Business Xpansion Journal: March/April 2023

TEXAS: FREEDOM TO GROW

PENNSYLVANIA: GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION, IMAGINATION & LEGENDARY CAN-DO SPIRIT

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: Reworking The Methodology Of Better, More Efficient Delivery

Intermodal distribution activity is back after years of a pandemic-produced backslide, complete with new ideas and new collaborations

By David Hodes

INNOVATION AND STRATEGIES: Logistics Companies Apply Lessons Learned

The pandemic has given logistics professionals a different disruptive event to learn from – and they are responding with better service for their customers

By David Hodes

INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Airports Back in Business in a Big Way

Funding new development on a blistering pace to help prop up the airport industry comeback

By David Hodes

TENNESSEE: GREAT BRANDS DESERVE THE GREAT STATE OF TENNESSEE

ONTARIO CANADA: SUPPORTING A STRONG, INNOVATIVE ECONOMY

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Develop

ABOUT IEDC 2023 ECONOMIC FUTURE FORUM

The theme for International Economic Development Council (IEDC) 2023 Economic Future Forum: Communities in Transition will focus on pursuing economic diversification and opportunity through the lens of economic transformation. Challenges and opportunities related to Talent, Innovation, and Livability are interdependent and must be addressed together, embedding Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility and shared perspectives, to achieve longterm economic prosperity for all.

THIS YEAR’S FUTURE FORUM WILL EXPLORE:

Livability

Embrace digital transformation and the accelerated application of new technologies while spotlighting the existing inequalities of equity-deserving and minority communities.

Talent

Join forces with fellow colleagues and access experiential learning opportunities to foster a digitally literate and adaptable workforce for the future.

Innovation

Gain the confidence and know-how to spearhead initiatives that promote equity, inclusion, and accessibility in your community

the skills needed to adapt to an ever-changing economy.

Reworking The Methodology Of Better, More Efficient Delivery

BY: DAVID HODES

While the world settles back into a normal, pandemic-free mode, intermodal distribution, the sector that took one of the biggest economic hits, is trying to make up for lost ground. Getting back to pre-pandemic levels has proven to be challenging at best. But the necessary work is getting done.

Post-pandemic, intermodal companies are focusing more now on agility, sustainability, and resilience in their operations. They have to come to terms with the new e-commerce demands that the consumer wants—that the consumer demands—as a result of the disruption from the pandemic.

Intermodal distribution activity is back after years of a pandemic-produced backslide, complete with new ideas and new collaborations

The Flexport Platform’s multi modal booking system brings it all together. full container load, less than container load, air, trucking, and rail. A unified view helps everyone balance speed, cost, and compliance. Courtesy Flexport

The Amazon Model

As always, Amazon leads the way among intermodal companies and new ideas for more operational efficiency.

In July, Amazon began soliciting business from shippers interested in using the space in the company’s fleet of 53-foot intermodal containers. That puts Amazon in direct competition with intermodal providers such as Hub Group and others. Hub Group offers access to marine container space through their Marine Container Solutions program.

Amazon bought its first 250 domestic containers in 2019 and has since expanded the fleet to more than 5,000 boxes, according to RailFreight.com. The move is in line with Amazon’s ongoing strategy to become a fully-fledged third-party logistics services provider to control more aspects of the supply chain.

Amazon has moved to create its own airline as well, operating its own airport hubs, procuring a non-vessel operating common carrier license for ocean transport and a fleet of thousands of truck trailers.

From 2020 to 2022, Amazon added more aircraft to their air cargo fleet, which they started in 2016 (they have more than 110 in their global network today).

The company is in the process now of converting ten A330s from passenger to cargo carriers, which will be the first A330 freighter conversions to operate in the U.S. The A330s are leased through Altavair, a global aviation leasing and finance company, and are operated by Hawaiian Airlines. They are expected to begin flight operations in late 2023, according to Sarah Rhoads, vice president, Amazon Global Air. “These A330s will not only be the first of their kind in our fleet, but they’ll also be the newest, largest aircraft for Amazon Air, allowing us to deliver more customer packages with each flight,” Roads wrote in a report on the company’s website.

Amazon has also launched new air cargo support facilities, including their U.S. air hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Kentucky and their European air hub at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. And they have leaned into sustainable initiatives such as electric ground service equipment and sustainable aviation fuel.

Other Intermodal Giants Making Moves

Another of the world’s big intermodal companies, Maersk, a global shipping company that has recently been demonstrating ship-to-ship drone delivery of supplies, announced a new intermodal freight service to start between the Far East to Europe called AE66.

They are now ready for shifting customer demands, using dynamic routing and scheduling tools. They have to have supply chain visibility and resilience, and invest in real-time tracking and monitoring of shipments, to survive and thrive.

It’s become a more complicated game of getting the customer what he or she wants when he or she wants them. But new ideas, and new methodologies, are being brought to bear that should help drive the goals and objectives of the industry, and begin the catch-up game in earnest.

The new sea-rail-sea service runs west-bound, departing from the seaport of Vostochniy in Russia Far East to Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, with the possibility of further expansion. Transit times of the new regular service are significantly reduced, Maersk notes in the announcement of the new freight service. It can transport goods in less than 20 days to Kaliningrad and the adjacent locations in the Baltics region, compared to an average of 55-60 days for ocean routes via the Suez Canal.

Uber Freight, a digital freight brokerage platform connecting shippers and carriers, noted that smaller carriers and

owner-operators are exiting the market at a faster pace in part due to the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic. “January saw the largest net decline in carrier population ever recorded, as 93,000 carriers had their operating authorities revoked,” according to Uber Freight’s Monthly Economic Market Update.

There may still be sector-specific downturns, according to Uber’s market update, including a freight recession. A review of their aggregate truckload demand index shows that freight demand has been falling since the second quarter of 2022. In December, demand was flat year-over-year, and down about 4 percent from April 2022.

It’s not all doom and gloom in intermodal operations, though.

The market has also taken some pressure off shippers’ budgets, according to Uber’s monthly economic update, allowing them to invest in areas where they could not in the past two years. As a result, “sustainability is a clear winner,” the economic update noted.

In fact, Uber Freight moved its first load on a fully electric truck in January, after which several shippers expressed interest. “This will expand further as the technology matures, with cheaper and better batteries, and more access to chargers,” the update added. “Shippers who are adopting this technology early on are also learning quickly what it takes to support electric vehicle (EV) deployment, and how to

become the shipper of choice to attract EV trucks.”

Flexport, a digital freight forwarder, made a strategic new-hire for the company in January: Teresa Carlson, a former Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. executive. She will reportedly help drive the company’s expansion into global markets.

An article about the Carlson’s hiring at Flexport reported that the company is “trying to capitalize on the shift to digitization in logistics that the pandemic has accelerated.” Flexport announced a funding round of $935 million last February, bringing its valuation to more than $8 billion.

Flexport plans to double the size of its engineering team this year by hiring 350 to 400 software programmers.

The Future

What’s becoming clear recently is that the best way to increase efficiencies in intermodal operations is by collaborations and partnerships between multiple stakeholders that often involves using various platforms, artificial intelligence, and the cloud.

Here are a few examples:

• In 2017, Norfolk Southern (NS) announced a new joint interline service initiative to reduce transit times by one to

Flexport’s shipment management screen grab. Courtesy Flexport

two days for carload traffic between western Canada and NS destinations in the eastern United States. This allows freight to bypass traditional interchange points in Chicago, in favor of using the most efficient existing Canadian Railway (CN) and NS routes. The service has reduced transit times by up to 48 hours, providing customers more efficient delivery to final destinations.

• In December, 2021, CN announced that it would be working with Google Cloud in a seven-year partnership aimed at developing the application of CN’s digital scheduled

The Port of Baltimore Economic Impact

Approximately 37,300 jobs in Maryland are generated by port activity. 15,330 are direct jobs generated by cargo and vessel activities at the Port. 16,780 are induced jobs, i.e. jobs supported by the local purchases of goods and services by direct employees. 5,190 are indirect jobs, i.e. jobs supported by the business purchases of the employers who create the direct jobs.

The Port of Baltimore is a major source of personal and business revenues in the State of Maryland. The Port was responsible for $3.3 billion in personal income. The Port’s average annual salary for the direct job holder is 9.5% higher than the average annual wage for the State of Maryland (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The Port generated $2.6 billion in business revenues. Activities of the Port generated $395 million in state, county, and municipal tax revenues.

Approximately 101,880 other jobs in Maryland are directly related to activities at the Port. Related jobs are those with Maryland companies that choose to import and export their cargo through the Port of Baltimore, but they have the option of shipping their products or supplies through other ports.

Combining direct, induced and indirect jobs with related jobs, there are over 139,180 jobs linked to the Port.

For more information on the Port of Baltimore, please visit www.mpa.maryland.gov

railroading (DSR), or the next stage following precision scheduled railroading.

CN says DSR will modernize the railway’s technology infrastructure in the cloud and provide customers with improved visibility into the supply chain. CN will work with Google Cloud to develop an intuitive digital platform powered by Google Cloud’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools so that customers will have more visibility for planning, shipping, tracking and payment of services, according to a company press release.

• On August 29, 2019, Kuehne + Nagel and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo), two leading players of the airfreight industry, collaborated to improve integration of their electronic booking processes. It is the first time that an airfreight carrier and a global logistics provider create a direct system-to-system connection that transforms manual quotation and capacity booking process into a digital automated solution, enabling collaborative relationships and next-generation supply chain practice.

Following the successful proof of concept, both companies have agreed to further develop the solution and to start the roll-out in Europe and South Asia Pacific, according to the company press release.

• In June, 2021, Hapag-Lloyd and Singapore-based Ocean Network Express (ONE) Pte. Ltd. announced they have completed integration onto the TradeLens platform, helping ensure a more timely and consistent view of logistics data for their containerized freight around the world. TradeLens is a neutral, third-party platform launched by IBM and A.P. Moller - Maersk to help modernize the world’s supply chain ecosystems, and is run on IBM Cloud and IBM Blockchain. The TradeLens ecosystem now includes more than 300 organizations—encompassing ten ocean carriers and data from more than 600 ports and terminals.

And Finally…

Sustainability and carbon emission control issues have become top agenda items for the entire intermodal distribution structure.

According to McKinsey’s Global Energy Perspective 2022, the transportation sector is projected to experience the fastest transition to electricity, which is primarily the result of passenger electric vehicles (EVs) reaching cost parity with internal combustion engine vehicles.

Freight transportation accounts for up to 8 percent of global greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, and as much as 11 percent when warehouses and ports are factored in, according to the McKinsey report. “Decarbonizing freight transportation from start to finish will require owners and operators to fundamentally rethink how infrastructure supports electrification and how new technologies can enable a more sustainable future.” X

Port of Baltimore, the sky's the limit.

Logistics Companies Apply Lessons Learned

BY: DAVID HODES

The pandemic has given logistics professionals a different disruptive event to learn from – and they are responding with better service for their customers

The last three years have been tricky for all businesses. But freight movement and transportation in general has been particularly hard hit. The logistics guys have had to get creative. ............................................................................................................

Getting freight from point A to point B during one of the most disruptive events they have ever faced—the Covid pandemic—has provided both clarity of their business objectives to their customer, and plans for dealing with something as profound as that event happening again.

Mitch Luciano, president and CEO of Ocean Carrier Trailer Bridge, writing in Forbes magazine, outlined three things that will occur post-pandemic:

1. Digital disruption has become an explosion. Most executives plan to continue making their companies increasingly digital and virtual, especially if they lead large organizations.

2. Work will become more flexible and employee-oriented. Research by PriceWaterhouseCoopers found that 78 percent of CEOs believe that remote work and collaboration will remain after the pandemic; 61 percent felt that low-density workplaces are here to stay; and 58 percent said supply chain safety would be an enduring issue to contend with, making safety a priority over speed.

3. Companies will broaden their production bases. Many business leaders have recognized that extended and complex supply chains are vulnerable. As a result, many companies are making plans to shorten supply chains through nearshoring or reshoring and fewer imports. According to a Foley and Lardner survey, 43% of companies currently operating in China either already have or are planning to move operations to another country, such as the U.S., Mexico, or Canada. Seventy percent agree that companies will, as a result of the pandemic, lessen their focus on sourcing from the lowest-cost supplier in favor of higher supply chain resiliency.

Vanessa Miller, co-chair of Foley’s Coronavirus Task Force and co-chair of the Supply Chain Team, said the principal lesson from the pandemic—the wake-up call, really—might simply be that such disruptions are an unshakeable reality, and that executives must have a proactive strategy if they hope to head them off.

“The number of disruptions that we’ve seen in the last decade are frequent,” Rick LaGore, cofounder and CEO, InTek Freight and Logistics, told BXJ. “And they’re more painful in nature. Now, of course, the pandemic has been the biggest one. And it’s really thrown around a lot of the C-suite folks into the world of supply chain. It’s usually been thought of as a cost center. Although if you look at some of the best companies out there, Amazon being one of them, they built their competitive advantage off of their supply chains,” he said. “We see shippers out there that are really working to build their supply chains as a competitive advantage instead of being a cost center.”

Exploring Solutions

Coming to the rescue is updated automation and digitization efforts that should help smooth things over and accelerate freight activity.

One example comes from the collaboration between DHL Supply Chain and Boston Dynamics. DHL is the global and North American contract logistics leader within Deutsche Post DHL Group. In January, 2022, DHL announced a $15 million investment in robotics solutions from Boston Dynamics to further automate warehousing in North America. The two companies have signed a multi-year agreement

that begins with equipping DHL facilities with Stretch, which is the newest robot from Boston Dynamics specifically designed to automate the unloading process in distribution centers.

Under terms of the deal, Boston Dynamics will deliver a fleet of Stretch robots to multiple DHL warehouses throughout North America over the next three years.

This collaboration is part of DHL Supply Chain’s Accelerated Digitalization agenda, a strategy for developing and scaling innovative solutions and new technologies, according to a press release. Stretch will tackle several box-moving tasks in the warehouse, beginning with truck unloading at select DHL facilities. Following the first deployment, the multi-purpose mobile robot will handle additional tasks to support other parts of the warehouse workflow, which will effectively automate warehouse operations.

DHL was one of the early adopters of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in their warehousing and logistics operations, using smart glasses for workflow guidance in the picking process, with pilot projects already completed in 2014.

There is a newer trend underway at DHL called Extended Reality (ER) that brings together the different experiential technology of AR, VR, and mixed reality (MR). DHL explains that AR enriches the physical world with purely visual digital screens or overlays in the right place at the right time; VR is a fully immersive digital experience requiring special headsets; and MR is at the intersection of both, infusing interactive virtual content within the physical world.

“What we’ve seen so far this year, beginning at the end of last year, is a lot of interest in people trying to figure out what’s going on and where the freight is, and why am I spending so much and how can I spend less and how can I be more efficient in terms of talking to more carriers to better optimize service price,” LaGore said. “So we’ve seen a lot of movement towards software technology platform at this point. We see that continuing to accelerate through this year, as people want to better prep themselves for the next disruption.”

A Missing Link?

Logistics relies on various forms of freight—trucks, ships, trains. But a critical link in that chain is getting air cargo in the mix, coming on strong as a result of exponential growth of e-commerce.

A study of 50 U.S. cargo airports, air cargo carriers, and the logistics and e-commerce sectors explored a consolidated airport, air cargo, and e-commerce relationship, especially in the pandemic period.

Airports and air cargo carriers are identified as the most relevant partners in the e-commerce industry because consumers in e-commerce demand speed and reliability in the interaction between the demand and supply of products and services. “We can forget that the e-commerce industry provides large revenues to airports and carriers, and that this sector has not stopped growing in the past 10 years,” the study reported.

After an extensive literature review, several indicators were identified as driving factors of e-commerce at an airport: a good geographical location of the airport; a cargo market close to the airport; international connectivity; efficiency of operations;

personalized services by airports and carriers; optimized synchronization of traffic flows; and frequencies of flights by air cargo carriers. “Airport operators and air cargo airlines are developing new co-operative approaches to service provision in the e-commerce market. Airport operators need to diversify their business models,” the study added.

The study concluded that the pandemic has changed the way in which organizations operate, and it is likely to create new demands for the aviation and e-commerce industries. “These two sectors are highly dependent on their commercial interaction relationship, because they provide products and services of primary necessity such as food, pharmaceuticals, electronics, perishables, and urgent shipments. We should be aware that recovery will not be immediate or result in an instant return to the record 2019 figures.”

The Reset is Underway

The logistics industry is quickly recovering and resetting from the 2019 downward spiral triggered by the pandemic.

For example, the largest global logistics company, DHL Supply Chain and Forwarding, had revenue of around $82 billion as of 2021, employing 550,000 people worldwide. Revenue for the DHL group of companies was up 22.5 percent to $86 billion, representing the highest revenue in the group’s history.

The largest U.S. logistics company, United Parcel Service, had a reported revenue of $100 billion in 2022, an increase of 3.14 percent from 2021. Revenue in 2021 was up nearly 15 percent from 2020.

The transport and logistics industries are expected to grow to

approximately $171.9 billion by 2027, and increase its workforce by 4.6 percent.

Despite promising success and growth, external issues this year, including inflation and supply chain disruptions, have led to the emergence of several challenges that the industry will need to tackle in 2023, according to an article in Forbes.

Those challenges include labor shortages, natural disasters, managing new customer expectations such as same-day delivery, the rising costs of warehousing, and the demand for sustainable deliveries.

There are other considerations as well, including geopolitical tensions and trade disputes.

“We’ve definitely seen a business slowdown,” LaGore said. “We’ve gone through the craziest 18 to 20 months of supply chain challenges trying to help customers get their freight from point A to point B without having too many surcharges, and charges put on them for containers being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or are just sitting there.

“Right now the direction that we’re really pushing for this year is to help those customers that want help the most, which is those that are really looking to improve their supply chains, better balance truckload intermodal, better balance ports they’re coming into, because that was one of the other big things that we learned during the pandemic,” he said. “So our direction this year is really trying to help customers. They may be asking for X-Y-Z, but they may not understand what they’re really asking for. So we’re trying to dig deeper into their questions to come up with a more holistic answer for them.” X

Airports Back in Business in a Big Way

BY DAVID HODES

Funding new development on a blistering pace to help prop up the airport industry comeback

It’s been a rough few years for airport industry operations. “When you see the losses in 2020 and 2021—and indeed, this year—where we are still expecting losses on the order of $10 billion, the industry will have lost around $190 billion in the three years since this pandemic started,” said Willie Walsh, the director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), speaking in September at a media briefing. “But if you go back.. between 2010 and 2019, I think that was the first time that the industry had made profits at an operating level, consecutively. And these were the best 10 years of the industry’s history. And interestingly, the average margin over that period was five wand a half percent.

“You compare that to the margins over the last three years, such as minus 29 percent and minus 1.8 percent expected this year, these have been so very, very tough times,” he said.

Portland International Airport Concourse E with Mount Hood in the background. The airport will get $6 million to convert the heating system from boilers fueled by fossil fuels to an electric powered heat pump. Courtesy Portland International Airport

A Big Shot in the Arm

Yes indeed, that prediction looks to be true because the U.S. airport industry just got a huge shot in the arm.

One of the biggest bits of positive news in airport development was the Biden-Harris Administration announcement in February that nearly $1 billion from the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be dedicated to airport funding.

Signed into law November 15, 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and economy in the country’s history. It provides $550 billion over fiscal years 2022 through 2026 in new federal investment in infrastructure, including in roads, bridges, and mass transit, water infrastructure, and broadband.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding that $1 billion from Biden’s infrastructure law through grants to 99 airports of all shapes and sizes across the country.

Grants Breakdown

Many grants are earmarked for new or expanded terminal facilities. Among them are:

• $10.8 million to Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, Iowa. This project replaces the 1948 terminal that is beyond its useful life and operating above capacity. Recent data shows aeronautical demand at 109 percent of pre-pandemic levels. This project offers opportunities to strengthen climate resilience and create good paying jobs. This phase includes the preparation and construction of the terminal foundation.

• - $29 million to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The New SLC is a phased terminal and north concourse redevelopment program which replaces aging and capacity-constrained facilities.

Many grants contain an element that will improve passenger experience, including more reliable and faster baggage systems. Among them are:

• $4.4 million to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska. The project increases north terminal capacity by installing common use equipment and upgrading the baggage handling system.

• $4.3 million to Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport in Lawton, Oklahoma. The terminal modernization and

expansion project includes a building expansion with a new baggage claim and meeter-greeter areas, a new and expanded security checkpoint, and a hold room expansion that accommodates two airline gates. This award will provide funding to complete the final phase of the project, which includes an expanded airline counter, office spaces, conveyor baggage handling system for departures, a passenger boarding bridge and curbside area updates that will help provide a smoother experience for travelers getting in and out of the airport.

• $38 million to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore, Maryland. This project will fund a portion of the concourse A and B expansion project to include baggage system improvements, direct airside connection between concourses A and B, expanded apron level operations space, larger hold rooms, new concession space and modern restrooms.

Other grants are geared to increase terminal sustainability. Among them are:

• $6 million to Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon. This project will convert the heating system at the terminal from boilers fueled by fossil fuels to an electric-powered heat pump. This project will significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful pollutants, create job opportunities and strengthen climate resilience for the facility.

• $15 million to Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This project funds a portion of the terminal energy optimization program. This will replace and upgrade pre-condition air (PCA) units and ground power units (GPUs) at 25 gates. This equipment powers and cools aircraft while at the gate, avoiding

He added that he thinks credit should go to airlines that have been able to manage through this crisis, and demonstrate the resilience of the industry. “Moving on, if you look at what we’re seeing this year, it’s expected that the US industry will be profitable.”

Mother Nature dropped a rainbow over the New Terminal construction site recently. The wide-angle photo is taken from the control tower vantage point. Courtesy BuildKCI

the use of aircraft engines. The airport is also receiving a second grant of $15 million to improve accessibility in the terminal. That grant will fund the renovation and construction of terminal restrooms, adult assisted care, mother’s rooms and service animal relief areas.

• $35 million to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas. This award funds the second phase of the installation of the airport’s zero carbon electric central utility plant (eCUP), which will be powered 100 percent by renewable energy. The eCUP will position DFW to achieve its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, providing the airport with uninterrupted, redundant service. The grant also funds a portion of the terminal D energy efficiency enhancement program that replaces aging infrastructure with modern systems to significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

And Even More Funding News

In September, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced $230 million in awards to nine upstate airports for revitalization projects that reimagine and further modernize airports across upstate New York.

This funding comes from the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, a competitive solicitation which aims to promote, revitalize and accelerate investments in upstate commercial passenger service airports.

According to a press release, funded activities include the planning, design and construction of state-of-the-art boarding concourse and concession areas; terminal expansion or rehabilitation; improved security screening; opportunities to move passengers more safely and efficiently with improved distancing during and after the pandemic;

new innovations in contactless technology and an increased focus on cleanliness and disinfection.

KC Eye-Popping Upgrade

One of the longest anticipated airport redevelopments is the new Kansas City International Airport (KCI), a $1.5 billion redo of the 1972-era three-terminal airport located on the same property 20 miles north of downtown Kansas City. The revised KCI opened ahead of schedule on February 28.

The new main terminal is the largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history. Design and construction efforts began in 2018, and the project broke ground in March, 2019. The new terminal is a million square feet, with 40 gates and plans to expand to 50, featuring nearly 50 local and national food, beverage, and shopping experiences.

Two moving walkways help transfers between two concourses, and consolidated and flexible security checkpoints with 16 lanes were designed to accommodate the flow of passenger volume. There is also a new 6,200-space garage adjacent to the terminal, and two levels in the terminal—one for departures and one for arrivals, with clear wayfinding and sightlines.

Airport’s New Design Elements

KCI illustrates many of the new ideas in airport design, such as biophilic design, or the connecting of people with nature by incorporating natural elements such as plants, water features, and natural light into the design of the terminal; user experience design focusing on creating a positive and stress-free experience for passengers by improving wayfinding, creating comfortable seating areas, and optimizing security screening processes; and technology integration, such as airport terminals integrating self-check-in kiosks, biometric

The BaltimoreWashington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore, Maryland will get $38 million to fund a portion of the concourse A and B expansion project. Courtesy BWI airport.

screening, and mobile apps to streamline the passenger experience and reduce wait times.

Probably one of the bigger ideas being incorporated by airport developers is a flexible design to adapt to changing needs and circumstances, such as shifting passenger volumes, new security requirements, or changes in airline operations—much of which was learned from the disruptive changes of the pandemic.

The Path to Ongoing Development

The path to global airport development is clearer and more open now as the pandemic subsides, and it’s going full tilt.

For example, it was the pandemic that nearly completely shut down the Istanbul’s airport in 2018. Now it’s up to its full capacity of 200 million passengers per year.

The $18 billion Beijing Daxing International Airport, currently the biggest in the world, opened in 2019 and has a capacity of up to 100 million passengers per year. It is designed to be one of the world’s most technologically advanced airports.

Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport is being developed to

NORTH CAROLINA AIRPORT EMBRACES AEROSPACE INNOVATION

Aerospace innovators have discovered that there is a place for them in central North Carolina at the Piedmont Triad International Airport, where airport and government leaders have laid out a welcome mat for fresh thinking and new ideas.

“We want our airport to become known as the place where big ideas in aerospace come to be proven and to be launched,” says Kevin Baker, PTI’s executive director. “We want to lead, not follow.”

The latest entry into the airport’s stable of innovators is Boom Supersonic, the ambitious project that promises to put supersonic passenger jets back into service by 2029, with an affordable ticket price and a zero-carbon footprint.

Boom broke ground in January on its first manufacturing plant, which will be located on 62 acres on the PTI campus. The manufacturing facility will include a final assembly line and various support buildings. The first production aircraft, called Overture, is expected to make its debut in 2026 with the production of the final product to begin at PTI in 2029.

“Building on our legacy of ‘First in Flight,’ North Carolina is ready to partner with Boom Supersonic in leading the way to a fast and clean aviation future,” Gov. Roy Cooper said at the January groundbreaking.

The company expects to employ 2,400 people by 2032 in the 174,000-square-foot facility. The company already has orders for 130 aircraft from companies such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. Boom is also working on government and defense applications for the supersonic airliner.

Boom is not the first time the airport has nurtured innovation. Honda pioneered a radical new design at PTI for an ultralight business aircraft with engines mounted over the wings rather than underneath. That jet, the HondaJet, is now a reality and one of the bestselling of its type.

The Honda Aircraft Company was born and ultimately decided to locate its world headquarters at the airport, complete with administrative offices, a manufacturing plant, and maintenance and repair facilities. Honda also manufactures engines for the HondaJet a short distance away in Burlington, NC.

With a central East Coast location, proximity to a network of Interstate highways, and nearly 1,000 acres ready for industrial development, the airport has proven attractive to all aspects of the aerospace industry –manufacturing, cargo, and maintenance and repair and overhaul (MRO).

FedEx has a Mid-Atlantic hub located at the airport, HAECO Americas, one of the world’s largest MRO organizations, has its North American Headquarters at the airport and Cessna/Textron operates its busy midAtlantic maintenance facility at the airport.

“There are currently more than 10 proposed new projects considering the airport,” Baker said. “Not all will come to fruition, but the fact that so many companies are showing interest in locating manufacturing operations here demonstrates the fact that the industry sees PTI, the region, and the state as a prime place to call home.”

Altogether, about 50 companies are located on airport property and taken altogether employ nearly 9,000 people. A supply-chain network of nearly 200 aerospace companies have located in the Piedmont Triad region near the airport providing even more aerospace jobs.

Thanks to the vision of past airport leadership, there is room for more companies to locate at PTI. The airport has assembled a 1,000-acre, aerospace “mega site” to accommodate a new wave of growth. Much of that land has been graded, has Interstate and runway access, and is ready for new development.

“Vision and foresight are part of this airport’s DNA,” Baker said. “We’re standing on the shoulders of those who came before us and laid the groundwork for this to happen.”

Nassia Inglessis’ “Fountain of Resonance” at the KCI New Single Terminal. This artwork is in the Retail Node A area of the New Terminal at KCI, where the A Concourse intersects the connector. Courtesy BuildKCI

AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT INSIGHT INDUSTRY

become the next world’s largest airport, with an expected capacity of up to 220 million passengers per year. The first of two phases of development is expected to be completed by 2030.

What’s Next?

A combined McKinsey and International Air Transport Association (IATA) report released in December, 2022, found that airports were broadly more resilient than airlines during the pandemic.

Airports faced drops in aeronautical revenues and passenger-related retail and services. Unsurprisingly, given the depth of the crisis,

many airports both needed and received government support through the course of the pandemic, according to the report, which “combined with continued inflows from real estate and other sources, lessened the impact of the crisis.”

There is an opportunity today for greater sharing of data and insights across the value chain, the report found. “This could include enhance data sharing between airlines, airports, and handlers about expected volumes—leading to better short-term projections and enhanced operational planning at airports.” X

Private Development and Increasing Passenger Activity at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Fuels regional Job Growth and Economic Sustainability

By Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson Chairwoman, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority

If you haven’t visited Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (Airport) recently, you probably wouldn’t recognize the place. Commercial aircraft from multiple domestic and international airlines are pulled up to the passenger terminal, a record number of air travelers are enjoying enhanced food, beverage, and retail concessions, a new $30MM air traffic control tower was recently commissioned, and a five-gate, 30,000 square foot (SF) terminal addition is currently under construction. There’s also more than one million square feet of private development underway at the Airport, representing a significant financial investment and an increase in high-wage job opportunities for the Phoenix East Valley.

Virgin Galactic is constructing two large facilities totaling more than 150,000 SF at the north end of the airfield. One facility will house the “mothership” and the other is where they will manufacture up to six “spaceships” each year. According to Virgin Galactic representatives, the mothership will transport the spaceships manufactured at Gateway Airport to New Mexico for launch.

is now constructing a 129-room hotel and two 250,000 SF industrial buildings. SkyBridge is also investing between $25-$40 MM to construct horizontal infrastructure including a taxi lane extension, aircraft ramp area, roadways, and wet/dry utilities.

Global aviation industry leaders such as Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and Virgin Galactic are making major financial investments at Gateway Airport. Gulfstream already occupies over 100,000 SF of airfield facilities and is currently constructing a new 225,000 SF West Coast Service Center on the east side of the airfield that will be home to approximately 350-400 employees.

Gateway Airport also has two exciting master development projects offering mixed-use aeronautical and non-aeronautical parcels totaling approximately 660 acres. SkyBridge Arizona (SkyBridge), which includes 360 acres of land at the south end of the Airport, is being developed by Mesa SkyBridge, LLC. SkyBridge’s first two facilities, totaling over 135,000 SF are complete and have been fully leased. SkyBridge

GatewayEast is a 300-acre non-aeronautical development opportunity located on the eastside of the Airport adjacent to Ellsworth Road, the SR 24 Freeway, and the Loop 202 San Tan Freeway. The Boyer Company, LC (Boyer) from Salt Lake City, UT is planning a mixed-use development project including office, industrial, and commercial retail space. Boyer is currently working on a master plan for Phase I which includes the first 100 acres.

It’s my honor and privilege to serve as the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority’s Chairwoman for fiscal year 2023. The sky’s the limit at Gateway Airport and the entire Phoenix East Valley will continue to benefit from increasing job opportunities, more options for air travelers, and stronger regional economic sustainability.

Freedom to Grow TEXAS:

Texas continues to lead the nation in attracting both business and talent looking for economic opportunity and the freedom to grow. In 2019, the healthcare industry-leading McKesson Corporation joined the seemingly constant wave of companies relocating from California to Texas. In McKesson’s case, the move took the headquarters of the 76,000employee company from San Francisco to the Las Colinas master-planned development in Irving, Texas.

Years later, CEO Brian Tyler has no regrets about the company’s relocation to Texas. In fact, CEOs considering a move to Texas were to contact him about McKesson’s experiences, Tyler said, “I would tell them I regret not doing it a decade earlier.”

Similar testimonials are offered by leaders of diverse industries ranging from aerospace and automotive to technology, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and biotech who now call Texas home.

THE TEXAS ADVANTAGE

It’s no coincidence Texas has won the title as the Best State for Business for the last 18 years as awarded by Chief Executive Magazine. This is due in part to the Lone Star State’s unmatched, business-

friendly climate—with no personal or corporate income tax, easy access to global markets, overall lower operating costs, and reasonable regulations, not to mention a diverse and growing workforce and an enviable quality of life.

From leading the nation in job creation in 2022 to having the most diverse city (Houston) and the safest city (Frisco) in the nation, the Lone Star State is a beacon of opportunity.

Texas’ more than $2 trillion economy, the ninth largest when compared to nations of the world, is fueled by a highly skilled, diverse, and growing workforce of more than 14.6 million, along with 3.1 million small businesses, thousands of publicly traded firms, and the most Fortune 500 corporate headquarters in America—all of which are bolstered by a statewide focus on a business-friendly climate where companies of all sizes can thrive.

The Texas economy is also supported by a diverse industrial base. The state is actively pursuing growth in industry sectors such as corporate operations, finance, advanced manufacturing, energy, biotech and life sciences, information technology, petroleum and chemical processing, and aerospace, aviation, and defense.

JOBS GIANT & TALENT MAGNET

Texas’ economic successes are driven by their record-breaking job creation. Businesses large and small are continuing to break all-time job records with more than 13.7 million total jobs at the end of 2022 and more than 14 million Texans working.

And the Lone Star State continues to be a talent magnet, attracting the brightest minds from across the nation and around the world. With a diverse and growing population of more than 30 million, the state has added more than four million new Texans since 2010—more than California and New York combined. The Texas population is younger and growing faster than the country as a whole, offering companies the workforce they need to grow well into the future.

TOP TIER UNIVERSITIES

In the last decade, Texas has grown from four Tier 1 research universities to now leading the nation in this category. In an economic development world increasingly dominated by the need for highquality and skilled talent, this is another reason businesses continue to relocate and expand in Texas.

At the end of 2021, the following Texas universities achieved Tier 1 Status:

• Baylor University

• University of Texas at San Antonio

• Texas Tech University

• University of Texas at Arlington

• Texas A&M University–College Station

• University of Texas at Dallas

• University of Texas at El Paso

• University of Texas at Austin

• University of North Texas

• University of Houston

Also the home to top-ranked universities for business, engineering, and more, and a leading state for biotech, engineering, and electrical engineering doctorates, Texas is well positioned to help businesses continue to innovate for years to come.

IDEAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Strategically located in the center of North America, a key piece to Texas’ economic strength is their robust infrastructure and ports system. Home to more miles of public roadways, state highways, freight railways, and airports than any other state in the country, people and goods can move easily throughout the Lone Star State by air, land, or sea and quickly reach customers across the nation and the world. Texas serves as a logistical hub for the entire country and offers easy access to all major domestic and international markets.

LEADER IN EXPORTS

Accounting for 9% of all U.S. GDP, it’s no surprise that Texas has led the nation in exports for the last 21 consecutive years, proving that “Made in Texas” has never been a more powerful global brand. In addition, Texas exports in 2021 accounted for more than one million jobs, according to the International Trade Administration.

Among the factors that have contributed to Texas’ 21-year export streak are:

• A business-friendly regulatory environment.

• A low tax burden.

• A strong, established infrastructure and a global logistics network.

• A high level of collaboration among state and local economic development professionals.

The state’s leadership in the high-tech industry also plays a key role. In the state where the microchip was first born, the future of America’s semiconductor industry is already building for tomorrow as Texas ranks as the top state in the nation for semiconductor manufacturing and exports. Texas has now led the nation in semiconductor exports for 12 years in a row and for high-tech exports for 10 years.

Countries around the world recognize the strength of the Texas economy when it comes to international trade and foreign direct investment. Mexico ranks as the state’s top trading partner followed by Canada, China, South Korea, Brazil, Japan, India, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan. In addition, Texas ranks as the top state for foreign direct investment with top countries including South Korea, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and France.

THE HEADQUARTERS OF HEADQUARTERS

The Lone Star State champions a world-class economic landscape, bringing businesses of all sizes and people from all backgrounds to a state fueled by one of the lowest business operating costs in the nation, creating an environment that is attractive for corporate headquarters across all industries. Paired with a reasonable regulatory environment, a lower cost of living, and an exceptional quality of life, Texas is a top state for corporate headquarter relocations and expansions.

Texas has a robust corporate services workforce estimated to be more than 1.5 million, allowing businesses to find specialized labor and back-office support in finance, information technology, human resources, and more. In 2021, 80 companies relocated their headquarters to Texas, the most in the state’s history. This includes Fortune 500 corporate relocations such as AECOM, NRG Energy, and Tesla. Most recently, Caterpillar Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, announced the relocation of their global headquarters to Irving. Governor Greg Abbott said relocations like Caterpillar are a “testament to the boundless opportunity Texas has to offer.”

Additional recent headquarter relocations and expansions include:

• Archaea Energy, one of the largest renewable natural gas producers in the U.S., chose Houston as the site of their new headquarters.

• Apollo USA, a California-based specialty products firm, announced plans to make North Richland Hills the location for their new headquarters.

• CCIntegration, Inc. in Plano: CCIntegration, Inc., an original equipment manufacturer, has established a new corporate headquarters in Plano.

• DaBella Exteriors, a home improvement company, announced they will move their headquarters from Oregon to Austin.

• Kraken Technologies, an Octopus Energy Group company, announced their first U.S. headquarters will be in Houston.

• M2M Certified Inc. in Austin: M2M Certified Inc. officially moved its headquarters of operations to Austin to capitalize on the next boom in technological expansion in the region.

• Parus Holdings Inc., a maker of voice-enabled technologies, announced the relocation and expansion of their corporate headquarters in Austin, relocating from Illinois.

• Ranchland Foods LLC, a grass-fed, free-range chicken, and organic meat food production company, relocated their main

distribution facility to Denton.

• SI Group, a performance additives company, announced the relocation of their global headquarters and research and development facilities to the Woodlands.

• Ulrich Medical USA Inc., a medical device company, announced they are relocating from Missouri to Plano.

Under Governor Abbott’s administration, there have been more than 270 corporate headquarter relocations to the state since 2015. And this number continues to grow as companies flock to the Lone Star State to escape high-taxed and over-regulated states.

While many companies are announcing their move to Texas, companies already headquartered in Texas are making their impact nationally. In 2021, 49% of all expansion and relocation projects in the U.S. were attributed to companies headquartered in Texas. These projects represented $41.4 billion (60%) of all capital investment across the U.S.

QUALITY OF LIFE

“Night and day.” That’s how one CEO described the difference between Silicon Valley and his new Texas headquarters. In Texas, employers and workers alike enjoy low taxes, low housing costs, and high-quality education options coupled with a vast range of recreational opportunities. That’s why Texas cities, large and small, continue to attract a diverse group of millennials, families, and entrepreneurs. With plenty of cultural offerings at museums, restaurants, music venues, and more across the state, they truly do have something for everyone—whether you’re looking for a rural oasis or busy city lifestyle. There’s simply no place in the world quite like Texas.

TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The opportunities in Texas are as vast as the state itself, and those at the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC), in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Texas Economic Development & Tourism, are promoting Texas across the country and across the world as the best location for businesses to locate and expand.

Through a robust program of national and international investment attraction missions, industry events, media relations, advertising, and other signature initiatives, TxEDC spreads the word of Texas’ business advantages among a target audience of corporate decision makers and site-selection consultants. The organization is made possible through the support of a broad range of organizations, Fortune 500 companies and privately held enterprises throughout the state.

Interested in learning more about the Texas advantage? Contact them at www.businessintexas.com.

TEXAS: Harlingen

One Of The Best Kept Secrets

Strategically situated in the Rio Grande Valley in Southern Texas, the city of Harlingen and the surrounding region might be one of the

best-kept secrets of the Lone Star State.

Harlingen is in a great location in terms of market accessibility, which opens the door to draw in more investors to the area. Harlingen is connected to major metro areas through its airport, proximity to Mexico, the Port of Harlingen, and the interstate system. Plus, Harlingen also boasts a low cost of living, which can be enticing for outside

companies looking to relocate or expand.

With an in-city population of up to 1.3 million within a 45-minute radius, Harlingen also benefits from several other advantages, such as being located in a Foreign Trade Zone, Freeport Tax Exemption, no personal state income tax and no corporate income tax. All of these factors point to Harlingen as a strategic location for a large business interested in expanding its operations or an aspiring entrepreneur looking to establish a new small business.

Harlingen’s business climate is perfect for companies specializing in logistics, distribution, manufacturing, healthcare, technology and those that are also interested in launching something new – literally. The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) has spurred major growth in aerospace with companies like United Launch Alliance (ULA), that has chosen Harlingen for more than 20 years, and has helped companies from many sectors to either relocate or expand into Harlingen and the Rio Grande Valley. Those companies include United Healthcare, Penske Logistics, Qualfon, and CARDONE Industries, the world’s largest auto parts manufacturer.

The HEDC has a lot to proud of and our industrial sector has made great strides in 2019. The HEDC worked with Poly Sachi Polymers to set up a relocation of the plastics firm to the Harlingen Industrial Park from their location in Taylor, Texas. Harlingen is also proud of the expansion happening at Valley International Airport through the addition of new airlines, more frequent flights, and FedEx’s Express facility, which brought the airport up to rank as 71st in the nation in terms of cargo facilitation.

There are many other major projects creating jobs, improving our workforce, and contributing to local economy. Harlingen may not be a secret much longer. Learn more about why your business should choose Harlingen for business and much more by visiting our website for more information: www.harlingenedc.com.

A small town with big potential. Beyond our booming economy, you’ll find landscapes filled with adventure, food flavored with goodness, and new Texans falling in love with life. Unlock your potential here.

TEXAS: Tomball Creating Growth & Innovation

Tomball, Texas, located less than 30 miles northwest of Houston, has emerged as a premier business destination be blending economic opportunity with small-town charm. Advanced infrastructure, a business-friendly mindset, quality education, and hospitable quality of life drive Tomball’s sustained growth. With roots as a railroad hub in the early 1900’s, Tomball has become a modern destination for business and commerce.

Tomball is home to more than 1,500 businesses and nearly 1,400 employees. Companies from all over the globe have located in Tomball. From headquarters to manufacturing, Tomball’s businessfriendly approach, dynamic economy, and cost advantages attract companies large and small.

Tomball, located in the 3rd most populous county in the U.S., is in an advantageous geographic location to reach job seekers. With roughly 7 million people in the Houston-metro area, Tomball companies can effectively locate skilled employees without having to extend beyond the region. Tomball utilizes its location to create a diverse workforce representative of the region, which is one of the most culturally diverse in the country.

The Tomball Economic Development Corporation has a strategic commitment to develop and maintain a talented, robust workforce within Tomball. Working with stakeholders like the Tomball Independent School District and Lone Star College-Tomball, the TEDC provides opportunities to attract premium talent to Tomball businesses.

One of the TEDC’s primary focus is on promoting business retention and expansion for Tomball companies. The TEDC offers financial assistance to qualifying companies in the form of cash grants for projects that create or retain jobs, in addition to assisting with funding for eligible infrastructure costs. The goal is to support Tomball companies with their development plans, as the key to economic vitality is building upon existing success. Investing in existing companies strengthens ongoing business connections leading to sustained growth.

For more information on the advantages to investing in Tomball, please contact the Tomball Economic Development Corporation at 281-401-4086 or visit their website at www.tomballtxedc.org .

TEXAS: Marble Falls Growth Leads To Multiple Community Developments

Like most communities, Marble Falls has commercial and industrial land that is available for development. The town of just over 7,500 also has reasonably good transportation infrastructure and proximity to large urban centers like Austin (60 minutes away) and San Antonio (75 minutes away). The area can start claiming some advantages as a scenic lake town in the Texas Hill Country, popular for retirees and tourists alike, with recent growth creating new opportunities in the healthcare,

light manufacturing, and professional office sectors. Being a regional shopping hub for more than 117,500 people has helped Marble Falls weather the current economic storm very well—in fact, monthly sales tax allocations have averaged more than 20% growth over the prior year.

What sets Marble Falls apart, however, now more than ever, is the community’s small-town values coupled with its welcoming attitude toward newcomers. Those who are buying land in the Business and Technology Park are coming from nearly everywhere. The community supports law enforcement and first responders, holding multiple events every year to honor their service. The Marble Falls Independent School District is the area’s largest employer, so teachers, administrators, and other support staff provide a strong foundation at all levels of the workforce.

Roughly 100 businesses open or expand annually in Marble Falls, with about 70% of those being locally-owned and operated. The Downtown area in particular has been a major contributor to that growth. Professional offices and small headquarter facilities are well-situated here with proximity to quaint shops, great restaurants, and amazing park space. People are realizing that, if they can work from anywhere, they want to work from Marble Falls.

New subdivisions like Gregg Ranch with 707 lots-currently in phase II-and Thunder Rock with 1,870 lots will support recent developments that include Baylor Scott & White’s $100 million regional medical center, a 110,000-square-foot H-E-B grocery store, and a $20 million operations center for Pedernales Electric Cooperative. There are also several medical office facilities and a new family entertainment center that just opened, and the development pipeline includes some exciting retail opportunities such as the 114--acre Legacy Crossing, 40-acre Flatrock Crossing, and the 10-acre Panther Hollow Village. Also in the development pipeline are several multi-family properties with 1,000+ combined units and a public/private Downtown hotel and conference center project slated to break ground summer 2023.

While the emergence of Marble Falls as the retail and entertainment hub of the Highland Lakes area is a relatively recent development, the community’s draw for generations has been its connection to the outdoors. Beautiful Lake Marble Falls is ideal for skiing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding, and the Downtown parks along the waterfront are continually enhanced by a $25 million improvement plan that began in 2019.

Marble Falls is already a special place, and community leaders are focused on making incremental improvements to a few areas while maintaining momentum in others. When it comes to new businesses, size and fit are critical considerations. Small- to mediumsized companies will likely have an easier time with real estate and employment than very large firms—and the community likes it that way. If the prospects of a charming small town with steady, manageable growth and a surprising set of amenities sounds appealing, give Marble Falls a shot. Whether your interests lead to a greenfield development in the Business and Technology Park or the restoration of an historic downtown structure into a live/work/shop space, opportunities abound in Marble Falls. For more information about investing in Marble Falls, contact Christian Fletcher, Executive Director of the EDC, at 830/7987079 or cfletcher@marblefallseconomy.com.

TEXAS: Hamilton A Hill Country Destination

The city of Hamilton, Texas is conveniently located at the intersection of US Highway 281 and Texas State Highway 36. Seated along the Edwards Plateau, where the hill country embraces the grassy plains.

Hamilton is centrally located, only 100 miles north of Austin, south of Dallas/Fort Worth and east of Abilene. Close proximity to these metro areas ensures a consistent flow of recreational, industrial, agricultural, and commercial traffic, as travelers venture from one part of the state to another. Enticed to stop for unique shopping and dining opportunities, Hamilton has changed from a stop-along-the-way to a hill country destination.

In addition to direct highway access, the Hamilton Municipal Airport is the largest in the region, supporting private jets, providing self-service fuel and a courtesy car available 24-hours a day. Most weekends, you can find gliders leaving the airport, so pilots, students and guests can take in the beautiful hill country scenery from an alternative perspective.

Hamilton is the county seat, allowing the historically preserved and updated Hamilton County Courthouse to provide governmental services daily to a population of 8,000. The courthouse is the center of our downtown, supplying the perfect location to numerous community events and festivals.

The Texas Historical Commission designated the 18-county area of Central Texas as the Texas Brazos Trail Region. Hamilton is featured on the trail because of its rich architectural history. Many of the

buildings downtown feature their original limestone facades and a rare bowstring iron bridge leads pedestrians to a local nature trail for walking and running. The beautiful and spacious Pecan Creek Park spreads across numerous acres, providing baseball, softball, playgrounds, and disc golf. City Lake provides water-based recreation for kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and much more.

Hamilton is known as the “Dove Capital of Texas”, which is a strong statement. Extensive wildlife such as turkeys, doves, whitetail deer and more, are just a few additional reasons why individuals visit Hamilton. Those that prefer photography keep busy all year round with breathtaking fields of bluebonnets, endless sunflowers, world record longhorns, and exquisite sunsets.

The Circle T Resort provides a comfortable western inn for overnight stays, stall and RV reservations, award-winning steakhouse, and monthly opportunities to participate in youth and adult rodeos, including the World Series of Team Roping.

Just outside the city limits, is a 200-acre complex that is home to the Game Warden Training Center for Texas Parks and Wildlife. The facility provides the only training available to become a Game Warden or Park Police Officer. Every year, a new class of cadets graduate and join an elite group of trained conservation officers stationed throughout the state.

The Texas Historical Commission designated Hamilton as an official Texas Main Street community in 2020. To ensure clear communication, streamlined processes and project efficiency, the Economic Development Corporation and Main Street Program are housed in the same building. Both entities focus on community engagement, economic growth and development, historical preservation, and building a talented local workforce. X

PENNSYLVANIA:

Growth Through Innovation, Imagination & Legendary Can-Do Spirit

You often hear you can’t have it all, but in Pennsylvania, you’ll start believing you can. Here you’ll find an experienced and skilled workforce, best-in-class higher education institutions ready to partner with industry, a prime East Coast location, and exceptional quality of life. Innovation and ingenuity are woven into their flag and serve as the foundation for their population’s legendary spirit. Their past, present, and future are tied together with inventors and entrepreneurs committed to Pennsylvania. From corporate headquarters, to state-of-the-art R&D facilities, to startups and small businesses, their business

environment empowers companies to be revolutionaries in their industry and redefine success.

Pennsylvania is the most economically diverse state in the country. Their $915 billion GDP makes them the sixth largest economy in the U.S. and a leading global economic hub. Their business-friendly tax climate is gradually reducing the corporate net income tax rate to 4.99 percent by 2031, making it among the lowest in the nation.

Eight key industries have strategically emerged as the stronghold in PA. These include Advanced Manufacturing; Food Processing & Manufacturing; Energy Production & Transition; Corporate Headquarters; Life Sciences & Medical Technology; Distribution & Logistics; Plastics & Chemicals; and Robotics & A.I.

Pennsylvania is located within a day’s drive of nearly 40% of the U.S. population and 60% of the Canadian population and purchasing power, including four of the ten largest markets in the U.S. Pennsylvania has a comprehensive transportation network, including 120,000 miles of state and local highways, including a 500+ mile state turnpike; 65 railroads covering 5,600 miles and hauling over 170 million tons of freight each year; three major ports providing access to the Atlantic Ocean (Philadelphia), Gulf of Mexico (Pittsburgh), and the Great Lakes (Erie) for convenient international importing and exporting; Comprehensive intermodal infrastructure that offers unimpeded goods movement to any destination, whether via port, rail, or truck; and six international airports that move more than 600,000 tons of material annually.

Here you’ll find an affordable, diverse, and dynamic place to put down roots, build a business, grow your career, and raise a family. Learn more about Pennsylvania by visiting the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development at www.dced. pa.gov or calling 866-466-3972.

PENNSYLVANIA: Horsham Township A Community Connected

As part of the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, Horsham Township is in the heart of the 5th largest economy in the world, with 40% of the U.S. population within a single days’ drive, and 60% of the U.S. and Canadian populations accessible via a two-hour flight.

Horsham Township is accessible to nine major airports within a two-hour drive, and to three corporate service airports within 15 miles. Philadelphia International Airport is just 35 miles away and about a 42-minute car ride from Horsham. The township is easily accessible to Center City Philadelphia and to the Port of Philadelphia. This amazingly business-friendly township is home to five major business parks offering 6.4 million square feet of commercial office and flex space. Additional capacity is anticipated with planned redevelopment of the 862-acre former NAS-JRB Willow Grove military base. Highlights of their business environment include: Among the lowest real estate taxes in the region; no business privilege tax; no mercantile tax; and rental rates per square foot highly competitive with regional rates.

Horsham and greater Montgomery County are home to healthcare leaders, telecommunication and information companies, financial centers and tech companies. The township offers an excellent highway infrastructure with easy access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and several major arterial corridors as well as three regional rail lines and local public transportation.

Employers and their workforce appreciate the number of nearby amenities, services and attractions. Scores of local and regional restaurants offer wonderful diversity for the discerning palate. The township is close to a wealth of craft breweries, wineries and local distilleries for sipping and sampling. Additional attractions include: numerous regional retail shopping venues; Museums, casinos and a wealth of must-see historical landmarks; natural

appeal with 860 acres of parks, trails and open space; short drive to New Jersey and Delaware’s beaches and boardwalks as well as the ski slopes and lakes of Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains.

The School District of Hatboro-Horsham affords a rich history of academic excellence. All schools have received Blue Ribbon honors from both the state and federal Departments of Education. The district has ranked in the top 15% of Pennsylvania schools and in the top 10% of all schools in the nation. In terms of higher education, 44 colleges and/or research universities provide higher education within about an hour’s drive.

As a crossroads for wide-open opportunities that attract new business, economic development and commerce, Horsham is ideally situated for companies seeking easy accessibility, connectivity and the perfect environment for growth.

Horsham Township truly is A COMMUNITY CONNECTED to their residents, to their business community, and to a very talented workforce. Horsham is a great place to live, work, and play. They welcome and encourage your consideration when weighing favorable locations for your business or business units and when considering your available investment options.

For more information, please contact the Horsham Township Office of Community & Economic Development at 215-643-3131 or visit their website at www.horsham.org .

PENNSYLVANIA: Erie County

A Wealth of Water: Why Erie’s a Natural Choice .........................................................................................

Look at a map of Pennsylvania. That swath of blue in the top left corner isn’t just Lake Erie, the state’s only Great Lakes border. It’s also the lifeblood of Erie County.

Erie County’s entire northern edge borders Lake Erie, with the population center — the City of Erie and its immediate suburbs — arising from a natural harbor created by the Presque Isle peninsula.

In all, Erie County has more than 50 miles of shoreline, and a wealth of industries have taken advantage of this natural resource. Manufacturing enterprises, recognizing the benefits of abundant water (36 million gallons per day of excess water and sewer capacity!) have built legacy industries on Erie’s shores. Agriculture remains deeply rooted, with bountiful fields gently rolling into the blue horizon of the lake beyond. And a vibrant business services industry has flourished –benefitting, no doubt, from our innovative outlook and the rich, thriving quality of life that is unique to Erie County.

MANUFACTURING TRADITIONS

Erie first made a name for itself as a hub of shipbuilding during the War of 1812 — when craftsmen churned out ships to supply the fledgling American forces. Shipping remains a key part of Erie’s economic strength even today: We’re home to one of only two 1,000-foot dry docks as well as the largest industrial crane on the Great Lakes.

As the region grew with its young nation, it also discovered its potential in other manufacturing sectors. By the mid-20th century, Erie’s manufacturing heyday saw blue-collar workers filling factories of corporations like GE and Hammermill Paper.

Manufacturing remains a proud tradition in Erie County. With a 2.0 manufacturing location quotient, we maintain a greater percent of labor in manufacturing than in the nation or the state. But the industries that once put us on the map have evolved, nimbly adjusting to the needs of the present and the expectations for the future.

Look no further than the plastics industry. In the mid-19th century, it was in our corner of northwestern Pennsylvania that the first commercial oil well was drilled. We have long moved on from the derricks that once dotted our landscape, but we haven’t strayed far: In a natural evolution, Erie County is now known for its plastics industry — for its plentiful production, its skilled workers, and its innovations and engineering.

Penn State Behrend, one of five universities in Erie County, is training plastics and polymer engineers and researching new technologies to make plastics more sustainable. And a local company, International Recycling Group, is building the country’s largest plastics recycling plant to process all types and grades of plastics scrap, promising to revolutionize plastic sustainability. The company’s enterprise is supported by private and public investments, including a $300 million loan from the Erie County Redevelopment Authority, and will be headquartered — where else? — on Erie’s lakefront.

AGRICULTURE AND AQUACULTURE

The unique qualities of the soil that hugs Lake Erie has proven to be remarkably fertile for growing grapes — so much so that the Lake Erie Wine Region is the largest grape-growing region east of the Rockies. That doesn’t just mean that we have fine taste in wine (though we do). It also means that we’re home to the largest manufacturing plant for grape-juice giant Welch’s. Our local farmers supply the juice that goes to homes around the world, and our local workers bottle it.

Many other crops flourish in Erie County’s fertile farmlands as well — fruits, cabbage, soybeans, and more. One notable niche industry is potatoes. Every summer, field after field in rural Erie County is filled

with low-growing greens topped with delicate white blossoms, signaling another strong potato season.

Like the grapes, many of those potatoes make their way into homes across America — this time through snack foods. Shearer’s Foods recently expanded its operations in Erie County, bolstered by state funding and supported by the Erie County Redevelopment Authority.

But because this is Erie County, we’re not content to limit ourselves to traditional crops. We’re innovating with agriculture, too.

In Erie’s inner city, a long-vacant field is becoming home to a new aquaculture venture, again supported by the Erie County Redevelopment Authority. Grow Erie, as the enterprise is called, will feature all-season high-tech greenhouses where fish and plants will be integrated in a symbiotic ecosystem. It’s a natural fit for Erie, where there’s plenty of fresh water to feed the system.

HIGH-VALUE BUSINESS SERVICES

Erie has long been home to entrepreneurs. Consider Erie Insurance — founded as a dream by two men in 1925, and now a Fortune 500 company with thousands of agents and more than 6 million policies in force.

Not only has Erie Insurance grown into a dominant business in Erie, it has proved a good citizen — employing thousands at its downtown headquarters and investing hundreds of millions of dollars into growing its own footprint and in supporting other fledgling enterprises in the community. (There’s that familiar Erie ingenuity again.)

Thanks in part to Erie Insurance’s support, new industries like cybersecurity, data science, insurtech, and fintech are emerging in Erie County. They join more established white-collar specialties like intelligence studies to form a high-tech, high-value growth industry for Erie, enhanced by educational initiatives through Erie’s Gannon University and Mercyhurst University.

Health-care innovation, too, has become a hallmark of Erie County’s economy. We’re home to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, the nation’s largest medical college, which trains future doctors, pharmacists, and dentists. And like Erie Insurance, our major medical centers are doubling down on their Erie presence, spending a collective $125 million in capital investments in the past few years. Beyond treating patients, however, we’re creating partnerships between health-care and highereducation to launch biomedical research efforts.

WHY CHOOSE ERIE?

These businesses — from manufacturing to agriculture to the business services — all know the secret to success: Erie County, and the gem of Lake Erie in our backyard.

It’s our shimmering lake, that scenic, horizon-hugging backdrop, that creates the quality of life that attracts businesses and employees alike.

It’s our abundant water source that gives so many businesses the infrastructure they need to operate.

And it’s our unique location — a Great Lakes port at the nexus of two major interstates, opening doors to 80 percent of consumers in the continental U.S. — that gives businesses a logistics advantage to help them succeed.

To us, it’s home. But to you, it’s the perfect site for your operations, a sure bet to successfully grow your company, and a willing partner in the innovations needed to thrive for generations to come.

PENNSYLVANIA: Penn’s Northeast

Northeastern Pennsylvania’s “Inland Triangle” is the new Inland Empire.

Our seven counties’ residential options range from bustling live/work downtowns to beautiful small towns.

Our mountains, lakes, and rivers offer four seasons of incredible outdoor recreation – in fact, our Pocono Mountains have been a vacation destination for generations of Americans, so it’s no surprise that growing numbers of people want to live here year-round.

And on average, the cost of living in Northeastern Pennsylvania is 5% lower than living in the rest of the country.

These are just some of the reasons why top companies – from manufacturers like Ball Corporation or CANPACK, to agricultural processors like Little Leaf Farms to Upward Farms – have chosen Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Inland Triangle as a business location within the past three years.

In fact, Northeastern Pennsylvania became the state’s job-creation leader in 2021.

It’s clear that the word is out about the benefit of locating in Northeastern Pennsylvania’s “Inland Triangle.” X

Northeastern Pennsylvania’s “Inland Triangle” is the new Inland Empire.

That’s correct: the 7-county triangle formed by the

And Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Inland Triangle is a great place to live.

Great Brands Deserve the Great State of Tennessee

Tennessee believes in high expectations, low debt, and a pro-business regulatory environment. Tennessee is proud to be a right-to-work state with no personal income tax. Their state and local tax burdens are among the lowest in the country and their state budget operates with a healthy surplus rather than a deficit.

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Tennessee believes in high expectations, low debt, and a probusiness regulatory environment. Tennessee is proud to be a rightto-work state with no personal income tax. Their state and local tax burdens are among the lowest in the country and their state budget operates with a healthy surplus rather than a deficit.

In Tennessee, they make world-class cars, guns, and guitars. They make batteries, refrigerators, savory snacks, and legendary whiskey. “Made in Tennessee” means something special in the global business community. They’re recognized around the world for the high quality or their craftsmanship and the artisan strength of their workforce.

Some of the biggest and most respected brands in the world have chosen to call Tennessee home. That’s why they make the world’s best

whiskey, Duracell batteries, GE refrigerators, and La-Z-Boy recliners. They are home to the largest ice cream plant in the world and make the M&Ms to put on the kids’ ice cream sundaes.

Tennessee makes cars for Nissan, General Motors, and Volkswagen and car parts for Bridgestone, Hankook, and Denso Manufacturing. Guns are made for Beretta USA and appliances for Whirlpool.

When you bring your business to Tennessee, you’ll have unparalleled access to all markets within the U.S. and across the globe. Tennessee is home to one of the busiest cargo airport in the world, the third largest rail center in the U.S. and the nation’s fifth largest inland port. If you’re up for a day trip, Tennessee is conveniently accessible within a day’s drive to a majority of U.S. markets.

From the foothills of the beautiful Smoky Mountains to the broad banks of the Mississippi, the Volunteer State spans three distinct regions, each with its own personality. Tennessee boasts some of the lowest housing prices in the U.S. and your dollar will stretch further here than almost anywhere else in the country.

Tennessee’s music and arts pedigree is unlike any other. The state is the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and country music, the home of the blues and the starting point of soul. Tennessee is also legendary for

breathtaking landscapes, from lush forests and crystal-clear rivers to rolling hills and awe-inspiring mountain vistas. People tak advantage of the state’s abundant resources for fishing, hiking, boating, hunting, golfing, cycling, horseback riding, rock climbing and more.

For more information on why you may want to consider having your business in Tennessee, please contact the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development at 615-741-1888 or visit their website at www.tnedc.com .

TENNESSEE: Haywood, Tipton, and Lauderdale (HTL) counties in West Tennessee

It is a very exciting time in Haywood, Tipton, and Lauderdale (HTL) counties in West Tennessee near Memphis. Thousands of advanced manufacturing jobs are being across the HTL region by thriving existing industries and by massive projects like Blue Oval City, Ford and SK Innovation’s electric vehicle campus being built in Haywood County.

Why are these great companies choosing to grow in the HTL region? It boils down to great fundamentals including an abundant regional workforce, high quality utilities and infrastructure and an affordable quality of life for people of any age.

There are over a million people within a 45-minute drive Haywood, Tipton and Lauderdale counties and a workforce approaching 500,000. There are dozens of workforce training facilities located across the region offering advanced manufacturing programs to provide the skilled employees our companies need.

The Memphis region is known internationally for having some of the most robust industrial infrastructure in world. Companies here have access to five class-one railroads, the world’s busiest air cargo airport, two Mississippi river ports and an interconnected, modern road network.

The greatest feature that we offer in Haywood, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties is an unparalleled quality of life. No matter what your lifestyle, we offer just the right environment from urban to rural. The HTL region offers families excellent school choice in neighborhood that are more affordable than almost any other location in the country. The HTL region boasts cost of living numbers that are 20% below the national average and cost of housing that is even lower.

No matter your age you can access the entertainment, healthcare, cultural and outdoor activities you desire from Haywood, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties. From big city amenities like pro sports, theatre, music and food to great fishing hunting and exercise, we’ve got you covered.

Ford’s Blue Oval City Project

Ford and SK Innovations are building one of the largest and most advanced electric vehicle manufacturing centers in the world in Haywood County, in the heart of the HTL region. This new facility will build the new, advanced electric vehicles of the future right here and employ thousands of people. Construction at the facility is well underway and Blue Oval City is scheduled to open in January of 2025.

Suppliers looking to locate close to this massive facility need to look no further than Haywood, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties for the sites and infrastructure they need to set up their new manufacturing operations. HTL Advantage, the organization that works on industrial development for the region, works to promote a number of very high-quality industrial sites across the three counties that offer the utilities and infrastructure that advanced manufacturers need. These government owned parks have been developed to bring advanced manufacturing companies to the area and the high quality jobs and wages they bring.

EXPANSION

TENNESSEE: MCNAIRY COUNTY

Locate Today, Expand Tomorrow

increasing the number or Tennesseans with college degrees or certifications through the Tennessee Promise and TN Reconnect. As the only state in the country with these initiatives, Tennessee promises employers the support of highly skilled workers.

Located 100 miles east of Memphis, 120 miles west of Nashville and 40 miles south of Interstate 40, McNairy County is convenient to Memphis, Nashville and Jackson, Corinth and Tupelo, MS, and

McNairy County, Tennessee, is a place where longstanding tradition fuels future innovation, starting with their excellent education. Here, quality craftsmanship weaves its way through everything they do – from world-renowned woodwork and custom metal fabrication to globally recognized, top-of-the line appliances. Discover the countless benefits of locating, living, and profiting in McNairy County. Let them go to work for you!

A skilled workforce is key to business success. International and local companies in McNairy County depend on their talented labor force of more than 9,000. High school partnerships with industry and local colleges develop specialized training skills and programs to meet the growing demand of global companies and ensure the availability of qualified candidates.

Florence, AL. Highway 45 offers four lanes north and south, and Highway 64 makes transit east and west fast and convenient. Highway 22, which runs north through Lexington, is in the process of being turned into a four-lane road to Interstate 40.

McNairy County’s convenient access to the Norfolk Southern and West Tennessee Railroad, Port of Memphis and the Memphis International Airport makes it easy for companies to ship their goods across the nation and around the world.

McNairy County has the competitive advantages to attract international companies and the small town feel to turn visitors into residents. Their low crime rates, mild climate, affordable cost of living and quality schools make McNairy County an ideal place to raise a family.

programs are designed to prepare students for careers in industrial maintenance, nursing, engineering, welding, accounting, computer and technology science programs as well as a variety of technical fields such as heavy machinery, commercial trucking, advanced manufacturing, and agriculture industry fields.

Tennessee’s innovative workforce partnerships and education reform are developing qualified candidates for skills in high demand. Tennessee is leading the way in education reform by

Big Hill Pond State Park and Pickwick Lake offer some of the best bass and crappie fishing in the state. Immerse yourself in history at Shiloh National Military Park, Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park, and the Coon Creek Science Center. They boast a rich musical heritage and long list of music rebels such as Carl Perkins. Travel the Rockabilly Highway through Selmer and enjoy the iconic murals painted by Brian Tull.

Let McNairy County go to work for you! For more information, please contact the McNairy County Economic Development at 731645-7476 or visit their website at www.mcnairyedc.com . X

The McNairy County Career and Technical Education

Supporting a Strong, Innovative Economy ONTARIO, CANADA:

Ontario is one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada and is located in east-central Canada. It is Canada’s most populous province accounting for 38.3 percent of the country’s population, and is the second-largest province in total area. Ontario is home to the nation’s capital city, Ottawa, and the nation’s most populous city, Toronto, which is also Ontario’s provincial capital. Ontario’s workforce exceeds six million. The region’s economic plan is to provide jobs, opportunity and prosperity for all Ontarians.

Located within a day’s drive of more than 40 percent of North America’s population, Ontario is home to one of the largest manufacturing sectors in North America, making it one of the top economic leaders on the continent. This central location, along with its competitive business costs and skilled workforce, make it attractive

for industries including tourism, aerospace, automotive, chemical and biochemical, financial services, food and beverage manufacturing, life sciences, information technology and mining. Companies with significant operations in Ontario include Accenture, AIG, BASF, Labatt and Siemens.

Rapid changes in technology and globalization are reshaping Ontario’s economy. The $650-million Business Growth Initiative is the government’s new economic strategy to fast-track Ontario’s knowledgebased economy by tapping into its creativity, education and skills. Also the future of intelligent transportation is being built in Ontario. Between Detroit and Ottawa lies a 500-mile corridor with expertise in connected and autonomous vehicle technology, artificial intelligence, connectivity, cybersecurity and quantum computing.

Ontario offers funding, programs and federal tax incentives to help hire and train employees for employers in business, not-for-profit or public-sector organization. About 67 percent of Ontario residents between 25 and 64 have completed post-secondary schooling at one of the 20 public universities and 24 colleges located throughout the province.

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 Bonduelle North America, 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.

ONTARIO, CANADA: AURORA

The Greater Toronto Area’s Best Kept Secret is Revealed

of powerhouses such as Magna International and Desjardins Insurance. Additionally, there are over 2,000 grassroots entrepreneurs in healthcare technology, food and beverage manufacturing, marketing, media, education and more — all drawn by the town’s unique community environment that helps businesses grow, and, in return, helps grow the community.

Throughout the pandemic, the Town of Aurora, Ontario came together to keep the community engaged and connected while supporting the local economy. This is nothing new for Aurora, as local businesses continue to demonstrate the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that was behind its original founding in the early 1800s, when business owners began purchasing land in the area.

“Aurora was built by innovators and entrepreneurs in metal works and blacksmithing, as well as manufacturers of agricultural equipment and local merchants that supported the growing population. These were the people behind great ideas and community-building. Since those early days, Aurora has been one of the Greater Toronto Area’s best kept secrets for many years, and with the emerging growth and revitalization underway, we are pleased to share that what is great is about to become exceptional,” says the town’s mayor, Tom Mrakas, who ran a small business himself before entering politics in 2018.

Aurora, which is now consistently ranked as one of the best communities in Canada, first emerged as an important business centre north of Toronto with the coming of the railway and the area’s first train station, in 1853.

Today, the same train station stills stands as a symbol of the town’s history and growth, according to Mrakas, and Aurora is home to a bevy

“Aurora is unique in that it is small and connected, but also big in that you have everything you need within minutes.” Keith Loo,

CEO, Skinopathy

‘Aurora is growing, but in a unique way, where the uniqueness and attractiveness of a small town remains a vital factor in a business or resident choosing Aurora as home. It’s the little things that make Aurora a big destination.’ Thai Pham, Owner, Replenish General Store

“I truly encourage anyone looking to open a business, big or small, to consider Aurora. The people and business owners are supportive and truly make you feel welcomed.” Mae Khamissa, Owner, Omar Shoes

“It’s that feeling you get when you know you have found the right location for your home or business. Aurora can quickly make you feel at home.” Steve Falk, CEO Prime Data

The Town of Aurora is emerging as the area’s leader in connecting business leaders to the resources and network needed to expand operations. Find out more at www.aurora.ca/business

ONTARIO, CANADA: KAWARTHA LAKES Jump In to business in Kawartha Lakes

We’re more than an attractive business location, we’re a lifestyle. Explore 600km of groomed trails for hiking, snowmobiling and ATVs. Cycle on our paved shoulder roads throughout beautiful countryside and lakefront. Take in over 50 destinations on the Arts & Heritage Trail. Watch the constellations appear one star at a time in Bobcaygeon, watch outdoor performances at the Grove Theatre in Fenelon Falls.

Fill your time discovering local food, fine art and annual events such as Kawartha Farmfest, a popular self-driving farm tour experience. Farm-to-table dining options, boutique downtowns and a flourishing craft beverage scene are attracting people of all ages.

Have you been dreaming about moving to Kawartha Lakes?

Whether you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or job seeker, here are five reasons to Jump In!

1. Kawartha Lakes is rated the #2 place to buy a home in Canada. Taking into account average home prices, price growth over time, and the characteristics and economics of each neighbourhood, Kawartha Lakes has taken its spot as the #2 place –second only to Toronto – for prospective home buyers to purchase a home in Canada, according to Moneysense readers. Whether you seek a bustling downtown lifestyle or the serenity of rural living, there is a housing option for you.

2. Get down to business in Kawartha Lakes. Closely connected to each other and the rest of the world, Kawartha Lakes is a short 90-minute drive Northeast of Toronto, connected by highways 407, 401, 35, and 115 provide quick access to major cities. From broadband internet to support everyone’s needs, to fibre optic internet throughout industrial parks, to reliable hydro and gas services, businesses are able to stay connected. “We are only one hour from the (Pearson International) airport, and 1.5 hours from downtown Toronto. Whatever opportunities exists anywhere in the world, also exists here.” Ryan Oliver, CEO Pinnguaq.

3. Endless benefits await. Kawartha Lakes offers a host of resources and opportunities for business start-up, expansion, retention, and investment support. In addition to the Kawartha Lakes Small Business Centre (SBC), Million Dollar Makeover, Summer Company, Starter Company PLUS, and Development Concierge programs, there are more than 17 regional, provincial, and federal funding programs designed to expedite the road to success.

4. It takes a village to build a business and action new ideas. Kawartha Lakes Economic Development is opening pathways for you to succeed and immerse yourself in the fabric of a warm-hearted business community. The Kawartha Lakes Ecosystem Network is a vast network of organizations who collaborate and share information to nurture economic development, lead change, foster innovation, and promote growth. Launch Kawartha Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, anchored by the Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation (KL CFDC), along with the Innovation Cluster – Peterborough and the Kawarthas offer a variety of supports. “The business has just flourished since we’ve been in Kawartha Lakes. There is such a young and vibrant business community here.” Tim Wisener, Home by Tim & Chris.

5. Kawartha Lakes is a place where small town serenity and big city amenities coexist. In addition to family medicine and specialized care, you’ll find the Ross Memorial Hospital serving local residents and visitors. Quality public and private education and activities for children are aplenty. Fleming College is home to the School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences, the Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT), and the Centre for Advancement in Mechatronics and Industrial Internet of Things (CAMIIT). Students can also access nearby Trent University, Durham College, and Ontario Tech University. For more information on the advantages doing business in Kawartha Lakes, please call 705-324-9411 ext. 1197, toll free 1-866397-6673 or visit www.kawarthalakes.ca/movemybusiness.

Fast Facts:

• More than 400,000 acres of rural farmland and available buildings

• Between 2017 and 2021, the SBC, Starter Company Plus Program saw 150 jobs created and 124 new businesses established, $285.605 in grants awarded through Start Company Plus and $93,000 in grants awarded through Summer Company.

• Regional workforce of almost 300,000

• Access to 3 airports – one local municipal, one regional international and one full-service International Cargo offering vast connection opportunities

• Thriving sectors: agriculture, culture, innovation, manufacturing and tourism. X

“It is very important to our family that we have a great work life balance so we can enjoy the natural beauty of Kawartha Lakes.”

– Julia Taylor

“The business has just flourished since we’ve been in Kawartha Lakes.”

– Tim Wisener Jump in at www.kawarthalakes.ca/welcomehome

Welcome home to Kawartha Lakes.

E M E R GI N G AURORA

‘Aurora is a vibrant community both for families and businesses where we all collaborate to create unique experiences and lifelong friendships. I moved here with my family to give my children a safe place to grow and connect with a community. I opened my business here as we have all the support, networks and an eco-system to grow a viable business which services communities. It is an exciting destination to live and grow!’

Established in the 1800s, Aurora is a growing town with the essence of new ideas, new technologies and constant learning.

What’s great is about to become exceptional!

Learn more at aurora.ca/business

- Anu, Stem Minds

Governor Kelly Announces EMP Shield Plans to Build $1.9 Billion, 1,200-Job Computer Chip Manufacturing Facility in Coffey County

BURLINGTON, KS — Governor Laura Kelly today announced that EMP Shield, an industry leader in protecting electronic devices from destructive magnetic pulses, plans to invest $1.9 billion in a computer chip manufacturing facility in Burlington. The facility will create more than 1,200 jobs averaging $66,000 annually.

EMP Shield will build its facility on 300 acres in a measurably secure campus located at the emerging regional cluster. The company will be joined by six out-ofstate suppliers, resulting in an additional 1,000 jobs created in Coffey County.

“Bringing economic prosperity to every corner of the state – particularly rural Kansas – has been a priority since my very first day in office,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We achieve that with this project, creating thousands of high-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree and proving that every Kansas community is ripe for investment and growth.”

EMP Shield plans to have four production lines operating in approximately 235,000 square feet of facilities in the new industrial park that will produce thousands of chips per week. Its suppliers will manufacture necessary components and prepare the final products for delivery.

“This high-tech advanced manufacturing project will provide lucrative career opportunities for hard-working Kansans,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Our economic development strategy is designed to keep nurturing the roots of our young talent so they can remain here in Kansas.”

EMP Shield will leverage state support to apply for CHIPS Act funding to see its plans to fruition.

The project came together shortly after the Creating Helpful Incentives to

GM Investing $918 Million in Four U.S. Facilities for V-8 Engine Production, EV Components

GM is committed to providing jobs that support families and communities across the United States with tens of billions invested in its U.S. manufacturing facilities since 2013

FLINT, MI — General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) announced plans to invest $918 million in four U.S. manufacturing sites, including $854 million to prepare these facilities to produce the company’s sixth generation Small Block V-8 engine and an additional $64 million in Rochester, New York and Defiance, Ohio for castings and components to support EV production. These investments will enable the company to strengthen its industry-leading full-size truck and SUV business and continue to support the company’s growing EV product portfolio. Product details, timing, performance and features related to GM’s next gen V-8 engine are not being released at this time.

The announcement brings GM’s U.S. manufacturing facility investment commitments to more than $37 billion since 2013, including the Ultium Cells LLC joint venture plants.

“We are announcing significant investments to strengthen our industry-leading lineup of full-size pickups and SUVs by preparing four U.S. facilities to build GM’s sixth generation Small Block V-8 engine,” said Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability. “These investments, coupled with the hard work and dedication of our team members in Flint, Bay City, Rochester and Defiance, enable us to build world-class products for our customers and provide job security at these plants for years to come.”

These investments bolster GM’s U.S. manufacturing operations, which includes more than 50 assembly, stamping, propulsion and component plants and parts distribution centers nationwide. It also highlights the company’s commitment to continue providing customers a strong portfolio of ICE vehicles well into the future while continuing to accelerate its transformation to an all-electric future. Details of the announcements include:

Produce Semiconductors

(CHIPS) Act was signed into law last August. The bipartisan legislation called for every aspect of computer chip production to be brought back to the United States –specifically into rural areas of the Midwest. Additional stipulations include private-public partnerships as well as the involvement of higher education institutions.

“Coffey County appears to really hit the sweet spot for everything requested for CHIPS Act funding,” EMP Shield Founder and Lead Engineer Tim Carty said. “Everything is falling into place, and the state’s strong support hopefully gets us one step closer to a favorable federal response.”

EMP Shield is working with area partners such as Coffey County; Flint Hills Technical College; Allen County Community College; Pittsburg State University; the University of Kansas; Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce; Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Unified School Districts 243, 244 and 245.

“There are workforce development programs already in place that will enable high school graduates and those with two-year degrees to train up and get very high-paying jobs,” Carty said. “This will allow those who grow up here to stay in Kansas, enjoy our quality of life, and not have to go to San Francisco.”

Bus routes to transport workers from metropolitan areas will be established, and there will be purposeful diversity, equity, and inclusion outreach. “This next-generation technology project will help our community grow and make our country safer. That’s a win for everyone,” Carty said.

• Flint Engine Operations in Michigan – GM will invest $579 million to prepare the plant to assemble GM’s sixth generation family of Small Block V-8 gas engines along with the related block, crank and head machining. Work at the facility will begin immediately. Flint will continue building the 3.0L turbo-diesel during the facility renovations. GM’s 3.0L diesel is used in a variety of light-duty truck applications.

• Bay City GPS in Michigan – GM will invest $216 million to prepare the facility to build camshafts, connecting rods and block/head machining supporting future V-8 production at Flint Engine Operations.

• Defiance Operations in Ohio – GM will invest $55 million in the Defiance facility. $47 million will be invested to prepare the facility to build a variety of block castings to support future V-8 engine programs. In addition, the investment includes $8 million to build a casting development cell for castings to support future EV strategies.

• Rochester Operations in New York – GM will invest a total of $68 million in the Rochester facility. $12 million will be invested to prepare the facility to build intake manifolds and fuel rails for the future V-8 production at Flint Engine Operations. In addition, the investment includes $56 million for the production of battery pack cooling lines for EV production.

“Our union celebrates the announcement of these new investments into our GM facilities, which will benefit our members at Locals 659 (Flint, Michigan), 362 (Bay City, Michigan), 211 (Defiance, Ohio) and 1097 (Rochester, New York),” said UAW President Ray Curry. “The skill and dedication of UAW members are a key part of GM’s success, and this investment recognizes that our members will remain a vital part of GM’s future.”

“The teams in Rochester and Defiance are also leading our transformation to an all-electric future,” Johnson added. “Their flexibility to build components for both internal combustion and electric vehicles highlights why our manufacturing team is second to none.”

Gov. Kemp: Sewon America Announces 740 New Jobs in Effingham County

Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Sewon America, a subsidiary of Korean-based Sewon Precision Industry Co., will create 740 new jobs in Rincon and invest more than $300 million in a new Effingham County manufacturing facility. This project is the largest known private investment in the City of Rincon, to-date. This announcement also fulfills the commitment to create jobs and investment in all four of the Savannah Harbor Interstate-16 Joint Development Authority (JDA) counties as a result of Hyundai’s Metaplant location in Bryan County - the largest economic development project in state history. Suppliers for the Metaplant have now committed over $1.8 billion in investment, surpassing initial estimates by at least $800 million.

“We not only celebrate delivering on our promise to create jobs in all four counties in the JDA, but also the growth of a valued partner in our business community,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “On my very first international trip as governor to Korea, I had the opportunity to congratulate Chairman Kim on the company’s then-recent expansion and discuss how we could continue to work together. I am proud that those discussions have now led to this announcement as Sewon America continues to grow their Georgia operations.”

Speaker of the House Jon Burns, who represents part of Effingham County, also played a role in securing the project and engaging Sewon America executives.

“This is a proud day for Effingham County and coastal Georgia as we celebrate the creation of 740 new jobs in our area,” said Speaker Jon Burns. “I want to thank our friends at Sewon America for investing in our community and our state. I also want to thank Governor Kemp and all of the public and private partners who have helped to make today’s announcement possible.”

“I commend Governor Brian Kemp, Sewon America, and all other stakeholders on this historic economic development announcement for the City of Rincon,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “Investments by companies like Sewon continue to build on Georgia’s commitment to remain the No. 1 state in which to do business while attracting a robust workforce. This investment of more

IKO establishing first South Carolina operations in Chester County

$363 million investment will create 180 new jobs

Chester County, SC —IKO, a leading, global manufacturer of roofing products, announced plans to establish its first South Carolina operations in Chester County. The company’s $363 million investment will create 180 new jobs.

Established in 1951, IKO is a worldwide leader in the roofing, waterproofing and insulation industry for residential and commercial markets. With over 35 manufacturing facilities throughout North America and Europe, IKO offers a broad range of products for commercial and residential roofing and waterproofing, in addition to rigid insulations for roofing and walls.

Located less than one mile apart along the S.C. Highway 9 industrial corridor in Chester, IKO’s South Carolina operations will consist of two facilities. The company is remodeling an existing facility on Lancaster Highway to manufacture fiberglass. Concurrently, IKO is building a new 325,000-square-foot manufacturing plant on Cedarhurst Road to produce fiberglass mats that will be used for

than $300 million in Effingham County will have a positive impact on the local community and our state.”

Sewon America operates one of the largest automobile body parts manufacturing plants in North America. The company opened a manufacturing facility in LaGrange in 2008, which has since doubled in size. Following the completion of the Rincon facility, Sewon is expected to support 1,600 jobs in Georgia.

“Sewon America was founded 15 years ago in west Georgia, and I’m very happy to be able to build another Sewon facility in east Georgia. We are very excited about our future as one family in two Georgia locations,” said Vice Chairman Kim of Sewon America. “This growth is possible thanks to the full support and dedication of the Sewon team members, as well as Governor Kemp, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Effingham County. Sewon America will continue as an excellent corporate and community partner, and we look forward to continued success in Effingham County.”

Sewon’s new facility will be located at the Grande View industrial park in Rincon. The new manufacturing location will produce electric vehicle (EV) body parts for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. Operations are expected to begin in 2025.“It is my pleasure to welcome Sewon America to our community,” said Rincon Mayor Ken Lee. “We commend our friends and partners at the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority for working diligently to bring what will be the largest employment and private investment project in the city’s history. We look forward to working with Sewon to ensure their long-term success in our community.”

“We are thrilled that Sewon America, one of the largest automobile parts manufacturers in North America, has selected Grande View industrial park as the best location to make a significant investment for their future growth,” said Chairman of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) Troy Smith. “Sewon America and the IDA’s investment in our community will allow current and future generations the ability to have a fulfilling, well-paying career without leaving Effingham County. We couldn’t have made this happen without the help and leadership of our partners at the City of Rincon and the Effingham County Board of Commissioners.”

production at its United States’ shingle factories. Operations are expected to be online by late 2025. Individuals interested in joining the IKO team should visit the company’s careers page. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project.

“IKO Industries is a global producer of roofing products with a strong presence in North America and Europe. With the population growth projections for the southeast U.S., Chester County is geographically well-positioned to assist IKO’s expansion goals. With direct flights from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport where IKO’s corporate headquarters are located also made us a natural fit.”

-Chester County Economic Development Director Robert Long

“We are thrilled to welcome IKO to the I-77 region! IKO is a leader in advanced materials, which is a great fit for the existing sectors in Chester County. One of the advantages is the strategic location along the I-77 corridor that allows companies to tap into both the Charlotte and Columbia metros, providing a labor shed of more than 1.3 million people.”

-I-77 Alliance Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Finn

Governor Lee, Commissioner Mcwhorter Announce Otics Usa, Inc. To Expand Manufacturing Operations

In Hamblen County

NASHVILLE, TN — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter and OTICS USA, Inc. officials announced today the company will invest $147 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Morristown, Tennessee.

OTICS USA will create 70 new jobs at its U.S. headquarters in Hamblen County through the expansion.

As a supplier for major automotive corporations, OTICS USA will be able to accommodate new business growth and increased fuel pipe production capabilities, which will be made possible through the construction of an additional 55,000 square feet of space at OTICS USA’s facility on Interstate View Drive.

OTICS USA, Inc. was founded in 2001 as a subsidiary to OTICS Corporation, which is based in Japan. Headquartered in Morristown, OTICS USA manufactures parts for major automotive corporations. With the additional 70 new jobs in Hamblen County,

Irish Company RelateCare to Create 255 New Jobs in Sherwood, Ark.

SHERWOOD, AR — RelateCare, an Irish healthcare communications and services organization, announced that it will create 255 new jobs within three years in Sherwood, Ark., to support back-office functions for hospitals and healthcare facilities for clients in the United States.

RelateCare executives joined state and local officials to make the announcement at the company’s newly-leased facility at the Wildwood Centre in Sherwood. RelateCare, headquartered in Waterford, Ireland, began as a joint venture between Rigneydolphin and leading U.S. healthcare institution Cleveland Clinic in 2014 and already employs 100 staff in Arkansas primarily in the Little Rock area.

“RelateCare has seen rapid growth over the past two years, with our administrative and clinical solutions increasingly supporting a wide range of health systems in the United States,” said Conor O’Byrne, CEO of RelateCare Group. “We’re delighted to widen our U.S. operations here in Sherwood, Arkansas during a very exciting time of customer expansion for our company. Our goal is to provide a flexible working model that affords our employees great opportunities to progress and upskill to support our dynamic business. As a homegrown Irish organization increasingly focused on growing in the U.S., we now have a really strong platform to continue to drive solutions and create value for our healthcare clients here.”

RelateCare provides patient-access and patient-engagement solutions to leading healthcare organizations around the world through its technology platforms. Part of the Akusus Group, the company has seen rapid growth over the last decade and currently employs more than 1,400 people in Ireland and the United States, with 500 of those jobs added in the past year alone.

“My administration is working to make Arkansas the best state in the country to live, work, and raise a family – and that starts by creating an economy where jobs are abundant, and paychecks are rising. Through their landmark investment in our state, RelateCare is helping us build the economy we need to take Arkansas to the top,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “I thank the RelateCare team for choosing our state and look forward to working with them to pursue policies that make Arkansas an even more favorable candidate for business expansion.”

The new hub in Sherwood will serve to support RelateCare’s clientele through remote clinical support services, post-discharge management services,

OTICS USA will employ nearly 450 people across its two East Tennessee locations in Kodak and Morristown.

Since 2018, TNECD has supported nearly 10 economic development projects in Hamblen County, resulting in approximately 1,200 job commitments and nearly $248 million in capital investment.

QUOTES

“Tennessee’s highly skilled workforce and unmatched business climate facilitate new growth and expansion for the companies that call Tennessee home. I thank OTICS USA for its commitment to job creation and look forward to the new opportunities that these 70 new jobs will bring to the Morristown community.”

– Gov. Bill Lee

“OTICS USA’s expansion in Morristown is a testament to our state’s rich history in the automotive industry, and we stand ready to support this global brand so that it continues to succeed in the Volunteer State. Congratulations to Morristown and Hamblen County on landing another great manufacturing win.” – TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter

and telehealth and patient appointment scheduling services. RelateCare plans to hire new management executives, support staff members, and access-to-care staff members. More than 20 million appointments are scheduled through RelateCare each year.

“We are proud to welcome RelateCare to Arkansas, where it will find a robust workforce to power its operations,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “Arkansas continues to provide a competitive business environment for international companies to grow and thrive.”

RelateCare’s headquarters are in Waterford City, with U.S. Hubs in Cleveland, Ohio and Little Rock, Arkansas. Client partners include Cleveland Clinic, Stanford Children’s Health, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Duke Health and the Health Service Executive in Ireland, among many others.

“This announcement proves yet again that metro Little Rock is a destination of choice for international employers,” said Jay Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “I want to thank RelateCare for placing their trust in us and congratulate Mayor Heye-Townsell on this significant jobs announcement.”

“I would like to welcome RelateCare to the city of Sherwood,” said Sherwood Mayor Mary Jo Heye-Townsell. “This announcement is a major milestone for our city, as it not only creates new opportunities for our residents, but also drives economic growth and development. The infusion of new jobs will bring in more money to our local economy, stimulate business growth and create a positive ripple effect for years to come. I am thrilled to see our city thriving, and I know this is only the beginning of even greater things to come.”

RelateCare provides support and assistance for staff to work remotely, with a focus on productivity and professional development as part of a sustainable hybrid model. The company increasingly uses virtual platforms to communicate effectively and drive solutions for clients, offering real opportunities for employees to upskill and add value..

ALABAMA

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

Cullman Economic Development Agency

Dale Greer

P.O. Box 1009, Cullman, AL 35056 256-739-1891

daleg@cullmaneda.org

www.cullmaneda.org

Etowah Economic Alliance

Shane Ellison

800 Forrest Avenue Suite 220E Gadsden, AL 35901 256-456-9938

www.littlecanoecreek.com

Gadsden 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

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

Arizona Regional Economic Develoment

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

City of Surprise

Mike Hoover

16000 N Civic Center Plaza Surprise, AZ 85374 623-222-3328

Mike.hoover@surpriseaz.gov

www.surpriseaz.gov

Chaffee Crossing

Ivy Owen, Executive Director 7020 Taylor Avenue Fort Smith, AR 72916

479-452-4554

479-452-4566 (f) property@chaffeecrossing.com www.chaffeecrossing.com

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 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 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

City of Moreno Valley Economic Development

Mike Lee

Economic Development Director 14177 Frederick Street Moreno Valley, CA 92553 951-413-3460

edteam@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

City of Canon City

Rick Harrmann

128 Main Street

Canon City, CO 81212 719-276-5279

rlharrmann@canoncity.org www.canoncity.org

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

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

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

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

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

Indian River Chamber of Commerce

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

Lake County Economic Growth

Mary Ellen Stern, Executive Director 315 W. Main Street Tavares, FL 32778 352-343-9647

maryellen.stern@lakecountyfl.gov www.lakecountyfl.gov

Osceola County

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

Pasco Economic Development Council

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

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

Santa Rosa County EDO

Shannon Ogletree, Executive Director 6491 Caroline Street, Suite 4 Milton, FL 32570-4592

850-623-0174

Shannon@santarosa.fl.gov

www.santarosaedo.com

Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality

Keith Bowers, Director

315 S. Calhoun Street, Suite 110 Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-219-1080

kbowers@oevforbusiness.org

www.oevforbusiness.org

.......................................................................

GEORGIA

City of College Park

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/

City of East Point

Maceo Rogers CEcD

2757 East Point Street East Point, GA 30344 404-270-7057

jmrogers@eastpointcity.org

www.eastpointcity.org

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

ILLINOIS

Champaign County Economic Development Corporation

Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director

1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100 Champaign, IL 61820

217-359-6261

carly@champaigncountyedc.org

www.champaigncountyedc.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

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

Village of Arlington Heights Business & Economic Development

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

Russell County Eco Devo & CVB

Mike Parsons, Director 331 E. Witchita, Russell, KS 67665 785-483-4000 785-324-0126

rced2@russellks.org

www.russellcountyks.org

Huntington County Economic Development

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

Brent Case Senior Vice President Business Development

230 W. Monroe St. Chicago, IL 60606 312-667-6013

brent.case@intersectillinois.org intersectillinois.org

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

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 Go Topeka

Molly Howey, CEcD President

719 S Kansas Ave. Suite 100 Topeka, KS 66603 785.231.4707

mhowey@gotopeka.com www.gotopeka.com

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

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

Northern Kentucky Tri-ED

Kimberly Rossetti

VP of Economic Development

300 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 332 Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017

888-874-3365

ksr@NorthernKentuckyUSA.com

www.NorthernKentuckyUSA.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

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.ecalvert.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

Sandra Edwards, Director 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Ste 2700 Elkton, MD 21921 410-996-8471

sedwards@ccgov.org

www.ccgov.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

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

Talbot County Economic Development

Cassandra M. Vanhooser, Director 11 S. Harrison Street Easton, MD 21601 410-770-8000

Cvanhooser@talbgov.org www.talbgov.org

MICHIGAN

Economic Development Alliance

(EDA) of St. Clair County

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

stclairhotjobs.com

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

Dorchester County Economic Development

Susan Banks, Director 104 Tech Park Drive Cambridge, MD 21613 410-228-0155

sbanks@choosedorchester.org

www.choosedorchester.org

The Right Place, Inc

Andria Romkema

125 Ottawa Avenue, Suite 450 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-771-0563

romkemaa@rightplace.org www.Rightplace.org

Sikeston Regional Chamber & Economic Development Corp.

Marcie Lawson

128 N. New Madrid Street Sikeston, MO 63801 573-471-2498

marcie.lawson@sikeston.net

www.sikeston.net

NEVADA

Las Vegas Global Ecnomic Alliance

Perry Ursem

Vice President, Business Retention + Expansion

6720 via Austi Parkway Suite #330

Las Vegas, NV 89119

702-791-0000

www.Ivgea.org

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

NEW YORK

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

Beaufort County Economic Development

Brad Hufford, Director

705 Page Road

Washington, NC 27889

252-946-3970

252-946-0849 (f)

brad.hufford@beaufortedc.com

www.beaufortedc.com

North Carolina Global Transpark

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

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

Lawrence DiBoni, Director of Economic Development 869 Park Avenue

Cranston, RI 02910

401-780-3166

401-780-3179 (f) ldiboni@cranstonri.org

Stanly County Economic Development Commission

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

NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC

Nathan Schneider , CEcD-Vice President

1640 Burnt Boat Dr. Bismark, ND 58503

701-223-5660

nschneider@bmcedc.com

www.bismarckmandan.com

OKLAHOMA

Allegany County Industrial Development Agency

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

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

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

www.cranstonri.com

City of Warwick

Department of Tourism, Culture, and Development

Elizabeth J. Dunton, Acting Director 3275 Pos t Road Warwick, RI 2886

401-921-7711

401-732-7662

elizabeth.j.dunton@warwickri.com movetowarwickri.com

Quonset Development Corporation

Steven J. King, Managing Director 95 Cripe Street North Kingstown, RI 2852 401-295-0044

sking@quonset.com

www.quonset.com

SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Claire Gibbons 4401 Belle Oaks Drive, Suite 420 North Charleston, SC 29405 843-760-3351

cgibbons@crda.org

www.crda.org

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

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

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

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

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

Bowie Economic Development Corporation

Janis Crawley

101 E. Pecan, Bowie, TX 76230 940-872-4193

940-531-8201(c)

BEDC@BowieTexasEDC.com

www.BowieTexasEDC.com

Cameron Industrial Foundation

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

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

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

DeSoto Economic Development

Matt Carlson, CEO

211 E. Pleasant Run Road

DeSoto, TX 75115

Ph: 972-230-9611

mcarlson@desototexas.gov

www.dedc.org

LCRA

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

5900 S. Lake Forest Drive

McKinney, TX 75070

972-435-6953

ptokar@mckinneyedc.com

www.uniquemckinney.com

City of Leander

Cameron Goodman

Economic Development Director

201 N Brushy Leander, TX 78641

512-528-2852

cgoodman@leandertx.gov

www.leanderbusiness.com

Conroe Economic Development Council

Danielle Scheiner, Executive Director

300 W Davis St, Ste 510 Conroe, TX 77301 USA 936-538-7118

scheiner@conroeedc.org

www.conroeedc.org

Mineola Economic Development Corp

Mercy Rushing, Executive Director 300 Greenville Highway

Mineola, TX 75773

903-569-6183

903-245-8505

mrushing@mineola.com

www.mineola.com

Odessa Economic Development Corporation

Tom Manskey

700 N. Grant Ave.

Odessa, TX 79761

432-333-7880

tom@odessaecodev.com

www.odessatx.com

Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation

Lynda Pack Executive Director

P.O. Box 610

Jacksboro, TX 76458

940-567-3151

lyndapack@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

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

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

Bedford County Office of Economic Development

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

Tim Morgan Economic Development Manager P.O. Box 320 Maple Valley, WA 98038 425-413-8800

tim.morgan@maplevalleywa.gov www.maplevalleywa.gov

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

Arlington Economic Development

Ryan Touhill, AED Director

Pflugerville Community Development

Amy Madison 3801 Helios Way Suite 130

Pflugerville, TX 78660 512-990-3725

amym@pfdevelopment.com www.pfevelopment.com

1100 N Glebe Rd Suite 1500 Arlington, VA 22201 703-228-0808

703-228-0805 (f)

rtouhill@arlingtonva.us

www.arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com

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

City of Franklin Economic Development

John Regetz, Director 9229 W. Loomis Road Franklin, WI 53132 414-427-7566

jregetz@franklinwi.gov

www.franklinwi.gov

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

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

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

ONTARIO

Town of Ajax

Samuel Twumasi , Manager, Economic Development & Tourism

65 Harwood Avenue South Ajax, Ontario, Canada L1S 2H9 905-619-2529 ext. 3281 samuel.twumasi@ajax.ca www.ajax.ca

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

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

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

Middlesex County

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

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

NEW BRUNSWICK

Ignite Fredericton

Paula Lehr

40 Crowther Lane, Ste. 100 Fredericton, NB E3C 0J1 506-282-0624

paula.lehr@ignitefredericton.com

www.ignitefredericton.com