S. began moving into wildfire season starting in July. Forestry managers are looking at a bigger picture of wildfire control.

“In the U.S., we have a lot of forests that are just right for burning because we’ve been suppressing any kind of fire that can happen,” Brad Kahn, communications director for the FSC, told BXJ. “Fire is natural, coming from sources like lightning for thousands of years,” he said. “So it was really just in the last maybe 100 years or so, that we started to take on the position of trying to put out every fire, because if you have a home near a forest that’s burning, it makes a lot of sense to try to put the fire out. The net effect of 100 years of fire suppression is 16 | BXJ | JULY/AUGUST 2023 | bxjmag.com

that a lot of our forests across the entire continent are just ripe to burn.”

Most fires are started by people, he said, who toss out cigarettes alongside the roadside or don’t put out campfires properly. “So we have this confluence of more ways to start a fire and a lot more fuel for those fires that burn hotter,” he said.

The forestry service spends three-quarters of its budget each year fighting fires. “One fire can cause billions of dollars of damage,” Kahn said. “We need to help those people who are impacted. But if you ask for billions of dollars to do treatments of wildfire prone forests, that’s a much harder hill to climb.”

NEW GOALS OF FORESTRY MANAGEMENT Forestry management has to respond to changes in how people want to live, Kahn said. “With the internet, and remote work and all the rest, people are moving out into the forest more and more with greater risk to their homes,” he said. “There is also a new and growing constituency that doesn’t necessarily favor active forestry management,” such as controlled or prescribed fires and other methods of thinning the forest.

Other challenges were discussed in a speech to the World Conservation Congress in September, 2016, by Tom Tidwell, chief of the USDA Forest Service. Many challenges with forests are associated with drought, wildfire, invasive species, and outbreaks of insects and disease—all made worse by climate change. “Climate change has contributed to beetle outbreaks in many western states,” Tidwell said. “Winter cold is no longer limiting bark beetles, resulting in beetle infestations on a massive scale. On the national forests alone, the area affected has reached almost 13 million hectares. In California alone, there are now an estimated 66 million dead trees.”

He talked about other activities that the USDA Forest Service is monitoring, such as the conversion of forests to business developments, and the spread of homes and communities into fire-prone

Wood products and wood energy are the lifeblood of many local economies, and are critical to healthy forests. The Forest Service supports innovation and new markets. Photo courtesy of Marcus Kauffman, Oregon Department of Forestry

forests. “By 2060, our population (in the U.S.) is expected to grow to somewhere between 400 and 500 million, and we could see a net forest loss of up to 15 million hectares,” he said in his speech.

“For the first time in more than a century, the United States is facing a net forest loss.”

FORESTS AND THEIR ECONOMIC VALUE Tidwell also outline some positive changes that are being

worked on, because forests have economic value. They can generate wealth through recreation and tourism, through the creation of green jobs, and through the production of wood products and energy, he said. “But wood has gotten a bad rap.

There’s a widespread misconception that building from cement or steel is better for the environment than using wood. We need to dispel those misconceptions, because putting wood to good use is a key strategy for climate change mitigation,” Tidwell said.

He cited other examples: Wood both stores carbon and replaces more carbon-intensive materials. Lumber is eight times less fossil-fuel-intensive than cement for example, and 21 times less fossil-fuel-intensive than steel.

One example of using wood for a more climate-friendly environment is in Stockholm, Sweden, called “Wood City”,

The June, 2013, fire in Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada grew quickly to overtake thousands of acres, killing 18 firefighters. With an area of 6,289,821 acres, it is the largest U.S. National Forest outside of Alaska.Photo by U.S. Forest Service. bxjmag.com

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extending over nearly 3 million square feet, and billed as the world’s largest urban construction project in wood ever.

The new area houses an additional 7,000 office spaces and 2,000 homes in Sickla, in the southern parts of Stockholm. It will offer a vibrant, urban environment with a mix of workplaces, housing, restaurants and shops. The first buildings are expected to be completed in 2027.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS The reality is that harvesting wood from national forests is difficult, Kahn said. “We all think about the national forests but relatively speaking, less volume is harvested there,” he said.

He added that anytime anyone wants to do harvest activities on the national forests, frequently there’s a fight with the local environmental groups or the local communities. “Those harvest levels in the national forests are way down from what they were 20 to 30 years ago,” he said.

Most harvesting of wood is done on private forest land. But the owners of that private land are struggling today.

Kahn explained: “Frequently you have private forest landowners we might call family woodlands or family forest owners. These are families that own maybe 100 or even 1,000 acres. They are they’re doing a little bit of harvesting each year but it doesn’t make them necessarily rich. That land costs money. So let’s say they have four kids. And when they pass on their land to those kids, it’s comes with maybe $100,000 a year in property taxes. Then each kid makes a different decision about what to do with their share of the land, 18 | BXJ | JULY/AUGUST 2023 | bxjmag.com

and that 1,000 acres gets split up into 250 acres each. Two of them decide to sell some for housing, someone else decides to have 100 cattle or who knows what. And that fragmentation, especially between generations, is what’s driving a lot of the deforestation in the United States.”

Kahn said that there’s actually an economic rationale for keeping that land as a forest, and the forestry service is thinking about forests as natural climate solutions. “So right now, globally, about a third of the carbon that is emitted by humanity needs to be sucked up. We have one technology today that can remove carbon from the atmosphere at a scale that can make a difference.

That is the forest. So forests are pretty much our biggest solution in terms of getting that carbon out of the atmosphere that’s already in there.”

There is a lot of work on direct air capture and other strategies to accomplish what forest can do for the climate, he said, which he hopes will be scalable.

According to the International Energy Agency, direct air capture is a technology that extracts CO2 directly from the atmosphere that can be permanently stored in deep geological formations. The captured CO2 can be used in food processing or combined with hydrogen to produce synthetic fuels. “Today, (those technologies) are very expensive and operating at a very small scale. So for the landowners who are just trying to make a rational economic decision and say that they are going to sell their forest to someone else or cut it down or whatever, we need to give them more economic value for keeping it.” X

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ILLINOIS:

Photo by Joel Mott on Unsplash

The Intersection of America

W

elcome to the intersection of America— and the world. Where talent, innovation, transportation and infrastructure converge and where many of the nation’s top businesses thrive. .........................................................................................

Strategically located at the heart of the country, Illinois is the crossroads of commerce that puts businesses, people and goods within a four-hour flight of the entire North American market—not to mention the home to the world’s most connected airport.

On top of that, Illinois companies benefit from a world-class transportation and logistics network, reliable, low-cost energy, abundant water and natural resources and a highly educated workforce supported by more than 247 higher education institutions.

Learn why 35 Fortune 500 companies and more than 2,000 international industry leaders call Illinois home.

Illinois’ economic strength begins with its ecosystem of like-minded pioneers and trailblazers. The 18th largest economy in the world, Illinois has grown and attracted some of the most innovative and iconic companies on the planet including Abbott, ADM, Allstate, Baxter, Motorola Solutions, Exelon, John Deere, Kraft Heinz, McDonalds, Mondelez, State Farm, United, Walgreens and more.

Among the state’s greatest assets are its talent pool of nearly 6.4 million people—about a third of whom hold a bachelor’s degree or higher—and one of the most connected transportation and logistics networks in the country. The state is also home to a supportive business

environment that welcomes and fosters growth.

Illinois businesses span existing and emerging industries and create good-paying jobs for its residents. llinois offers unparalleled access to global markets. A hub for transportation, Illinois is home to five international airports, seven Class I railroads, the third largest interstate highway system in the country and the third largest inland port in the world.

The state’s central location puts businesses, people and goods within a four-hour flight of the entire North American market—not to mention non-stop service to more than 60 international destinations. Chicago’s O’Hare is ranked the WORLD’s most connected airport.

In addition, the state offers businesses top-notch digital infrastructure, reliable, low-cost energy and abundant water and natural resources.

Illinois is home to a network of global powerhouse companies—ready customers, suppliers and collaborators—across industries. The state is home to more than 1,900 major corporate headquarters and over 2,000 foreign businesses.

Illinois is committed to breaking down barriers for businesses looking to locate in the U.S. Home to more than 2,000 international companies, Illinois has proven to be a natural choice for global employers expanding in the North American market. With more than 80 consulates/consuls general, 90 sister cities, eight foreign trade zones and five international airports, Illinois allows international companies to reach their global customers, while also feeling at home.

For more information, please contact Intersect Illinois at 312-667-6010 or visit their website at www.intersectillinois.org . bxjmag.com

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ILLINOIS: VANDALIA - Positioned for Growth

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Vandalia, Illinois (pop. 7,460) is centrally located in Southern Illinois on Interstate 70, Exits 61 & 63, between St. Louis, MO and Terre Haute, IN. Rich in history, Vandalia was the 2nd State Capitol of Illinois, serving as capitol from 1819-1839. It is where Abraham Lincoln begain his political and legal career. The building he last served in, the Vandalia Statehouse, remains standing today in Historic Downtown Vandalia, averaging 20,000 visitors a year. Vandalia is a community with a hometown feel, a great school system with a Vocational Education center, as well as a community college, Kaskaskia College extension center to serve the residents in their secondary education pursuits. Many of the businesses in Vandalia have been ran by people born and raised here and of recent, younger residents and people within Fayette County (pop. 21,492) are interested in starting their business ventures because of the local support received and because of Vandalia’s location, serving as county seat.

Workforce Development is one of the highest priorities for the City of Vandalia, Illinois. Many of their established manufacturers, distribution centers, small businesses and service industries are wanting to grow and expand. To meet this challenge, in collaboration with Kaskaskia College, the City has brought industries together to understand their needs and identify the skills required of an expanded workforce and will begin marketing these opportunities to job seekers.

The OKAW Vocational Center, located in Vandalia, works with 12 area high schools, located in four counties to train students in a variety of trades, such as: Auto Body, Auto Mechanics, Building Trades, Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), Computer Technology and Networking, Culinary Arts & Food Service, Foundations of Education, Graphic Design/Commercial Arts, Health Occupations, Office Technology/Business Entrepreneur, Power Mechanics/Power Sports, Welding/Metal Fabrication. The program is venturing towards grants to build a new 40,000 sf facility in the Vandali Industrial Park. With Kaskaskia College Vandalia campus only .8 miles away, it is prime for working together to get people to work!

These collaborations position Vandalia, Illinois for growth, not only for those who currently reside and have businesses here, but also for those who are looking for an opportunity to relocate or expand. They have a wide variety of available buildings and sites for both lease and for sale with City incentives including TIF, Opporunity Zone and Enterprise Zone. Specifically, the City of Vandalia, Illinois has 120 acres available for development within their Industrial Park, located not even a .5 mile from Interstate 70.

If you are interested in learning more about the opportunities that exist and the success that you can realize in Vandalia, Illinois, reach out to LaTisha Paslay, City Administrator and Interim Economic Development DIrtector at vandaliaed@vandaliaillinois.com.

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ILLINOIS: The Chicago Region’s New Competitive Advantage is Collaboration

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Six months after its January 2023 launch, the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP) is making significant strides in driving economic development in the Chicago region.

Comprised of seven counties in northeastern Illinois (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will), along with the City of Chicago, led by the city’s economic development agency, World Business Chicago, the GCEP aims to foster collaboration and create a thriving economic ecosystem.

One notable achievement of the GCEP occurred when S&C Electric, Chicago's largest homegrown manufacturer, contemplated relocating over 300 jobs and its headquarters out of state. With the intervention of the GCEP, S&C Electric ultimately decided to stay in the region, safeguarding valuable jobs and contributing to future growth in Palatine, located in suburban Cook County.

The efforts of the GCEP counties have also received recognition on a national scale. "Site Selection Magazine" ranked four GCEP counties, including Cook, DuPage, Kane, and Will, among the Top 20 'Best Counties in the Nation.' Cook County secured an impressive second place, with DuPage County following closely at number nine. Kane and Will counties also secured respectable positions, further solidifying the Chicago region's appeal as a destination for corporate relocation and investment.

In a recent pitch to a large out-of-state manufacturer, the GCEP demonstrated its ability to connect businesses with the region's skilled workforce. By bringing together representatives from City Colleges of Chicago's schools, as well as esteemed institutions like College of DuPage, Elgin Community College, Harper College, Joliet

VANDALIA Illinois History Lives and Progress Thrives Where

Vandalia, Illinois: City-Owned Industrial Park One hour east of St. Louis on 1-70 at Exit 61 Up to 120 Shovel-Ready Acres Land Incentive Package Available Geotechnical and Environmental Surveys Complete Logistics = Excellent Midwest Access to 1-70, 1-55, 1-57, 1- 64, US 51, SR 40, 140 & 815 Main Rail Served by CSX - Short Line Served by Pioneer Lines TIF Benefits Tax Reimbursements through 2027 and 2034 Enterprise Zone through 2034 Kaskaskia Community College and Okaw Area Vocational Center workforce training resources & Light Manufacturing, Call Centers

For more information contact: Vandalia Economic Development 618-283-1152 vandaliaed@vandaliaillinois.com www.vandaliaillinois.com

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Junior College, Lake County Community College, and Waubonsee Community College, the GCEP showcased its commitment to meeting the workforce needs of businesses. This collaborative effort underscored the partnership's strength and unity in driving economic growth through a skilled and diverse talent pool.

The Chicago region has proven to be a critical industrial market and international trade hub for the Midwest. With a robust industrial real estate sector experiencing historic low vacancies, growing rents, and strong leasing demand, the region's resilience is evident.

According to Colliers International, the Chicago region ranks among the nation's top industrial markets, second only to the Southern California region. Its strategic advantages, including intermodal railway transportation, air freight capabilities at O'Hare airport, and access to waterborne freight, contribute to its attractiveness to a range of industries.

The economic landscape of the Chicago region is equally impressive. With nearly 4.9 million individuals in its workforce and the second highest number of Fortune 500 companies in the United States, the region's economic diversity sets it apart. No single industry dominates more than 13 percent of the total economy, ensuring a balanced and resilient business ecosystem. Additionally, the region's GDP would rank as the 20th largest economy globally, highlighting its significant impact.

The population growth in the GCEP counties has been remarkable, with rural communities like Kendall County

experiencing a staggering 142 percent increase. Moreover, the region boasts a comprehensive infrastructure that supports both legacy and emerging industries. Renowned institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab, along with prestigious universities like the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois networks, contribute to the region's intellectual firepower and innovation.

The collaborative efforts of the GCEP have yielded impressive results, with numerous joint business development projects and ‘pro-Chicagoland decisions’ already accomplished. The partnership's commitment to inclusivity and equity ensures that economic growth benefits all residents, addressing disparities in wealth, employment, and access to opportunity. This dedication to an inclusive future supports generational change and empowers marginalized communities to thrive.

The collaborative efforts across county lines and the utilization of diverse economic assets position the greater Chicagoland region for sustained growth and prosperity. The GCEP invites interested stakeholders to visit World Business Chicago’s website to see the Chicago region’s *new* Economic Asset Map, a joint product of the GCEP and World Business Chicago Research Center, which provides valuable insights into the region's potential and opportunities for future development. .

Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership Discover the competitive advantage of the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership, led

by World Business Chicago. With a wealth of economic assets strategically distributed across prestigious institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois system, coupled with a powerful network of innovation hubs like 1871, mHub, and MATTER, the Chicagoland region is the prime choice for companies of all sizes, including emerging players like the Chan Zuckerberg Biotech hub, to establish their transformative businesses.

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ILLINOIS: JOLIET - America’s Third Coast Rising! ........................................................................................

Why has Joliet, IL risen to become America’s 3rd Coast, the largest inland port in North America? You will find that Joliet offers a unique set of strategic advantages for companies with labor- or capital-intensive operations to grow their business. It’s no wonder why large industrial developers such as CenterPoint and NorthPoint continue to develop over 6,300 acres of industrialzoned land and build large spec buildings of 1 million square feet each year in Joliet. It is why Amazon, IKEA, Home Depot, Mars, Cadence Premier Logistics, Whirlpool, and Lion Electric and other major firms have located in Joliet.

Companies seeking national and/or regional operations in the USA and North America have found Joliet’s location advantages impressive. Joliet is: Centrally Positioned! Located just 45 miles southwest of Chicago at the intersection of I-80 and I-55, Joliet is centrally located in the Midwest, USA, and North America. Companies can reach a consumer market of 154 million people, or 47% of the US population, within a one-day truck drive (11 hours -715 miles). That’s why Harbor Freight Tools opened its new 1.6 million square-foot distribution center in June 2022 with 800 employees.

The new facility will reduce the company’s carbon footprint by eliminating the need to transport products from either coast.

Why

Situated for Speed! Joliet’s vast, multi-modal, integrated, and nationally connected transportation network provides for speedy and affordable delivery. The transportation network includes: ten interstate interchanges within the City; four Class I Railroad lines traversing North America; two intermodal facilities operated by Union Pacific and Burlington Northern; barge waterway service to the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico; national passenger rail service via Amtrak; a municipal airport; and two International Airports, O’Hare and Midway, within 45 minutes. That’s why

LOCATE YOUR NATIONAL OR REGIONAL OPERATION HERE!

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Ready-Made Buildings - Spec Buildings up to 1 million sf El Paso

Industrial-Zoned Sites - 4,500 acres of new Industrial Land New Orleans Labor Force Ready - 1 million people within 30 minutes Houston Quality Living - A river city, historical downtown, baseball stadium, two casinos, and more...

Miami

To learn more visit www.joliet.gov/business/economic‐development bxjmag.com

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Walmart opened its first national “next generation” fulfillment center of 1.1 million square feet in Joliet in 2022. Over 1,000 people will be hired to pick, pack, and ship in a new innovative process that will streamline a twelve-step process to just five steps with leveraged technology.

Productive People! An available, affordable, and skilled labor pool can be found in Joliet and within the region. Joliet itself is the 3rd largest city in IL with a population of 152,000, and within 30 minutes resides a population of 1 million. Talents at all levels can be recruited; or, developed in partnership with educational institutions and local workforce development agencies. The areas productive labor force is represented by 8,000 manufacturers who employ more than 250,000 workers within an hour’s distance.

Joliet Junior College and the University of St. Francis educate over 17,000 students with 2,880 graduating each year in various degrees. That’s why Lion Electric, in 2022, opened the largest manufacturing plant in the United States for electric school buses and urban trucks in Joliet. At full capacity Lion Electric will employ 1,400 manufacturing jobs and produce over 20,000 electric busses and trucks annually at their 900,000 square-foot facility.

Competitively Priced! Joliet is a competitively priced location for a variety of industries. Median wages for manufacturing and warehousing are lower than the national average. Property taxes are 50% lower than neighboring Cook

County communities. City water and sewer systems have an available and growing capacity of several million gallons per day. ComEd is the electric supplier and offers low cost and more reliable service than its peers. Low-cost financing can also be assembled through a variety of economic development districts and programs. That’s why in 2016 Cadence Premier Logistics located their headquarters in a 144,000-square-foot build-to-suit facility in Joliet and added 370,000 square feet in 2022. Over 250 employees work in management, office functions, trucking, warehousing, truck repairs, and sales. The company provides comprehensive logistics services that include local cartage within 100 miles and over-the-road services within 500 miles of Joliet.

Quality Living! Joliet is a river city that is rich in culture. The city is bisected by the Des Plaines River and joined by a series of bridges, with four draw bridges in the city’s historic downtown.

Major attractions include historic downtown architecture, the Rialto Theater, Harrah’s Casino, Hollywood Casino, the Slammers Baseball Stadium, Joliet Area Historical Museum, Route 66 Visitors Center, Autobahn Country Club, the Old Joliet Prison--home to the famous Blues Brothers movie, and miles of walking and bicycle trails. This is why over 150,000 residents call Joliet home, resulting in a home ownership rate of 70% higher than the national average. The variety of cultural amenities, robust economy, safe communities, and an affordable cost of living makes for an exceptional quality of life in Joliet.

CHOOSE JOLIET! Learn how your company can grow in Joliet. The development team can be reached at 815-724-4060, economicdevelopment@ joliet.gov, or at www.joliet.gov/business/ economic-development.

BLOOMINGTON WHERE ACCESS MEETS INDUSTRY US 150

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Illinois BLOOMINGTONIL.GOV/ED

ILLINOIS: BLOOMINGTON - A Diverse and Well-Balanced Location .............................................................

The City of Bloomington is located in Central Illinois, approximately 125 miles southwest of Chicago, 155 miles northeast of St. Louis, and 64 miles northeast of Springfield, the State Capitol.

Bloomington is the County Seat of McLean County, the largest county in Illinois. Interstates 39, 55, and 74 converge on Bloomington, as well as US Route 51 and State Route 9.

Bloomington is also serviced by two major railroad lines and Amtrak, as well as air transportation at the Central Illinois Regional Airport, one of the fastest-growing airports in the country, which services commuter, corporate, and private aircraft.

Bloomington is located in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the nation and

boasts an economy that is diverse and well-balanced. In addition to major manufacturing and industries, there are two universities, two hospitals, an entertainment & convention center, one indoor mall, one outdoor mall, and many banks and Savings & Loan Associations located in Bloomington.

Bloomington has identified five economic sectors: business, entrepreneurship, agribusiness, and logistics that can capitalize on the distinctive business location attributes and strengths and are projected to have a long-term, favorable impact on the community.

The median age is 35 and 47% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income of $69,000 reflects the types of employers that are located here. Bloomington is home to the corporate headquarters for both State Farm and Country Financial, as well as the first North American Chocolate Factory for Ferrero. Whether you’re an employer seeking an educated and talented workforce or a job seeker who desires a challenging position in a vibrant community, Bloomington has you covered.

Bloomington is home to several top-notch institutes of higher education, including Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Heartland Community College. According to the American Institute for Economic Research, Bloomington was ranked the 10th best college town with under 250,000 residents. More importantly, companies here have access to a steady pipeline of potential workers who are educated, as well as resources to help develop their current workforce.

Bloomington lies at the center of Illinois transportation networks. Three major interstate highways intersect to provide easy access to Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. The Central Illinois Regional Airport provides non-stop service to Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, and several Florida locations, linking residents to one stop from any destination in the world.

There is also a major rail corridor that passes straight through Bloomington between Chicago and St. Louis. Rail passenger carrier Amtrak operates daily through Uptown Station, a multimodal transportation hub. For commercial use, four freight railroads (Canadian National; Norfolk Southern; Toledo, Peoria & Western; and Union Pacific) run through the county.

There are a wide variety of cultural and entertainment options available in Bloomington. Theater options include the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts; the Community Players Theater; Illinois Shakespeare Festival; the Illinois Symphony Orchestra; Illinois Wesleyan University Merwin Galleries; the McLean County Arts Center; the Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre; Twin Cities Ballet; and several movie theaters.

Downtown Bloomington is the heart of the community and is home to a wide range of businesses, public and private projects, and promotes business development and retention. Downtown Bloomington hosts over 80 events each calendar year and has an active arts and history community embedded within.

For more information on all the opportunities in Bloomington, please contact the City of Bloomington Economic Development at 309-434-2295 or visit their website at www.cityblm.org/ed .

ILLINOIS: Arlington Heights - Positioned for Success ........................................................................................

Arlington Heights continues to grow and thrive. Home to 78,000 residents with a median annual household income of $100,000, Arlington Heights is also one of the largest business communities in Chicagoland, hosting more than 3,000 businesses with over 40,000 daytime workers.

Location is one of the community’s key assets, offering incomparable positioning within the region. Arlington Heights is served by two Metra rail stations, connecting it to Downtown Chicago in under 45 minutes.

Arlington Heights also provides immediate access to three interstate highways, and is conveniently located just 15 minutes from both O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Executive Airport (PWK).

Arlington Heights also features a unique, vibrant, and award-winning Downtown offering an enticing urban lifestyle with more than 30 shops and boutiques. Cuisine is a key ingredient to Downtown’s success, hosting a diverse collection of nearly 40 one-of-a-kind restaurants and casual eateries. And Arlington Alfresco, which features pedestrianfriendly outdoor dining for more than a dozen restaurants, has been one of Chicagoland’s most sought-after dining destinations since 2020.

Downtown Arlington Heights is also a Chicago area destination for entertainment, hosting outdoor concerts and annual events, and is home to live music venues such as Hey Nonny and Big Shot Piano Lounge. Meanwhile, the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre features live bxjmag.com

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comedy, theatre, and music. And Downtown development continues with over 400 new multi-family residential units approved or under construction, further showcasing it as a vibrant neighborhood at all hours of the day.

Retail thrives in Arlington Heights as well. In 2022, the business community conducted $1.57 billion in retail sales. Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese grocery store in the Midwest, serves as a cultural and culinary destination for patrons from throughout the region. And Arlington Heights is also a major manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution hub within the Chicago area. The community offers over 5.4 million square feet of industrial space, including the Northwest Gateway Center. Currently under construction, Northwest Gateway Center offers

over 500,000 square feet of versatile warehouse and office space with immediate access to three interstate expressways.

Arlington Heights also remains the target of significant development.

The Arlington Downs development continues to take shape with more than 500 luxury residential units, in addition to current and planned commercial development. This includes First Ascent, a 40,000 square foot climbing facility that hosted the USA Climbing Youth National Championships in July 2022. Set on over 27 acres of land, Arlington Downs has immediate highway access and is becoming a Chicago area destination.

Quality of life is exceptional in Arlington Heights, with many of its students attending some of the Chicago area’s top elementary and high schools. The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is regularly ranked among the nation’s best public libraries for its size and is an 11-time recipient of a “Five Star” designation by Library Journal, that publication’s highest rating. The community is also served by the Arlington Heights Park District and its 50+ public parks and facilities. Health care rates highly as well thanks to Northwest Community Hospital, ranked one of the 20 best hospitals in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report.

With an exceptional quality of life, a wealth of amenities, and unparalleled access throughout the Chicago area, Arlington Heights is positioned to continue to grow and thrive.

ILLINOIS: Litchfield - The Location for Success & Growth .....................................................

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Litchfield is the most accessible and strategic commercial and industrial location between the St. Louis metropolitan area and Springfield, Illinois for manufacturing, distribution/ logistics, processing, retail and hospitality businesses. Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 16 intersect at the industrial parks and commercial districts, providing direct transportation access and connections to all major U.S. markets. It also provides access to a multi-modal transportation network, and their proximity to two metropolitan areas puts businesses in Litchfield within easy reach of regional markets and national connections.

Recent development of a third business/industrial park for companies seeking interstate highway access and customized facilities to support their operations was constructed. Litchfield’s location, size and immediate proximity to two large metropolitan areas equates to an exceptional value for businesses. Value that

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is backed by a quality community. Litchfield’s new and expanding retail developments include a growing presence of national brands that continue to attract additional traffic. The municipal airport features a 4,000 feet runway with facilities to serve corporate and private aviation. Litchfield has a satellite campus of Lincoln Land Community College to help provide workforce training. The City also offers programs and incentives to support business growth and development in Litchfield.

Litchfield offers new and expanding businesses the appeal of a stable community featuring regional healthcare services, quality recreational opportunities and affordable Midwestern living all while in proximity to the convenience and excitement of nearby metropolitan areas. The location is truly a crossroads of opportunity with regional influence. Litchfield offers an affordable environment for businesses that want to easily access the large number of end users, consumers, transportation links and potential visitors found in large markets. In addition, the business tax rate is highly competitive, and utilities are cost-effective compared to larger markets.

Residential – New Development Make your dream home a reality at Eagle Ridge, a new development of 41 new waterfront and wooded lots now ready for new home construction

at beautiful Lake Lou Yaeger. Whether you seek a weekend getaway or convenient year-round living, Eagle Ridge offers a variety of outstanding home sites on a 1,400-acre lake surrounded by 4,600 acres of recreational and conservation areas. Eagle Ridge residents choose their lot and then design and build their own home using the architect and builder of their choice.

There are many ways for family and friends to build great memories at Eagle Ridge. Residents can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, skiing, beach activities, picnicking and playgrounds at Lake Lou Yaeger, as well as hiking, biking, birdwatching, and relaxing at the 266-acre Shoal Creek Nature Conservation Area located on the lake. With all the retail and hospitality conveniences of Litchfield (pop. 7,000) just four miles away plus nearby golf courses and wineries, residents at Eagle Ridge have many options to enhance their lake lifestyle.

Eagle Ridge is just 60 miles north of St. Louis just off I-55 and four miles from Litchfield, Illinois. It is the latest residential area to be developed along the western shore of Lake Lou Yaeger. The wooded development features gentle hills and a sloping shoreline. All residential development is on the western shore of the oval-shaped lake while the entire eastern shore of the lake remains undeveloped other than seasonal camping areas.

More than 140 families call Lake Lou Yaeger home on weekends or year-round, and many residents own watercraft and take advantage of the many outdoor recreational opportunities found on the water and around the lake. The lake has two public marinas, a public swim beach and a large conservation area known for its hiking trails and bald eagles.

There are special community events held at the lake each year, including a Fourth of July fireworks display and the annual 5K Freedom Fun Run. For information on industrial, commercial, or residential development, contact the Litchfield Economic Development Office at 217-324-5253, cityadmin@cityoflitchfieldil.com or www.cityoflitchfieldil.com. X

LITCHFIELD

LITCHFIELD I – 55 COMMERCE CENTER

Litchfield has direct access to Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 16; Litchfield is in close proximity to the major Interstate and Highway Network.

• Shovel Ready Sites Available Now • Flexible Lot Sizes

Future Development

1,000 Miles

12.51 Acres

Montreal Minneapolis Omaha Denver

CITY OF LITCHFIELD

500 Miles

Milwaukee Des Chicago Moines

New York

LITCHFIELD Indianapolis

Wichita

Tulsa

4.75 Acres

Cincinatti

Kansas City

St. Louis

Louisville

Nashville Memphis

Houston New Orleans

Economic Development Office 120 E. Ryder Street | Litchfield, IL 62056 217-324-5253 | cityadmin@cityoflitchfieldil.com

Charlotte

8.24 Acres

Atlanta Jacksonville

12.53 Acres

Phase 1 Development 80 Acres

Winnipeg

7.17 Acres

11.37 Acres

www.cityoflitchfieldil.com

bxjmag.com

Commerce Drive

THE LOCATION FOR SUCCESS & GROWTH

NORTH

Future Development

2.78 Acres

Future Development

2.79 Acres 2.78 Acres 2.64 Acres

2.65 Acres

1/4 mile to I-55

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MICHIGAN:

Photo by William Duggan on Unsplash

Seize Your Opportunity!

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usinesses are choosing Michigan for their diverse and abundant workforce, business-friendly environment, low cost of living, and global supply chain assets. Add that to the state’s available business resources and their eagerness to get to work, and you have a recipe for success..

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Michigan is home to a wealth of highly skilled talent. From having the highest concentration of engineers in the nation to a skilled trades workforce that ranks in the top ten nationally, Michigan is preparing the talent needed for the jobs of the future.

Businesses thrive in the state’s globally connected location.

In fact, Michigan is a top 3 state for foreign direct investment and Detroit is the number 1 metropolitan area for FDI projects, according to Site Selection magazine.

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At about 10% below the national average, Michigan’s cost of living ranks as the fourth most affordable state in the country.

Michigan realizes that need for speed to market when it comes to reshoring, targeting industry supply chains, and investing in infrastructure improvements. For that reason, Michigan is ensuring a competitive cost environment for businesses moving goods in and out of the state by strengthening global ties and creating businesses opportunities that are critical for the economic opportunity for future generations of Michiganders.

Michigan is where America’s most innovative companies are shaping the future. Discover the power of Pure Opportunity and seize your success in its most concentrated form. For more information, please contact the Michigan Economic Development Corporation at 888-522-0103 or visit their website at www.michiganbusiness.org .

FIVE-STAR CITIES. FIVE-STAR SITES. FIVE-STAR SERVICE.

MICHIGAN DETROIT

PURE OPPORTUNITY ®

Michigan ranks among the top states in the nation for our business-friendly climate, favorable tax structure, world-class talent and thriving cities. Schedule a visit with MEDC to see our investment-ready sites and receive five-star service with a dedicated point of contact. Seize your opportunity at MICHIGANBUSINESS.ORG

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MICHIGAN: Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that European engineering services provider Expleo USA Inc. is establishing its first North American research and development facility in Michigan

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that European engineering services provider Expleo USA Inc. is establishing its first North American research and development facility in Michigan. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of more than $2 million and create 196 high-wage jobs, and will further build on Michigan’s global leadership in future mobility in vehicle electrification.

“We’re thrilled to bring home nearly 200 good-paying jobs from Expleo, building on our leadership in advanced automotive manufacturing and strengthening our position as the global leader of mobility and electrification,” said Governor Whitmer. “Expleo chose to invest in Michigan because of our strong mobility business environment, inclusive laws, skilled workforce, and ongoing economic momentum to ensure anyone can ‘make it in Michigan.’

Together, we have created powerful economic development tools to bring supply chains of cars, chips, and batteries home, and secured 35,000 auto jobs since I took office. Our unemployment rate is below 4% for only the third period since the 1970s and we have added 82,000 jobs year over year. We will keep our foot on the accelerator to keep winning projects, investing in people, and revitalizing places so we can build a brighter future for Michigan. Let’s get it done.”

The governor was joined for the announcement at the company’s headquarters in Paris as part of her European investment mission to Paris and Germany. She was joined by leaders from Expleo and members of Team Michigan including Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Expleo has a long history in vehicle engineering development and testing and is experiencing increased demand for its electronic, mechanical and digital engineering services. Expleo in North America offers a range of services, including engineering, quality assurance, digital transformation, and consulting to clients in the aerospace, automotive, financial services, and healthcare industries.

Expleo is still evaluating locations in Oakland County for its new operations, which will represent the company’s first R&D facility in North America. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Canada, the Midwest and locations in the southern U.S. The company cited Michigan’s significant automotive presence, the state’s engineering talent, proximity to established relationships with its current suppliers and customers, and Michigan as a welcoming state for its employees to live, work, and play as deciding factors in it choosing to build its future in Michigan.

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“We are thrilled to be welcoming these high-wage jobs by Expleo as we continue to position Michigan as the undisputed leader in future mobility and vehicle electrification,” said MEDC’s Messer. “This announcement demonstrates Michigan’s culture of innovation, the attractiveness of our business climate and the strength of our talented workforce. We look forward to partnering with Expleo as it grows and adds jobs for Michigan residents.”

In May, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that Norwegian hydrogen company Nel Hydrogen is establishing an automated gigawatt electrolyzer manufacturing facility in Michigan. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of up to $400 million and create more than 500 good-paying clean energy manufacturing jobs that build on Michigan’s leadership in the hydrogen space.

“We’re thrilled to bring home an up to $400 million investment from Nel Hydrogen creating more than 500 good-paying, clean energy jobs right here in Michigan,” said Governor Whitmer. “Earlier this year, I went on an economic mission to Europe to show the world what Michigan has to offer, and as a result of our efforts on the trip, we secured an investment from Nel to continue building on our leadership in cars, chips, and clean energy. As a major player in all three of these sectors, Michigan is serious about leading hydrogen development and winning today’s investment proves that the best manufacturing in the world happens right here in Michigan.

Let’s keep competing with anyone and working with everyone to bring home transformational investments in manufacturing so we can spur economic growth and create good-paying jobs right here in Michigan.”

“The choice of Michigan is based on an overall assessment of what the state can offer in terms of financial incentives, access to a highly skilled workforce, and cooperation with universities, research institutions, and strategic partners,” said Nel CEO Håkon Volldal.

“I will also highlight the personal engagement from Governor Whitmer and her competent and service-minded team.”

The company cited the short distance to collaboration partner General Motors, headquartered in Detroit, as an additional deciding factor in the choice of Michigan. The two companies collaborated to develop further and improve Nel’s PEM electrolyzer technology. X

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NEW YORK:

Photo by Colton Duke on Unsplash

The Future is Here

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n New York State, the future is already here – fueled by the talent and the resources that are leading Fortune 500 companies and smart, dynamic, innovative new businesses to start, move and thrive here.

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Now more than ever, there is no place like New York State to grow your business. They are building a global hub for the innovation economy, training a skilled workforce, pursuing aggressive green energy goals, and investing in advanced manufacturing and cutting-edge technology and industries that are creating jobs for the future.

They are invested in industry success and supportive of the rights of employees who are vital to that success.

New York is home to innovative businesses, cutting-edge research and transformative ideas that are meeting and exceeding the challenges of the 21st century economy. They are spearheading a reshoring of semiconductor chip manufacturing and creating jobs and opportunity while also pursuing clean

energy goals, committed to low-cost energy that will both power industry and protect the environment.

They are investing in the future by providing students access to free college tuition at the country's largest comprehensive university system. They are cultivating partnerships between our top-tier educational institutions and leading industries to develop next-generation technologies and new opportunities for New York’s college graduates– to stay, grow and continue to innovate here.

The new Office of Strategic Workforce Development will collaborate with businesses on new workforce development programs to provide industries with the skilled workers they need to thrive. New York State celebrates diversity, inclusion and equality—they recognize this as their strength, and it represents an opportunity for your business.

New York State is making historic infrastructure investments, from airports, roads and rail hubs to offshore wind projects.

The state is committed to a cleaner, greener energy future— leading the U.S. in wind- and clean-technology patents, renewable energy resources, the development of new energy bxjmag.com

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storage products and systems, and biofuel manufacturing and production. In addition to meeting their ambitious Climate Act goals, New York State is also making nation-leading investments in broadband that focus on equity and inclusion.

That’s all in a state that has an unparalleled quality of life with vibrant art, culture and natural beauty, from Niagara Falls to the Adirondack Mountains, to the boundless bustle of New York City and the lighthouses of Long Island’s Montauk Point.

This is New York State – and they are fueled by the talent and the resources that inspire leading companies to start here, move here and thrive here. Come to New York: the state of the future.

For more information on all the opportunities in New York, please contact Empire State Development at 212-803-3100 or 518-292-5100 or visit their website at www.esd.ny.gov .

NEW YORK: Saratoga County

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Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) continues to lead the charge for growth in Saratoga County and is the local EDO responsible for bringing GlobalFoundries to New York State. They are a 501c3, non-profit consulting organization of private sector leaders, celebrating 45 years of history, over $18 billion + of investment launched and over 18,000 jobs created to date. That is not to mention the thousands of jobs they’ve helped to retain and secure.

SEDC leads your company to available sites and buildings that fulfill your business purpose. They are up to date on programs and incentives available and they directly connect you with respected workforce and professional service partners throughout the area. Saratoga County is one of New York State’s fastest growing counties, located in the Capital Region of Upstate New York and is also the lowest taxed county in the state.

In 2009, GlobalFoundries, a semiconductor manufacturing/ foundry company, located to the Town of Malta and invested over $15 billion to build 450,000 square feet of clean room manufacturing space that now employs over three thousand (3,000) direct employees, with the average annual wage of $90,000, at that facility. In addition, over twenty thousand (20,000) indirect and induced jobs have been created in the Capital Region since then.

GlobalFoundries is currently investing $1 billion to increase capacity in Malta. Now that the CHIPS ACT is signed, GlobalFoundries is moving forward with a second manufacturing facility in Malta that will create another one thousand (1,000) jobs when completed in three (3) years. Total investment for the second facility will be from $6 billion to $8 billion.

New York State is also leading by offering a state-level, companion incentive to the forthcoming federal CHIPS incentives. This new transformative program will help attract thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to cement New York as the nation’s leader in the domestic reshoring of semiconductor 32 | BXJ | JULY/AUGUST 2023 | bxjmag.com

manufacturing—all while helping address supply chain shortages, inflation and national security.

Also located in the Capital Region is the Albany NanoTech complex, home to SUNY Poly's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. The site offers a fully-integrated research, development, prototyping, and educational facility that provides strategic support through outreach, technology acceleration, business incubation, pilot prototyping, and test-based integration support for onsite corporate partners including IBM, GlobalFoundries, Samsung, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, ASML and Lam Research, as well as other “next generation” nanotechnology research activities, including hands-on internships for students along with career opportunities. Senator Charles Schumer and other state and local officials are pushing for the Complex to be named as the headquarters for the new National Semiconductor Technology Center, the research and development part of the CHIPS ACT. The Capital Region, Mohawk Valley Region and Mid-Hudson Valley Region are the manufacturing triangle of semiconductor and advanced materials in New York State. With companies like GlobalFoundries, ON Semiconductor and Wolfspeed manufacturing, their continued efforts to attract the supply chain companies to locate and expand in Saratoga County and throughout the Capital Region remain a primary focus.

This is why there are over 600,000 square feet of Flex SPEC buildings already approved, with approximately 320,000 square feet of industrial/commercial space currently under construction. All include property tax incentives that companies expanding existing businesses or moving into New York State can qualify for; as well as other credits. They know the inventory of sites, they work with the organizations that administer resources and they are experts in navigating the incentive programs available (including application completion assistance). Overall, they eliminate the struggle to put it all together so you can stay focused on your operations. From identifying sites to introducing your team to professional service providers, elected officials, regional partners, etc., their team is your Upstate NY resource to hone in on opportunities and areas to invest in and/or expand upon in Saratoga County, NY. They are bold in knowing what works for their region and experienced in knowing what works for the client.

With their regional partnerships including as elected leadership at the county level, colleagues at the Industrial Development Agencies and their utility providers, such as National Grid and NYSEG, (all significant players in bringing semiconductor manufacturing to Capital Region), they are positioned with sites ready for your next endeavor that come with stackable State and Local incentives. They are well renowned, with a rapport of partnering for the betterment of regional growth and economic vitality. They are intent in attracting your opportunity to their region and solid in situating your operations for continued growth and success. X

Montreal

We are positioned for your industry expansion and purposed to support your continued growth!

Albany Boston

New York City

Pittsburgh

Philadelphia

Advanced Materials Logistics

Food and Beverage Washington

Manufacturing

International Airports

HEALTH, HISTORY, HORSES, HI-TECH

Saratoga County, New York has four seasons and hundreds of reasons to do business here.

THE WORLD'S RICHEST MARKETPLACE

Saratoga County, NY is a GLOBAL HUB of talent, innovation, and opportunity.

(800) 587-0945 SARATOGAEDC.COM

- World-class semiconductor manufacturing parks - Superior and redundant utility infrastructure systems - A highly-skilled workforce trained at 21 local colleges and universities - World-class STEM curriculum filling the employee pipeline - Global technology leaders, industry consortiums and R&D resources - Results driven public/private/academic partnerships

56 Duplainville Road | Saratoga Springs, NY | (518) 587-0945 | info@saratogaedc.com

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Choose Diversity

A melting pot of identities and ideas, New Jersey celebrates diversity as one of its core strengths. According to WalletHub, New Jersey is the fourth most diverse state in the nation, with 45% of the population identifying as people of color. New Jersey ranked third in WalletHub’s Economic Impact of Immigration report, a testament to the highly valued contributions made by their foreignborn citizens. The same list ranked New Jersey first for immigrant workforce and percentage of jobs created by immigrant-owned businesses.

Choose Quality of Life

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There is no better state to call home. With endless possibilities to live, work, and play, New Jersey is ranked the #2 best state to live in the U.S. and the best state to raise a child. Their geographic diversity makes planting roots easy for city lovers, country folk, and everyone in between. No one is ever far from mountains, beaches, and bustling downtowns.

New Jersey is an entertainment destination with museums, performing arts centers, concert venues, golf courses, and professional football, hockey, and soccer stadiums. FIFA has chosen New Jersey and New York City as a Host City for the 2026 World CupTM, with games to be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Living in New Jersey means being immersed in an environment of welcoming communities that uphold fundamental values. They don’t just talk about opportunity, prosperity, and liberty; they lead with them, with some of the strongest laws in the country on women’s reproductive health, LGBTQ+ rights, and paid family leave. Home to some of the safest communities in the U.S., New Jersey is a place for everyone.

ituated in one of America’s most economically prosperous regions and offering unmatched global access, New Jersey is the ideal location for companies looking to expand their reach. To complement its prime location, the state offers businesses top-tier talent, America’s best education system, a Choose Innovation supportive ecosystem of research institutions and world-class New Jersey is a leading hub for booming industries, including life sciences, innovators, and welcoming communities for employees to live technology, clean energy, healthcare, and film and digital media. Fifteen of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world are headquartered here, as are and raise a child.

New Jersey’s strategic location gives companies access to one of the most affluent consumer markets in the world. They’re at the center of the Northeast Corridor — the Boston-New York City-Washington, D.C. train line — and home of The Port of New York and New Jersey, one of the busiest maritime seaports in North America. New Jersey businesses boast access to 36 million customers and $3 trillion in economic output. Their unparalleled infrastructure ensures people get where they need to be — fast. Getting to Manhattan is quick and easy, thanks to NJ Transit, PATH, Amtrak, and the NY Waterway Ferry. They’re also part of the nation’s busiest airport system (EWR-JFK-LGA). With over 600 daily non-stop domestic and international flights from Newark Liberty International Airport and nearby New York and Philadelphia airports, they reach every global destination.

over 4,300 life sciences companies operating across all sectors. Their scientists are backed by world-class research universities, medical schools, and the topranking hospitals in the U.S. As a clean energy leader, New Jersey will obtain 50% of its electricity from clean energy by 2030 and 100% from clean energy by 2050. Their optimal geographic location is central to the offshore industry with Project Ocean Wind, the largest purpose-built offshore wind port in the U.S., currently under development.

Supported by the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, their robust 35% film and digital media tax credit attracts the world’s most accredited film and television studios. Lionsgate Newark Studios will be the first purpose-built studio in New Jersey specifically constructed for TV and film production, and Netflix is bringing its east coast operations to Fort Monmouth.

Choose Better Education

Choose New Jersey

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Choose Global Connection

When it comes to education, New Jersey is unrivaled. U.S. News and World Report ranks Princeton University as the best in the nation and New Jersey as the top state for pre-K through 12th-grade education. New Jersey outranks the national average of degree holders, with 44% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher (compared to the national average of 34%).

Companies seek out New Jersey’s intelligent and diverse talent pool. They are ranked #3 in the country when it comes to STEM degrees and have the highest concentration of scientists and engineers in the country. It’s no wonder global companies, such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Prudential Financial choose to locate their world headquarters in New Jersey.

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As the designated marketing organization for the state, they promote New Jersey as the best place to live, work, and play. They stimulate job creation and attract capital investment to New Jersey. Through their free and confidential resources, they guide companies in establishing or expanding operations in New Jersey. Choose New Jersey has supported companies, from startups to multinationals, in diverse industries from all over the world. They implement and lead business attraction advertising campaigns targeted at domestic and international decision-makers looking to expand in the U.S. Discover growth opportunities in New Jersey by visiting choosenj.com and tell them how they can help. X

Choose New Jersey received a support grant from the Business Action Center, a division of the Department of State.

THIS IS NEW JERSEY. IT’S FOR THOSE WHO DREAM BIG.

It’s not enough to offer employees a great place to work. Companies that choose New Jersey know they’re in a community where their families can thrive. This is where students shine in nationally ranked public schools. Where children play in safe playgrounds and clean parks. Where people of all ages feel secure enough to dream big and turn those dreams into reality. This is New Jersey. The perfect home for your company and your family.

thisisnewjersey.com

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WASHINGTON:

Photo by Bill Wegener on Unsplash

Building Business Legends

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ince rugged pioneers first set eyes on our virgin forests, vast network of waterways and awe-inspiring mountain ranges, Washington State has built a reputation as a place where legendary businesses take root and flourish. From world famous brands to game-changing products and services, Washington businesses have carved their rightful place in history due to their creativity, tenacity, vision and competitive spirit.

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Washington State offers businesses a highly skilled workforce, an inspirational culture of creativity, low-cost energy, robust supply chain, superior quality of life and a centralized export hub. More than 500,000 businesses call Washington home, creating a diverse economy where any startup can become the next Starbucks, Amazon or Expedia.

While Washington businesses represent nearly every industry and category imaginable, the state focuses on nine key sectors, including aerospace, agriculture, clean energy, creative economy, forest products, ICT, life science/ global health, maritime and military and defense.

One of Washington’s greatest assets is its diversity. The state’s 39 counties are all very different in terms of geography, industries, workforce, lifestyle and even climate. Choosing a place to do business in Washington is as much about 36 | BXJ | JULY/AUGUST 2023 | bxjmag.com

choosing the pace and quality of life you desire as it is about location and amenities.

CHOOSE WASHINGTON. Please contact the Washington State Department of Commerce for more information at 206-256-6100 or visit their website at www.choosewashingtonstate.com .

WASHINGTON: Lakewood - Build Your Better Here

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Located under an hour south of Seattle, Lakewood, Washington is a community neighboring Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) and Camp Murray. It is home to beautiful lakes, and historic sites such as Fort Steilacoom, Lakewold Gardens, and Thornewood Castle. Lakewood is an ideal place to shop and stay while enjoying all the city has to offer, as well as exploring the greater Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and Chambers Bay. Lakewood is just minutes away from the Port of Tacoma, and a short drive to Sea-Tac International Airport.

With great educational opportunities, a strong business district, and numerous recreational opportunities, Lakewood is a wonderful place to visit, stay, and build your “better” life and/or business.

Lakewood earned cityhood status in 1996. Since then, Lakewood has emerged as a healthy, thriving city ready to undergo its own renaissance — a transformation that is making it one of the best cities in which to live and do business in Washington state. It has the momentum, the plans, the natural amenities, and the competitive advantages needed to get it done. Just as

importantly, Lakewood has a business-friendly city government ready to work with citizens and business owners to build something better together.

intended to enhance the lives of current residents and businesses while planning for the future.

Retail Business in Lakewood, WA

Downtown Lakewood

The City of Lakewood is home to three retail trade areas. They include the International District, Lakewood Station District, and the Downtown.

Lakewood has a slightly younger population as compared to its peers, and is planning for another 20,000 residents by 2044. Plans include building a truly walkable downtown with art and cultural amenities, enhanced parks and recreational activities, restaurants, pubs and wine-tasting rooms, retailers, and fun for the whole family.

One of Lakewood’s main priorities is investment into revitalizing its downtown. In 2018, City Council approved the Lakewood Downtown Plan which incentivizes development that will create a distinguished mixed-use community environment with exciting retail and dining options, and a variety of housing options. As a down payment on this plan, the city has already created the $2.2 million dollar Colonial Plaza to serve as a community gathering space for public markets, concerts, and other live events.

International District

Lakewood, WA is home to one of the only International Districts in Pierce County, influenced by Korean, Vietnamese, Latino, Pacific Islander, and other cultures. This retail area is one of the most prolific International Districts in the state, housing hundreds of Asian-owned businesses. Tastes from around the world await in and outside our International District.

People visit and do business in the International District from around the state.

Lakewood Station District

The Lakewood Station District, on Pacific Highway and adjacent to Interstate 5, is improving the lives of Lakewood residents in many ways. Plans for this area include new housing, business, employment, and transportation opportunities. Currently, there are more than 600 housing development units in the works, both market-rate and affordable.

Residents will need more shopping options close to home, and travelers can easily access these businesses right off the interstate. This subarea is

The vision for Downtown Lakewood is that it is seen as the heart of the city. Downtown is where people go to do fun things, see friends and neighbors, eat good food, and experience the cultural diversity of the City.

Downtown brings a strong sense of pride to the community by celebrating all things Lakewood and brings a strong sense of identity to the City and its people. Downtown Lakewood has a mix of retail, restaurant, employment, and housing options that are cohesive and well-designed, and support civic life and a strong economy.

Lakewood Towne Center, located in the heart of the Downtown, is home to dozens of shopping options, services, and restaurant choices. Also within the Downtown, Colonial Plaza was built in 2019 as a catalyst project for future development. This is a cultural hub and gathering space for additional night markets, festivals, galas, art walks, and more. Properties adjacent to the Plaza are being redeveloped with more for shopping, services, and housing, for those who want to be in the heart of this burgeoning center. Additional amenities are planned such as a walkable “green street loop”, and a park.

Why Lakewood?

Lakewood has a rare combination of well-developed urban and suburban amenities mixed with natural beauty, chiefly the seven lakes from which the city draws its name, including American Lake, the largest natural lake in Pierce County. The city has some of the most exclusive real estate in Pierce County clustered around its lakes, but generally, Lakewood is a more affordable place to buy a home and make a life as compared to its neighbors to the North.

Lakewood is attracting more retail businesses from outside the city. There is a demand for local and unique retailers, in addition to popular chains. It’s more cost-effective to do business in Lakewood as taxes are lower with no local business & occupation tax, and no development impact fees, except for a potential traffic mitigation fee in the Downtown for more intensive uses.

For more information on all the opportunities in Lakewood, please contact Becky Newton with the Economic Development Department at 877-421-9126 or visit www.buildyourbetterhere.com.

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NEWS

attract projects that will benefit Genesee County and surrounding communities, GCEDC And National Grid Announce 1.9 Miles of Transmission Line Relocated to Support Growth at including the Buffalo and Rochester regions, for generations to come,” said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde. “The hydropower provided by the New Stamp Site

BATAVIA, NY — The Genesee County Economic Development Center and National Grid announced that a 1.9-mile portion of a 115-kilovolt electric transmission line in Genesee County has been relocated to open more than 300 acres of land for future development at the Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park site.

The transmission line, which had previously cut across a portion of the 1,250-acre site, now runs adjacent to it. Future tenants will join Plug Power and Edwards at STAMP and have clean hydropower delivered to them from the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston, N.Y. Delivering hydropower to STAMP aligns with New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to obtain 70 percent of electricity statewide from renewable sources by 2030 on the path to a zero-emission grid.

More than $1 billion will be invested at STAMP by Plug Power and Edwards for projects that will create up to 680 new, family-sustaining jobs in the emerging green hydrogen and semiconductor sectors. Plug Power is constructing North America’s largest green hydrogen manufacturing facility with a $677 million investment that will produce 74 tons of green hydrogen a day. Edwards is investing approximately $319 million to build a semiconductor dry pump manufacturing facility that the company has dubbed as its factory of the future.

“Between Edwards and Plug Power, and recent infrastructure upgrades thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State, STAMP has generated $1 billioncapital investment and National Grid has played a vital role in helping us

York Power Authority and the infrastructure built by National Grid are energizing companies of the future right here at STAMP, giving us a competitive advantage as we compete globally for companies in these emerging business sectors.”

“The electric infrastructure and equipment needed to serve STAMP customers are state-of-the-art and will provide the necessary capacity to deliver renewable hydropower to Plug Power and Edwards, as well as future STAMP tenants,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. He added that the transmission circuit at STAMP is paired with an additional 115 KV transmission line that will be connected to a 600-megawatt substation that is currently under construction. “We have a responsibility to provide affordable, reliable power to our customers and the GCEDC and Genesee County community are building something special at STAMP.” In addition to working with GCEDC on the transmission line relocation, National Grid’s commitment to STAMP has included funding from its robust suite of economic development programs, which have been used to support the site’s marketing efforts.

Since 2003, National Grid’s 18 economic development programs have provided more than $145 million in assistance, helping to create or retain more than 65,000 jobs and supporting almost $10.5 billion in private and public investment across upstate New York. More information about National Grid’s economic development programs is available at www.shovelready.com.

in 2027. Gadsden and USNC are excited to grow together.”

“We are attracted to Gadsden by their skilled workforce and the outstanding training programs and support they are bringing to the table,” said Gadsden, AL — Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) announced Ted Coulter, Plant Director for the MMR factory at USNC. “In Gadsden, I have their selection of Gadsden, Alabama as the location of the company’s Microconfidence we can hire local talent and operate with both safety and efficiency.

Modular Reactor (MMR®) assembly plant.

We are looking forward to becoming a member of the community.”

The highly automated facility will manufacture, assemble, test and inspect News of the agreement came during a keynote address by USNC’s the non-radiological modules needed to construct USNC’s industry leading Chief Nuclear Officer, Dan Stout, at the 10th Advanced Reactors Summit and Micro-Modular® Reactor (MMR®). While USNC operates in the nuclear energy Technology Trailblazers Showcase in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gadsden sector, the company emphasized that no radioactive material will be used or Mayor Craig Ford was on hand in Charlotte for the announcement. stored at the Gadsden assembly plant.

The non-nuclear production facility represents a $232 million investment The decision to locate in Gadsden resulted from an extensive search in advanced nuclear infrastructure, benefitting the community, the Southeast spanning multiple states and hundreds of potential sites. The deal was region, and the nation. When operational, MAP will employ 250 professional formalized through a Project Agreement executed by Governor Kay Ivey and and technical workers. Construction is slated to begin in 2024 with the facility the company. operational in 2027.

“Alabama is home to an impressive array of highly innovative companies, “USNC’s microreactors will be produced at the state-of-the-art facility in so our state is an ideal place for Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp.’s new advanced Gadsden and shipped as modules to sites around the world, allowing for the microreactor assembly plant,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “This unique facility generation of reliable energy anywhere,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the will benefit the Gadsden community through a significant investment and Alabama Department of Commerce. “This is safe and amazing technology, and the creation of good jobs while also reinforcing Alabama’s reputation for I’m pleased that it will be ‘Made in Alabama.’” cutting-edge manufacturing operations.”

“We appreciate the interest and support for this effort from the City of “This is a game-changer for Gadsden,” said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford.

Gadsden, Etowah County, the Alabama Department of Commerce and so “Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation’s selection of Gadsden proves what I’ve many others up to and including Governor Ivey and her talented team,” said known all my life about the unmatched grit and capability of our workforce.

Stout. “We especially appreciate the guidance and efforts of April Gray at the When I took office less than eight months ago, this was one of the first Department of Commerce and David Hooks of the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial industrial project requests to cross my desk and working toward today’s Development Authority in making this project a reality.” announcement has been my top priority since. With this plant being The 578,000 square foot factory features state-of-the-art advanced focused on manufacturing and assembly, our workforce is built for exactly manufacturing processes and equipment and will be capable of producing up this type of industry. We look forward to filling the hundreds of innovative, to ten (10) complete MMR nuclear units per year. technology-driven jobs once this new assembly plant becomes operational

Gadsden Chosen for $232 Million Microreactor Assembly Plant, 250 jobs

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Enzene Biosciences Expanding to NJ with $50M Investment in Bio Manufacturing Plant Newark, NJ — Choose New Jersey, New Jersey’s leading nonprofit economic development organization, announced that Enzene Biosciences, Ltd., a global biotech company based in Pune, India, will open its stateof-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant on the Princeton West Innovation Campus in Hopewell. Operations in the new facility, the company’s first location outside of India, are expected to begin in June 2024.

As a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), Enzene Biosciences, a subsidiary of Alkem Laboratories, Ltd., provides services to global pharmaceutical companies, partnering with them in their drug development and manufacturing processes. As part of Enzene’s expansion plans, the company will initially hire 50 employees and grow to 300 employees at its New Jersey facility.

“The strong relationship between New Jersey and India has gained increasing momentum since we opened the New Jersey India Center to cultivate economic opportunities during our trip to the country in 2019,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “I am proud to welcome Enzene Biosciences and their expanding global presence to New Jersey’s flourishing life sciences industry.

New Jersey’s favorable business environment, skilled workforce, strategic location, supportive ecosystem for growth, and deep cultural ties are why Indian companies thrive in our state. Enzene Biosciences’ state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will bring hundreds of jobs and generate $50 million in economic investments in our state, further solidifying New Jersey’s position as an innovation economy leader.”

“We are so proud to welcome Enzene to New Jersey’s thriving life sciences ecosystem,” said Wesley Mathews, President and CEO of Choose New Jersey. “Yet another Indian biopharma company has established itself in the state, demonstrating the strength of the New Jersey-India economic partnership. Beyond economic and commercial ties, our academic and cultural connections make it the perfect fit for Indian companies looking to expand to North America. Enzene’s growth in this sector highlights New Jersey’s global presence throughout all areas of the biopharmaceutical industry — from clinical trials to large-scale manufacturing.”

“Enzene Biosciences is thrilled to establish our manufacturing operations in New Jersey, as it allows us to extend our local manufacturing capabilities to our valued North American clients,” said Dr. Himanshu Gadgil, CEO of Enzene Biosciences. “We are excited to provide them with access to our cutting-edge continuous manufacturing platform, which enables streamlined and efficient production processes. New Jersey’s highly skilled workforce, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and renowned academic institutions make it an ideal location for Enzene, ensuring that we can deliver exceptional services and support to our clients in the U.S.”

$1.2 Billion of Announced Investment Committed to Business Growth in the Greater Rochester, NY Region Rochester, NY —Entering June 2023, GRE has secured project wins from 15 companies including fairlife, a wholly owned subsidiary of

Indian companies are increasingly establishing a strong presence in New Jersey by capitalizing on the state’s favorable business environment. New Jersey has long been acknowledged as a national leader in life sciences, and Enzene’s expansion is yet another example of Indian companies finding their footing in the state. Choose New Jersey met representatives from Enzene during a business attraction mission to India in 2022. Enzene’s successful expansion was supported by Choose New Jersey, the New Jersey India Center, Reed Smith, and JLL. Enzene, with assistance from Choose New Jersey, connected with in-state partners, including construction firms, human resources and payroll services, business insurance providers, township leadership, and universities. Reed Smith facilitated Enzene’s legal needs, and JLL Capital Markets represented the property.

Enzene’s local manufacturing capabilities will provide North American biopharmaceutical companies with streamlined supply chains, fast turnaround times, enhanced communication, and greater control over the manufacturing process. By providing comprehensive manufacturing capabilities under one roof, Enzene is well-positioned to support the development and production of a diverse range of biologics, contributing to the advancement of global healthcare and positively impacting patients’ lives worldwide.

“Enzene’s strategic expansion to New Jersey demonstrates Alkem Laboratories Ltd.’s commitment to investing in Biologics CDMO,” said Sandeep Singh, the Managing Director at Alkem Laboratories Ltd. “This move not only strategically positions Enzene but also enables them to attract top talent and forge valuable partnerships that will expedite their contract manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, New Jersey’s business-friendly environment creates a conducive atmosphere for investment and growth in the biopharmaceutical sector. By establishing a presence in New Jersey, Enzene ensures its long-term viability and success as a trusted partner in delivering comprehensive CDMO services for contract manufacturing.”

About Choose New Jersey, Inc. Choose New Jersey is a privately funded 501(c)(3) economic development organization with a mission to stimulate job creation and attract capital investment to New Jersey. Choose New Jersey markets New Jersey globally as the best place to grow a business in the United States. Knowledgeable, experienced staff, supported by a network of state agencies and private partners, provide free, confidential assistance to guide companies in establishing operations in New Jersey. By harnessing the power of leaders in business, labor, academia, and government, Choose New Jersey enables growth across all sectors of the state’s economy, aspiring to build a stronger and more prosperous New Jersey for all. To learn more, visit choosenj.com.

The Coca-Cola Company, GM, Plug Power, Durst Image Technology, and O’Connell Electric. The announcements represent more than $1.2 billion of investment in the Greater Rochester, NY region, surpassing last year’s record year of investment. In addition, these companies will create 885 new jobs, and retain 1,338 current jobs.

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Ace Hardware Announces Expansion Plans For New Distribution Center Near Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, MO — Ace Hardware Corporation, the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative, announced plans to open a new Retail Support Center (RSC) located in Kansas City, MO. The new facility, spanning approximately 1.5 million square feet, is projected to be fully operational in 2025, and is expected to provide employment opportunities to over 350 people.

We’re excited to add a world-renowned company like Ace Hardware to the growing list of businesses opening new facilities in Missouri,” said Governor Mike Parson. “Our state’s location in the center of the United States gives companies the ability to reach customers quickly. We’re proud to welcome Ace Hardware to Kansas City and look forward to watching its success in the region.”

Ace Hardware is building the new facility to balance its current distribution network and meet the needs of its growing retail landscape. In the last 10 years, Ace Hardware has increased its retail sales by $12 billion. Ace has also experienced 11 consecutive years of new domestic store growth, resulting in the opening of 850 new stores in the past 5 years. Its network of distribution centers allows Ace to offer best-in-category service and support to its retailers, and the new Kansas City facility will help the company keep pace with current demands and projected growth in the coming years.

The new Kansas City RSC will significantly enhance their inventory capacity and bolster service levels across the nation. Encompassing over 1.5 million square feet of floor space, it will be almost twice the size of the

average Ace RSC and will be the first facility in the new KCI 29 Logistics Park, assembled by Hunt Midwest. Similar to their recent distribution network expansion, the Kansas City RSC will be equipped with state-of-the art technology, automation, and warehouse management systems.

“We look forward to construction of the new Retail Support Center in Kansas City, which will be a critical part of Ace Hardware’s robust supply chain,” said Lori Bossmann, Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer for Ace Hardware Corporation. “This new facility will allow Ace to accommodate its recent growth and sales volume, and it will prepare our company for future business opportunities. By strengthening our presence in the Midwest, Ace will be better positioned to fulfill deliveries more frequently, ensuring consistent service levels as new stores are opening within our network.”

The Retail Support Center in Kansas City will become an integral part of Ace’s global distribution network. Construction is expected to begin in Q2 of 2023, with projected completion in mid-2025. They anticipate that this project will generate an estimated 100 construction jobs to the local community.

“The addition of this RSC ensures that we have strategically positioned facilities aligned with our stores,” said Jake O’Neal, Corporate Vice President, Retail Support. “It also enables us to maintain balanced service areas, ensuring the prompt delivery of goods to our stores and providing our retailers with a competitive advantage in meeting their customers’ needs.

During critical events such as seasonal flooding, natural disasters, and the pandemic, Ace’s robust distribution network has served as a lifeline for the communities we proudly serve.”

ProKidney Selects Guilford County, North Carolina will establish a 210,000 square foot manufacturing facility that looks to feature multiple breakthroughs in the manufacturing automation, supply for New Biomanufacturing Raleigh, NC — ProKidney, Corp., a late clinical-stage cellular therapeutics company focused on chronic kidney disease (CKD), will be establishing a new biomanufacturing facility in Guilford County, potentially creating up to 330 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced. The company also sees a potential investment of up to $485 million, of which $25.5 million will be invested at the closing on the facility in Greensboro, to prepare for future commercial manufacturing of REACT® (REnal Autologous Cell Therapy), the company’s lead product candidate being developed for the treatment of chronic kidney disease.

“Innovative life science companies like ProKidney understand that North Carolina offers the key ingredients for business success,” said Governor Cooper. “Our leadership in this important industry sector is recognized around the world, thanks to the specialized workforce training and education systems that support North Carolina’s biotech companies.”

ProKidney, headquartered in Winston-Salem, is a pioneer in the development of a cell-based treatment for CKD. The Company was founded in 2018 after more than a decade of research. ProKidney’s lead product candidate, REACT, is a first-of-its-kind, patented, proprietary therapy with the potential to preserve kidney function in patients at high risk of kidney failure. ProKidney’s approach utilizes a patient’s own kidney cells in the treatment process. The company’s project in Guilford County

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chain, and medical delivery of cellular therapy products.

“We considered many factors in determining where best to build future commercial manufacturing capacity for REACT®,” said Dr. Tim Bertram, Chief Executive Officer of ProKidney. “Because of North Carolina’s depth and breadth of biotechnology talent, the advantage of locating the plant near our headquarters and pilot manufacturing plant in Winston-Salem, NC, and the state’s interest in continuing to grow its biotechnology industry, we determined that adding manufacturing capacity here in Greensboro would be in the best interest of ProKidney, its shareholders and its local stakeholders. We look forward to continue growing our business along with the state that we have called home since our founding.”

“As a former executive in the biotech industry, I’m proud to see North Carolina’s continued leadership in this industry, which means so much for both our economy and for people’s health and wellbeing,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “We never take for granted the importance of a strong, well-trained workforce to keep us ahead of the pack. As our First in Talent strategic plan makes clear, we’ll continue to invest in our people and the educational systems that create opportunities for everyone.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led the state’s support for the company during its site evaluation and decision-making process.

Governor Shapiro Announces Schless Bottles Will Relocate to Pennsylvania, Create Nearly 100 New Manufacturing Jobs in Allentown

I’m thrilled to welcome Schless Bottles to the Commonwealth,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Thanks to this investment, Schless Bottles will create nearly 100 jobs here in Allentown, creating real opportunity for more hardworking Pennsylvanians and their families. Their decision to relocate to Pennsylvania and create jobs here in Lehigh Valley should send a clear message to businesses all across the country – Pennsylvania is open for business and my Administration is committed to helping businesses here grow and thrive.

For its expansion, Schless Bottles received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $300,000 Pennsylvania First grant and a $196,000 grant to train new workers.

Schless Bottles produces more than 250 million PET bottles annually and has been focused on manufacturing premium plastic jars and bottles. The company chose to relocate to Pennsylvania because it needed more space to expand its manufacturing operation and to take advantage of the Lehigh Valley’s workforce and proximity to major distribution markets.

“I’d like to thank Governor Shapiro, the Governor’s Action Team and the people here in Allentown for helping to make this relocation happen,” said Mark Schlesinger, Executive Director, Schless Bottles. “We look forward to being part of the Allentown community for many years to come, and are excited to bring nearly 100 new jobs to the area.”

Governor Cooper Announces Honda Aircraft Company Will Create 280 Jobs in Greensboro, North Carolina Investment

over-the-wing-engine mount and the plane has been well received since its first flight in 2003. Recently, the company has developed a concept for a longer-range model, the HondaJet 2600, designed to be the world’s first light jet capable of nonstop transcontinental flight across the United States, with a quiet and spacious cabin suited for long-range travel and the ability to accommodate up to 11 occupants. The aircraft is also designed for single-pilot operation.

The company’s project in Greensboro will establish production lines to manufacture the new HondaJet 2600, focusing initially on the critical design phase and production readiness of the plane, requiring significant R&D resources.

“We are thrilled that North Carolina will be home to the new Honda light jet that represents the next chapter of our skyward mobility,” said Hideto Yamasaki, President and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. “The state of North Carolina provides a rich talent pool and tremendous support from our local community and having our facilities located right next to the Piedmont Triad International Airport is an ideal location to develop and produce our new light jet.”

Governor Lee, Commissioner McWhorter Announce Magna to be the First Supplier at Ford’s BlueOval City Supplier Park in Stanton, Tennessee

automaker’s second-generation electric truck.

Magna’s two facilities at BlueOval City supplier park include a new 800,000-square-foot frame and battery enclosures facility and a 140,000-square-foot seating facility.

The battery enclosures facility will join one of Magna’s sister plants in Ontario, Canada, which is currently producing battery enclosures for the Ford F-150 Lightning. The seating facility will produce polyurethane foam, and assemble and sequence “just-in-time” (JIT) complete seats.

Magna will employ approximately 750 employees at its battery enclosures facility and 300 employees at its new seating plant.

In addition, Magna will construct a new 400,000-square-foot stamping and assembly plant at the Team Lawrence Commerce Park – West, a Select Tennessee Certified Site in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, that will produce truck frames. Magna will employ roughly 250 employees at this location.

Production at all three plants is scheduled to begin in 2025.

Allentown, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Schless Bottles, a premium plastic jars and bottles manufacturer, will relocate from its current manufacturing facility in northern New Jersey to Allentown. The company will invest more than $7.5 million in building acquisition and renovation costs and create 98 new, full-time manufacturing jobs in the Commonwealth within the next three years.

Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has prioritized attracting businesses to Pennsylvania and retaining those already operating here, and his first budget proposal includes significant investments in economic development to create jobs, spur innovation, and support businesses, workers, and communities.

Governor Shapiro has overseen a renewed focus on economic growth in Pennsylvania, and earlier this month his Administration announced that global resin manufacturer Purolite will create 175 new jobs and invest $190 million to create its first U.S. Biologics Division in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Since January, Governor Shapiro has announced over $630 million in new private sector investment in Pennsylvania as a direct result of his Administration’s work.

“Pennsylvania is a leader in manufacturing across different industries, and

Raleigh, NC — Honda Aircraft Company, maker of the renowned HondaJet light aircraft, will develop and produce a longer-range version of the plane at its Greensboro facilities, creating 280 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced. The Hondawill Aircraft Company in August company invest $55.7 million announced in Guilford County for production of its new 2019, that the HondaJet is the most delivered HondaJet 2600 model, bringing its total investment in the state to over $335 aircraft in its class for the first half of 2019. million.

During the first six months of good-paying 2019, 17 aircraft “HondaJet’s creation of nearly 300 jobs is yet another example were delivered to customers around theone world. of why CNBC named North Carolina as the number state in the country to do business for the second year in a row,” said Governor Cooper. “This decision shows our state’s commitment to developing a skilled workforce, not only in the key industry of aerospace with a flagship brand like HondaJet, but in the entire advanced manufacturing arena.”

Honda Aircraft Company is headquartered in Greensboro and produces the HondaJet, an innovative light jet aircraft. HondaJet features a unique,

NASHVILLE, TN. —Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced that Magna will invest more than $790 million to build the first two supplier facilities at Ford’s BlueOval City supplier park in Stanton, Tennessee.

In addition to the two West Tennessee locations, Magna will also build a stamping and assembly facility in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Combined, Magna will create approximately 1,300 new jobs in Tennessee.

Ford’s on-site supplier park will allow for vertical integration that helps ensure efficient production at BlueOval City, which will be capable of producing 500,000 electric trucks a year at full production. Magna will supply Ford’s BlueOval City with battery enclosures, truck frames and seats for the

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2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

ALABAMA

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

Cullman Economic Development Agency

Arizona Regional Economic Develoment

Chaffee Crossing

Dale Greer P.O. Box 1009 Cullman, AL 35056 256-739-1891 daleg@cullmaneda.org www.cullmaneda.org .......................................................................

Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority

David Hooks Executive Director 1 Commerce Square Gadsden, AL 35901 256-543-9423 davidhooks@gadsdenida.org www.gadsdenida.org .......................................................................

Elmore County Economic Development

Cary Cox P.O. Box 117 Wetumka , AL 36092 334-514-5843 cary.cox@elmoreeda.com www.elmoreeda.com .......................................................................

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

Abbie Ruesy 601 Genome Way Huntsville , AL 35806 256-327-9591 aruesy@hudsonalpha.org www.hudsonalpha.org .......................................................................

Mignonne Hollis, Executive Director 750 E. Bartow Drive Suite 16 Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 520-458-6948 hollism@aredf.org www.aredf.org .......................................................................

City of Flagstaff Economic Development

John Saltonstall, AZED Pro Business Retention & Expansion Manager Economic Vitality Division City of Flagstaff 211 W. Aspen Avenue Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Office 928-213-2966 Cell 928-606-9430 jsaltonstall@flagstaffaz.gov www.flagstaffaz.gov .......................................................................

Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth

Patti King, Executive Mgr. 17235 N. 75th Avenue Suite D-145 Glendale, AZ 85308 520-836-8686 pking@pinalalliance.org www.pinalalliance.org .......................................................................

Salt River Project (SRP)

Karla Moran P.O. Box 52025 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2025 602-236-2396 Karla.moran@srpnet.com www.powertogrowphx.com .......................................................................

Daniel Mann, Executive Director 7020 Taylor Avenue Fort Smith, AR 72916 479-452-4554 daniel@chaffeecrossing.com www.chaffeecrossing.com .......................................................................

CALIFORNIA

City of Eastvale

Gina Gibson-Williams Economic Development Manager 12363 Limonite Ave. Suite 910 Eastvale, CA 91752 951-703-4425 ggibson-williams@eastvaleca.gov www.eastvaleca.gov .......................................................................

Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development

James Lee Sillman Executive Director 625 Adams Aveune Camden, AR 71701 870-836-2210 870-836-8899 (f) director@teamcamden.com www.teamcamden.com .......................................................................

East Arkansas Crossroads Coalition

Alicia Woolman 1790 N. Falls Boulevard, Suite 2 Wynne, AR 72396 870-238-5300 crossroads@crossroadscoalition.org www.crossroadscoalition.org .......................................................................

Mississippi County Economic Development

Clif Chitwood 4701 Memorial Drive Blytheville, AR 72315 870-532-6084 clif@cottontosteel.com www.cottontosteel.com .......................................................................

City of Moreno Valley Economic Development

Mike Lee Economic Development Director 14177 Frederick Street Moreno Valley, CA 92553 951-413-3460 mike@moval.org www.morenovalleybusiness.com .......................................................................

City of Ontario Economic Development

Jennifer McLain Hiramoto Economic Development Director 303 East B Street Ontario, CA 91764 909-395-2295 JHiramoto@ontarioca.gov www.ontariothinksbusiness.com .......................................................................

Greater Irvine Chamber

Pepper Russell 36 Executive Park Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92614 949-502-4129 prussell@irvinechamber.com www.irvinechamber.com .......................................................................

COLORADO Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority

Justice Smyth Executive Director P.O. Box 2667 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 205-349-1414 info@tcoeda.com www.tcoeda.com .......................................................................

City of Surprise

Mike Hoover 16000 N Civic Center Plaza Surprise, AZ 85374 623-222-3328 Mike.hoover@surpriseaz.gov www.surpriseaz.gov .......................................................................

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City of Siloam Springs

Don Clark Community Development Director P.O. Box 80 Siloam Springs , AR 72761 479-238-0930 dclark@siloamsprings.com whysiloam.com .......................................................................

City of Canon City

Rick Harrmann 128 Main Street Canon City, CO 81212 719-276-5279 rlharrmann@canoncity.org www.canoncity.org .......................................................................

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

FLORIDA

City of Fountain Economic Development Commission

Kimberly A. Bailey Economic Development/ Urban Renewal Director 116 S. Main Street Fountain, CO 80817 719-322-2056 kbailey@fountaincolorado.org www.fountaincolorado.org .......................................................................

Grand Junction Economic Partnership

Robin Brown, Executive Director 122 N. 6th Street Grand Junction, CO 81501 970--245-4332 robin@gjep.org www.gjep.org .......................................................................

CONNECTICUT

City of Sanford

Tom Tomerlin Economic Development Director 300 North Park Ave. Sanford, FL 32771 407-688-5015 tom.tomerlin@sanfordfl.gov www.sanfordfl.gov .......................................................................

City of Titusville

Lisa Nicholas 555 South Washington Avenue Titusville, FL 32796-3584 321-567-3774 economicdevelopment@titusville.com www.YEStitusvilleFL.com .......................................................................

Greater St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation Town of Berlin

Chris Edge Director 240 Kensington Road Berlin, CT 06037 860-828-7005 cedge@town.berlin.ct.us www.town.berlin.ct.us .......................................................................

DELAWARE

Kent Economic Partnership

Linda Parkowski Executive Director 555 Bay Road Dover, DE 19901 302-678-3057 info@ccede.com www.choosecentraldelaware.com .......................................................................

Wilmington Economic Development Jeff Flynn 800 N. French St., 3rd Floor Wilmington, DE 19801 302-576-2128 jflynn@wilmingtonde.gov www.wilmingtonde.gov .......................................................................

J.P. DuBuque President and CEO 100 2nd Ave N Ste 130 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-388-2906 jpdubuque@stpeteedc.com StPeteEDC.com/BurgBiz .......................................................................

Haines City Economic Development Council, Inc.

Cyndi Jantomaso, President Post Office Box 3845 Haines City, FL 33845-3845 863-422-2525 863-206-0007 cyndi@hainescityedc.com www.hainescityedc.com .......................................................................

Hernando County Office of Economic Development

Valerie M. Pianta, MEDP, Economic Development Director 15800 Flight Path Drive Brooksville, FL 34604 352--540-6400 vpianta@hernandocounty.us www.hernandobusiness.com .......................................................................

Holmes County Development Commission

Joe Rone, Executive Director 106 E Byrd Avenue Bonifay, FL 32425 850-547-6154 jrone@westflorida.coop hcdc1978@gmail.com www.holmescountyedc.com .......................................................................

Pinellas County Economic Development

Dr. Cynthia Johnson, EDFP Director 13805 58th Street North, Suite 1-200 Clearwater, FL 33760 727-464-7332 cyjohnson@pinellascounty.org www.pced.org .......................................................................

Indian River Chamber of Commerce

Santa Rosa County EDO

Lake County Economic Growth

City of St. Cloud

Mary Ellen Stern, Executive Director 315 W. Main Street Tavares, FL 32778 352-343-9647 maryellen.stern@lakecountyfl.gov www.lakecountyfl.gov .......................................................................

Antranette Forbes, Economic Development Direcrector 1300 9th Street St. Cloud, FL 34769 (407)957-7234 antranette.forbes@stcloud.org www.stcloud.org .......................................................................

Osceola County

Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality

Helene Caseltine Economic Development Director 1216 21st Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 772-567-3491 helenec@indianrivered.com www.indianrivered.com .......................................................................

Shannon Ogletree, , Executive Director 6491 Caroline Street, Suite 4 Milton, FL 32570-4592 850-623-0174 Shannon@sant arosa.fl.gov www.santarosaedo.com .......................................................................

David Rodriguez, Economic Development Manager 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 4400 Kissimmee, FL 34741 407-742-0620 407-742-4202 (f) david.rodriguez@osceola.org www.chooseosceola.com www.osceola.org .......................................................................

Keith Bowers, Director 315 S. Calhoun Street, Suite 110 Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-219-1080 kbowers@oevforbusiness.org www.oevforbusiness.org .......................................................................

Pasco Economic Development Council

City of College Park

Bill Cronin, President & CEO 16506 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 101 Lutz, FL 33558 813-926-0827 813-926-0829 (f) bcronin@pascoedc.com pascoedc.com ....................................................................... bxjmag.com

GEORGIA

Artie Jones III Director of Economic Development 3667 Main Street College Park, GA 30337 404-305-2052 404-305-2057 (f) artiejones@collegeparkga.com www.collegeparkga.com/ ....................................................................... | JULY/AUGUST 2023 | BXJ | 45

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

City of East Point

Maceo Rogers CEcD 2757 East Point Street East Point, GA 30344 404-270-7057 jmrogers@eastpointcity.org www.eastpointcity.org .......................................................................

City of Highland Economic Development

Mallord Hubbard 1115 Broadway, P.O. Box 218 Highland, IL 62249-0218 618-654-9891 618-654-4768 (f) mhubbard@highlandil.gov www.highlandil.gov .......................................................................

Alliance STL | St. Louis Regional Economic Development

Steven S. Johnson. CEO One Metropolitan Square Suite 1300 St. Louis, MO 63102 314-444-1105 sjohnson@alliancestl.com alliancestl.com .......................................................................

Go Topeka

Molly Howey, CEcD President 719 S Kansas Ave. Suite 100 Topeka, KS 66603 785.231.4707 mhowey@gotopeka.com www.gotopeka.com .......................................................................

Forward Forsyth

Slade Gulledge P.O. Box 1799 Cumming GA 30028 770-887-6461 770-842-1170 sgulledge@forwardforsyth.org www.forwardforsyth.org .......................................................................

Liberty County Development Authority

Ronald Tolley, CEO 425 W. Oglethorpe Highway Hinesville, GA 31313 912-977-4147 Ron.tolley@comegrow.global www.comegrow.global .......................................................................

Putnam Development Authority

Matt Poyner Econmical Devleopment Director 117 Putnam Drive, Eaton, GA 31024 706-816-8099 mpoyner@putnamforward.dev www.putnamforward.dev .......................................................................

Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority

Andrea Schruijer, Executive Director P.O. Box 5185 Valdosta, GA 31603-1963 229-259-9972 aschruijer@buildlowndes.com www.buildlowndes.com .......................................................................

City of Litchfield Ecnomic Development

Austin Edmondson 120 E. Ryder Street Litchfield, IL 62056 217-324-8151 cityadm@cityoflitchfieldil.com www.litchfieldil-development.com .......................................................................

City of Marshall

Nora Swalls Economic Development Director 201 S. Michigan Ave Marshall, IL 62441 217-826-2034 nswalls@marshall-il.com www.marshall-il.com .......................................................................

City of Vandalia

Latisha Paslay 431 W. Gallatin St. Vandalia, IL 62471 618-283-1152 618-335-9510 (Mobile) vandaliaed@vandaliaillinois.com www.vandaliaillinois.com .......................................................................

Intersect Illinois

Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director 1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100 Champaign, IL 61820 217-359-6261 carly@champaigncountyedc.org www.champaigncountyedc.org .......................................................................

Charles Witherington-Perkins Director of Planning & Community Development 33 S. Arlington Heights Arlington Heights, IL 60005 847-368-5220 cperkins@vah.com www.vah.com .......................................................................

INDIANA

ILLINOIS

Champaign County Economic Development Corporation

Village of Arlington Heights Business & Economic Development

Dan Seals, CEO Senior Vice President Business Development 230 W. Monroe St. Chicago, IL 60606 312-667-6013 www.intersectillinois.org .......................................................................

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Huntington County Economic Development

Mark Wickersham, Executive Director 8 West Market Street Huntington, IN 46750 260-356-5688 mark@hcued.com www.hcued.com ..................................................................

Miami County Economic Development Auth.

Jim Tidd 1525 W. Hoosier Boulevard Peru, IN 46970 765-689-0159 jtidd@miamicountyeda.com www.miamicountyeda.com .......................................................................

KANSAS

Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation

Joann Knight, Executive Director 101 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd.

Dodge City, KS 67801 620-227-9501 620-227-2957 (f) jknight@dodgedev.org www.dodgedev.org .......................................................................

Russell County Eco Devo & CVB

Mike Parsons, Director 331 E. Witchita, Russell, KS 67665 785-483-4000 rced2@russellks.net www.russellcountyks.org .......................................................................

Salina Economic Development Organization

D. Mitch Robinson, CEcD 120 West Ash Street Salina, KS 67401 785-404-3131 mrobinson@salinaedo.org www.salinaedo.org .......................................................................

Shawnee Economic Development

Ann Smith-Tate, President CEO 15100 W. 67th Street Suite 202 Shawnee, KS 66217-9344 913-631-6545 asmithtate@shawneekschamber.com www.shawnee-edc.com .......................................................................

Wyandotte Economic Development Council

Greg Kindle President 727 Minnesota Avenue Kansas City, KS 66101 913-371-3198 gkindle@wyedc.org www.wyedc.org .......................................................................

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

KENTUCKY

City of Pikeville

Jill Fraley Dotson Executive Economic Development Director 773 Hambley Boulevard Pikeville, KY 41501 606-437-5128 info@whypikeville.com www.whypikeville.com .......................................................................

Be NKY

Kimberly Rossetti VP of Economic Development 300 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 332 Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 888-874-3365 krossetti@Be-NKY.com www.Be-NKY.com .......................................................................

South Western Kentucky EDC

Carter Hendricks Executive Director 2800 Fort Campbell Blvd.

Hopkinsville, KY 42240 270-885-1499 chendricks@southwesternky.com www.southwesternky.com .......................................................................

LOUISIANA Louisiana Economic Development

Anya G. Hudnall 1201 N. Third Street Suite 7-210 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225-342-5396 Anya.hudnal@la.gov www.la.gov .......................................................................

SWLA Economic Development ALLIANCE

George Swift 4310 Ryan Street Lake Charles LA 70605 337-433-3632 gswift@allianceswla.org www.allianceswla.org .......................................................................

St. Mary Parish of Economic Development

Evan Boudreaux Director 500 Main Street, 5th Floor Courthouse Franklin, LA 70538 337-828-4100 ecodev@stmaryparishla.gov www.stmaryparishdevelopmant.com .......................................................................

MAINE

Town of Richmond Community, Economic, & Business Development Darryl Sterling, Director 26 Gardiner Street Richmond, ME 04357-0159 207-737-4305 x 331 207-737-4306 (f) director@richmondmaine.com www.richmondmaine.com .......................................................................

MARYLAND

Calvert County Economic Development

Julie Oberg, Director 205 Main Street Prince Frederick, MD 20678 410-535-4583 julie.oberg@calvertcountymd.gov www.choosecalvert.com .......................................................................

Carroll County Economic Development

Paige Sunderland, Director 225 N. Center Street, Ste. 101 Westminster, MD 21157 410-386-2070 psunderland@carrollbiz.org www.carrollbiz.org .......................................................................

Cecil County Economic Development

Bill Sorenson, Director 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Ste 2700 Elkton, MD 21921 410-996-8465 wsorenson@cecilcountymd.gov www.cecilbusiness.org .......................................................................

Dorchester County Economic Development

Susan Banks, Director 104 Tech Park Drive Cambridge, MD 21613 410-228-0155 sbanks@choosedorchester.org www.choosedorchester.org .......................................................................

Kent County Department of Economic & Tourism Development

Jamie L. Williams, CEcD, Director 400 High Street, 3rd Floor Chestertown MD 21620 410-810-2168 jlwilliams@kentgov.org www.kentcounty.com/business .......................................................................

Maryland Department of Commerce Tom Riford 100 Community Place Crownsville, MD 21032 877-634-6361 www.maryland.gov .......................................................................

Montgomery County Economic Development

Laurie Babb 1801 Rockville Pike, Ste. 320 Rockville, MD 20852 240-641-6704 laurie@thinkmoco.com www.thinkmoco.com .......................................................................

The Right Place, Inc.

Andria Romkema 125 Ottawa Avenue, Suite 450 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-771-0563 romkemaa@rightplace.org www.Rightplace.org .......................................................................

MINNESOTA

City of Lakeville Community & Economic Development

David Olson, Director 20195 Holyoke Avenue Lakeville, MN 55044 952-985-4421 dolson@lakevillemn.gov www.lakevillemn.gov .......................................................................

MISSOURI

Alliance STL | an initiative of Greater St. Louis, Inc. Steven S. Johnson Chief Business Attraction Officer One Metropolitan Square, Suite 1300 St. Louis, MO 63102 314-444-1105 Steve@GreaterSTLinc.com www.GreaterSTLinc.com .......................................................................

Sikeston Regional Chamber & Economic Development Corp.

Talbot County Economic Development

Cassandra M. Vanhooser, Director 11 S. Harrison Street Easton, MD 21601 410-770-8000 Cvanhooser@talbgov.org www.talbgov.org .......................................................................

Marcie Lawson 128 N. New Madrid Street Sikeston, MO 63801 573-471-2498 marcie.lawson@sikeston.net www.sikeston.net .......................................................................

MICHIGAN

NEVADA

Economic Development Alliance (EDA) of St. Clair County

Las Vegas Global Ecnomic Alliance

Dan Casey, CEO 100 McMorran Boulevard 4th Floor, Suite B Port Huron, Michigan 48060 Ph: 810.982.9511 www.edascc.com stclairhotjobs.com .......................................................................

bxjmag.com

Perry Ursem Vice President, Business Retention + Expansion 6720 via Austi Parkway Suite #330 Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-791-0000 www.Ivgea.org .......................................................................

| JULY/AUGUST 2023 | BXJ | 47

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Authority

Sheldon Mudd, Executive Director 1500 College Pkwy McMullen Hall #103 Elko, NV 89801 775-738-2100 775-738-7978(f) smudd@nnrda.com www.nnrda.com .......................................................................

NEW JERSEY

Gloucester County Department of Economic Development

Tom Bianco, Director 1480 Tanyard Rd., Sewell, NJ 08080 856-384-6930 tbianco@co.gloucester.nj.us www.gloucestercountynj.gov .......................................................................

New Jersey EDA

Pat J. Rose 36 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08625 609-858-6705 prose@njeda.com www.njeda.com .......................................................................

NEW MEXICO

EDC of Lea County

Jennifer Grassham, CEO 200 E. Broadway Street Hobbs, NM 88240 573-397-2039 jennifer@edclc.org www.edclc.org .......................................................................

The Agency-Broome County IDA/LDC Stacey Duncan, Executive Director of Community & Economic Development Five South College Drive Suite 201 Binghamton, NY 13905 607-584-9000 607-584-9009 (f) smd@theagency-ny.com www.theagency-ny.com .......................................................................

Fulton County Center for Regional Growth

Ronald M. Peters 34 West Fulton Street Gloversville, NY 12078 518-725-7700 ext. 2 ronp@fccrg.org www.fccrg.org .......................................................................

Mohawk Valley Edge

Nick Bruno 584 Phoenix Drive Rome, NY 13441-4105 315-338-0393 nbruno@mvedge.org www.mvedge.org ..................................................................

NORTH CAROLINA

Craig Clark, Executive Director CrossRoads Center 6087 State Route 19N, Suite 100 Belmont, NY 14813 585-268-7445 585-268-7473 (f) clarkcr@alleganyco.com www.acida.org .......................................................................

Preston Hunter, Executive Director 2780 Jetport Road Kinston, NC 28504 252-775-6183 252-522-1765 (f) phunter@ncdot.gov www.ncgtp.com ......................................................................

Piedmont Triad Airport Authority

Stephanie Freeman 1000A Ted Johnson Parkway Greensboro, NC 27409 336-665-5602 freemans@gsoair.org www.landatpti.com .......................................................................

Brad Hufford, Director 705 Page Road Washington, NC 27889 252-946-3970 252-946-0849 (f) brad.hufford@beaufortedc.com www.beaufortedc.com ..................................................................

Ponca City Development Authority David Myers, Executive Director 102 S. Fifth Street Suite 3 Ponca City, OK 74601 580-765-7070 580-765-7070 (f) dmyers@goponca.com www.goponca.com .......................................................................

RHODE ISLAND

City of Cranston

Stanly County Economic Development Commission

Franklin J. Paulino, Director of Economic Development 869 Park Avenue Cranston, RI 02910 401-780-3166 401-780-3179 (f) fpaulino@cranstonri.org www.cranstonri.com .......................................................................

NORTH DAKOTA

3275 Pos t Road Warwick, RI 2886 401-738-2014 econ.dir@warwickri.com www.visitwarwickri.com ..................................................................

Candice Boyd Lowder, Director 1000 North First Street, Suite 11 Albemarle, NC 28001 704-986-3682 704-986-3685 (f) clowder@stanlyedc.com www.stanlyedc.com .......................................................................

Beaufort County Economic Development

NEW YORK

Allegany County Industrial Development Agency

North Carolina Global Transpark

City of Warwick Department of Tourism, Culture, and Development

Quonset Development Corporation Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC

Nathan Schneider , CEcD-Vice President 1640 Burnt Boat Dr. Bismark, ND 58503 701-223-5660 nschneider@bmcedc.com www.bismarckmandanedc.com .......................................................................

Steven J. King, Managing Director 95 Cripe Street North Kingstown, RI 2852 401-295-0044 sking@quonset.com www.quonset.com .......................................................................

SOUTH CAROLINA

OKLAHOMA Harnett County Economic Development

Debbie Taylor, Marketing & Business Recruitment Manager 200 Alexander Dr. or PO Box 1270 Lillington, NC 27546 910-814-6891 919-814-8298 (f) dhtaylor@harnett.org www.harnettedc.org .......................................................................

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Bartlesville Development Authority

Jared Patton, Vice President 201 SW Keeler Bartlesville, OK 74003 918-337-8086 918-337-0216 (f) jpatton@bdaok.org www.bdaok.org .......................................................................

Charleston Regional Development Alliance Megan Fink 4401 Belle Oaks Drive, Suite 420 North Charleston, SC 29405 843-760-3351 mfink@crda.org www.crda.org .......................................................................

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

Lexington County Economic Development

Sarah J. Johnson Department Director 212 South Lake Drive Lexington, SC 29072 803-785-6818 sjjohnson@lex-co.com www.LexingtonCountyUSA.com .......................................................................

South Carolina I-77 Alliance

Christopher Finn 3200 Commerce Drive, Suite D Richburg, SC 29729 803-789-3467 chris.finn@i77alliance.com www.i77alliance.com ........................................................................

SouthernCarolina Regional Alliance

Kay Maxwell 1750 Jackson Street, Suite 100 Barnwell, SC 29812 803-541-0023 kmaxwell@southerncarolina.org www.southerncarolina.org .....................................................................

TENNESSEE

City of Lebanon

Sarah Haston Economic Development Director 200 North Castle Heights Ave. Lebanon, TN 37087 615-443-2839 EXT. 2120 Sarah.Haston@lebanontn.org www.lebanontn.org .......................................................................

DeSoto Economic Development

Cedar Hill Economic Development Corporation

Henry Florsheim 285 Uptown Boulevard, Bldg. 100 Cedar Hill, TX 75104 972-291-5132 henry.florsheim@cedarhilltx.com www.cedarhilledc.com .......................................................................

LCRA

NETWORKS – Sullivan Partnership

Clay Walker PO Box 747, Blountville, TN 37617 423-279-7681 cwalker@networkstn.com www.networkstn.com .......................................................................

TEXAS

Big Spring Economic Development Corporation Mark Willis 215 W. 3rd Street Big Spring, TX 79720 432-264-6032 markwillis@bigspringtx.com www.bigspringtx.com .......................................................................

City Development Corp of El Campo Carolyn Gibson Executive Director 707 Fahrenthold P.O. Box 706 El Campo, TX 77437 979-543-6727 979-320-7727 cell cgibson@elcampoeco.org www.elcampoeco.org .......................................................................

City of Fort Worth

Robert Sturns, Director 1150 S. Freeway Fort Worth, TX 76104 817-392-2663 Robert.Sturns@fortworthtexas.gov .......................................................................

Bowie Economic Development Corporation Blount Partnership

Bryan Daniels CEcD, CCE, IOM President and CEO 201 S. Washington Street St. Maryville, TN 37804 865-983-2247 865-984-1386 bdaniels@blountpartnership.com www.blountchamber.com .......................................................................

Matt Carlson, CEO 211 E. Pleasant Run Road DeSoto, TX 75115 Ph: 972-230-9611 mcarlson@desototexas.gov www.dedc.org .......................................................................

Janis Crawley 101 E. Pecan, Bowie, TX 76230 940-872-4193 940-531-8201(c) BEDC@BowieTexasEDC.com www.BowieTexasEDC.com .......................................................................

Karen Dickson Economic Development Manager 3700 Lake Austin Blvd.

Austin, TX 78703 512-578-3291 karen.dickson@lcra.org www.lcra.org/economic-development/ pages/default.aspx .......................................................................

McKinney Economic Development Corporation

Peter Tokar III President/CEO 7300 SH 121 SB, Ste 200 McKinney, TX 75070 972-547-7687 ptokar@mckinneyedc.com www.uniquemckinney.com .......................................................................

Mineola Economic Development Corp City of Leander

Randall Malik Economic Development Director 201 N Brushy Leander, TX 78641 512-528-2855 rmalik@leandertx.gov www.leanderbusiness.com .......................................................................

Mercy Rushing, Executive Director 300 Greenville Highway Mineola, TX 75773 903-569-6183 903-245-8505 mrushing@mineola.com www.mineola.com .......................................................................

Cameron Industrial Foundation Bristol Tennessee Essential Services April Eads Business Development Manager 2470 Volunteer Parkway Bristol, TN 37620 423-793-5532 423-793-5545 (f) aeads@btes.net www.btes.net/index.php/economic-development .......................................................................

Ginger Watkins, Executive Director 102 E. First Street, Suite A Cameron, TX 76520 254-697-4970 254-482-1119 (c) gwatkins@cameronindustrialfoundation.com www.cameronindustrialfoundation. com .......................................................................

Odessa Economic Development Corporation

Conroe Economic Development Council

Danielle Scheiner, Executive Director 300 W Davis St, Ste 510 Conroe, TX 77301 USA 936-522-3530 scheiner@conroeedc.org www.conroeedc.org ....................................................................... bxjmag.com

Tom Manskey 700 N. Grant Ave. Odessa, TX 79761 432-333-7880 tom@odessaecodev.com www.odessatx.com ....................................................................... | JULY/AUGUST 2023 | BXJ | 49

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation

Brenda Tarpley Executive Director P.O. Box 610 Jacksboro, TX 76458 940-567-3151 btarpley@jacksboroedc.com www.jacksboroedc.com ..................................................................

Laredo Economic Development

Gene Lindgren President & CEO P.O. Box 2682 Laredo, TX 78044 956-722-0563 glindgren@laredoedc.org www.laredoedc.org .......................................................................

Marble Falls EDC

Christian Fletcher 801 Fourth Street Marble Falls, TX 78654 830-798-7079 cfletcher@marblefallseconomy.com www.marblefallseconomy.com .......................................................................

Plainview Economic Development Corporation

Kristi Aday, Executive Director 1906 West 5th Plainview, TX 79072 806-293-8536 kaday@plainviewtx.org www.plainviewedc.org .......................................................................

TexAmericas Center

Eric Voyles, Executive Vice President Chief Economic Development Officer 107 Chapel Lane New Boston, TX 75570 903-306-8923 Eric.Voyles@texamericascenter.com www.texamericascenter.com .......................................................................

Whitesboro Economic Development Corp.

Lynda Anderson, Director P.O. Box 340 or 111 W. Main Whitesboro, TX 76273 930-564-3311 landerson@whitesborotexas.com www.whitesborotexas.com .......................................................................

UTAH Mount Pleasant EDC

Nathan Tafoya, Executive Director 1604 N. Jefferson Ave. Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 903-572-6602 nathan@mpedc.org www.mpedc.org .......................................................................

New Braunfels EDC

Michele Boggs Marketing/Research Director 390 S. Seguin Avenue New Braunfels, TX 78130 830-608-2811 michele@innewbraunfels.com www.newbraunfelsedc.com .......................................................................

Eagle Mountain Economic Development

Evan Berrett, City Administrator 1650 E. Stagecoach Run Eagle Mountain, UT 84005 801-789-6621 eberrett@emcity.org www.eaglemountaincity.com .......................................................................

VIRGINA

Amy Madison 3801 Helios Way Suite 130 Pflugerville, TX 78660 512-990-3725 amym@pfdevelopment.com www.pfevelopment.com .......................................................................

Pam Bailey, Director of Economic Development Bedford County 122 East Main Street, Suite 202 Bedford, Virginia 24523 540-587-5670 pbailey@bedfordcountyva.gov www.bedfordeconomicdevelopment.com .......................................................................

WASHINGTON

City of Lakewood Economic Development

Becky Newton, Manager 6000 Main Street SW Lakewood, WA 98499 877-421-9126 bnewton@cityoflakewood.us www.buildyourbetterhere.com .......................................................................

City of Maple Valley

Kristina Weaver Economic Development Manager P.O. Box 320 Maple Valley, WA 98038 425-413-8800 kristina.weaver@maplevalleywa.gov www.maplevalleywa.gov ..................................................................

Try-City Development Council

Karl Dye, President & CEO 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd #A Kennewich, WA 99336 509-735-1000 kdye@tridec.org www.tridec.org ..................................................................

WISCONSIN Arlington Economic Development

Pflugerville Community Development

Bedford County Office of Economic Development

Ryan Touhill, AED Director 1100 N Glebe Rd Suite 1500 Arlington, VA 22201 703-228-0808 703-228-0805 (f) rtouhill@arlingtonva.us www.arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com .......................................................................

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Madison Region Economic Partnership

Kathy Collins, VP Economic Development 8517 Excelsior Drive, Suite 107 Madison, WI 53717 608-571-0407 kcollins@madisonregion.org www.madisonregion.org .......................................................................

New North, Inc

Barb LaMue, President & CEO 2740 W. Mason Street Green Bay, WI 54303 920-676-1960 barb.lamue@thenewnorth.com www.thenewnorth.com .......................................................................

Portage County Business Council, Inc. PCB

Michael Witte, Executive Director 5501 Vern Holmes Drive Stevens Point, WI 54482 715-344-1940 715-344-1940 (f) michaelw@portagecountybiz.com www.portagecountybiz.com .......................................................................

WYOMING

Advance Casper

Morryah McCurdy 111 S. Durbin, Suite 200 Casper, WY 82601 307-577-7011 morryah@advancecasper.com www.advancecasper.com .......................................................................

City of Franklin Economic Development

John Regetz, Director 9229 W. Loomis Road Franklin, WI 53132 414-427-7566 jregetz@franklinwi.gov www.franklinwi.gov .......................................................................

Cheyenne LEADS

Betsey Hale, Chief Executive Officer One Depot Square 121 W. 15th St. Suite 304 Cheyenne, WY 82001 307-638-6000 betseyh@cheyenneleads.org cheyenneleads.org .......................................................................

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

NEW BRUNSWICK The Laramie Chamber Business Alliance

Josh Boudreau, VP Economic Development 528 South Adams Street Laramie, WY 82070 307-745-7339 jboudreau@laramie.org www.laramie.org .......................................................................

CANADA ALBERTA

Calgary Economic Development

500 Centre Street S, 32nd Floor Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2G 1A6 403-221-7831 info@calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com .......................................................................

MANITOBA

City of Brandon

Dan Fontaine Business Development Specialist Main Floor, 410 9th Street Brandon, Manitoba, Canada R7A 6A2 204-729-2133 d.fontaine@brandon.ca www.economicdevelomentbrandon.com .......................................................................

Ignite Fredericton

Paula Lehr 40 Crowther Lane, Ste. 100 Fredericton, NB E3C 0J1 506-282-0624 paula.lehr@ignitefredericton.com www.ignitefredericton.com .......................................................................

Imagine Chaleur

Shirley de Silva 702 Principale Street, Ste. 2 Petit-Rocher, NB E8j 1V1 506-542-2688 shirley.desilva@csrchaleurrsc.ca www.csrchaleurrsc.ca .......................................................................

Expansion Dieppe

Louis Godbout 333 Acadia Avenue Dieppe, NB E1A 1G9 506-877-7850 louis.godbout@dieppe.ca www.expansiondieppe.ca .......................................................................

ONTARIO

City of Guelph

Christine Chapman 1 Carden Street Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 3A1 519--822-1260 ext. 2823 Christine.chapman@guelph.ca www.guelph.ca/business .......................................................................

City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development

Lindsey Schoenmakers 180 Kent Street West Lindsay, Ontario, Canada K9V 2Y6 705-324-9411 lschoenmakers@kawarthalakes.ca www.kawarthalakes.ca .......................................................................

Middlesex County

County of Elgin

Carolyn Krahn, Manager Economic Development And Tourism 450 Sunset Drive St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada N5R 5V1 519-631-1460 ext. 133 ckrahn@elgin.ca www.progressivebynature.com .......................................................................

Cara A. Finn, BBA, M. Ad.Ed. Director of Economic Development 399 Ridout St. North London, ON N6A 2P1 519-434-7321 cfinn@middlesex.ca www.investinmiddlesex.ca .......................................................................

City of Mississauga Economic Development

Chistina Kakaflikas, Ec. D. Director of Economic Development Office Mississauga City Hall 300 City Centre Drive, 3rd Floor Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1 Canada 800-456-2181 905-896-5931 christina.kakfikas@mississauga.ca www.TheFuturelsUnlimited.ca .......................................................................

Town of Aurora Economic Development

Lisa Hausz 100 John West Way, Box 1000 Aurora, Ontario, Canada L4G 6J1 905-727-1375 lhausz@aurora.ca www.aurora.ca .......................................................................

Vaughan Economic and Cultural Development

Raphael Costa Vaughan City Hall, Level 200 2141 Major Mackenzie Drive Vaughan, Ontario, Canada L6A 1T1 905-832-8526 ext. 8891 raphael.costa@vaughan.ca www.vaughan.ca/Business .......................................................................

ADVERTISER & EDIT INDEX Advertiser

CALIFORNIA

Port of Long Beach

ILLINOIS

Arlington Heights Bloomington Chicago Joliet Litchfield Vandalia

LOUISIANA

Port of South Louisiana Port of Lake Charles SWLA Econ Dev. Alliance

MARYLAND

Port of Baltimore

AD

Edit

9

9

26 24 22 23 27 21 11 BC 1

Advertiser

AD

Edit

29

28

25 24 20 23 26 20

35

34

33

32

10

10

11 7

37

36

MICHIGAN

3 8

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