Business Xpansion Journal: September/October

2023 INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY

OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

September/October 2023 | bxjmag.com

AVIATION EMBRACES DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY

AUTOMOBILES ELECTRIFICATION IN FULL SWING

CYBER SECURITY FRUSTRATING ATTEMPTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023

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FEATURES INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: Aviation Industry Challenging Norms as it Embraces Digital Connectivity Sustainability, cyber security, flight efficiencies, a better passenger experience are all tied into a quickening industry-wide digital transformation

By David Hodes

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

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS David Hodes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

10

INNOVATION AND STRATEGIES: The Electrification of Automobiles is in Full Swing Mandatory switch to electric vehicles at all levels is getting closer — but is the consumer really ready to embrace the change?

By David Hodes

Clint Cabiness clint@dialedinmediagroup.com 205-613-5910 EDITORIAL OFFICE King Publishing, Inc. 1000 Stafford Court Birmingham, Alabama 35242 Tel: 205-862-5175 ONLINE MEDIA ASSISTANT

14

INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Cyber Attacks Frustrating Attempts to Find Solutions U.S. Business managers are on the lookout for more security breaches targeting banks, infrastructure and government agencies around the world – and the hackers behind them

Nick Boliek nick@dialedinmediagroup.com SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES & REQUESTS 205-862-5175 or www.bxjmag.com

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20 NEW MEXICO:

Governor Designates Nine Target Industries

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28 LOUISIANA:

Aerospace Poised For Expansion

30 FLORIDA:

Anything But Usual

The Future Is Here

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INDUSTRY

OUTLOOK

AVIATION & AEROSPACE

Aviation Industry Challenging Norms as it Embraces Digital Connectivity BY: DAVID HODES

Sustainability, cyber security, flight efficiencies, a better passenger experience are all tied into a quickening industry-wide digital transformation

4 | BXJ | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | bxjmag.com

C

onnectivity is the name of the game in aviation right now. Getting Wi-Fi signals available for all passengers is just one of the goals.

But connectivity plays into many other things: cyber security, route efficiencies, data collection and use (one 787 flight can collect a half of a terabyte of data) and other enhancements that leads to improvements for the aviation customer. Better digital connectivity becomes increasingly important as the rise of a myriad of other air craft are coming under the auspices of regulators. ..........................................................................................................................................

They are charged with managing the practical growth opportunities within an already crowded airspace where both private and commercial planes and jets need to find better ways of coordinating the data they are collecting, and use it to advance the technology involved in how, when and where they fly.

Working on Sustainability and Other Efficiencies

The Ongoing Pilot Problem The aviation industry is in a pilot crisis situation, according to Ryan Stone, president of SmartSky Networks, speaking at the Connected Aviation Summit in Denver in September. “We have a massive shortage of pilots,” he said. “We predict we will be about 80,000 pilots short by 2032.

What are we going to do?”

He said that right now there are a lot of training programs being stood up, some by the airlines creating their own flight schools.

But that’s the knee-jerk reaction. Other help may come from advancements in drone use.

Stone noted a recent drone demonstration where a drone piloted by artificial intelligence (AI) beat a human drone flying champion.

“Does this kind of drone development mean that, with some regulatory changes, we can solve our pilot problem through technology and perhaps go with single pilot operations?,” Stone said. “We already see a lot of autonomy out there. So technology can solve these kinds of problems.”

Getting to a more sustainable aviation industry will be complicated, according to Tassio Carvalho, senior manager of AI and machine language for American Airlines, which will involve weaning the industry off of jet fuel and embracing the development and implementation of all-electric aircraft.

Where the complications are evident is in the disruption the myriad of aviation services sprouting up now are causing, and how they do business. “When you look at (electric aircraft) startups, their mission is always very aggressive so that they can attract capital,” Carvalho told BXJ. “So they got to deliver, and the business results vary.

The expectations will not match reality.”

The reality of aviation is that it is beneficial where there is no alternative, Carvalho said. “So if you think of a Dallas to Austin kind of market, a lot of people will drive just because going through the process of the airport adds so much time to the journey. But if you think of Dallas to L.A., there is no other choice. So the reality is that commercial airlines will continue to own the bulk of the available seat miles out there. These other flying machines will do some local travel.”

He cited the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, where there are two big airports. But there another 37 in the metro area, many of them privately owned. “The airspace is already incredibly complicated. So not only do we have all this infrastructure in and around Dallas and Fort Worth, and in every large city in the U.S., those are sub-used, and can come in handy for all these new electric and autonomous flying machines.”

One way to expend less jet fuel is by adjusting flight routes. For example, flight routes into Heathrow Airport demonstrate another problem that perhaps connected aviation can fix. Stone showed a typical flight route of a commercial jet flying into Heathrow, that, like many flights into that airport, was put into a hold pattern while the ground crew sorted out what landing slot was available for it. “I find it utterly ridiculous,” Stone said during his presentation at the summit. “You take off

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A OneWeb Low Earth Orbit Satellite (LEO) in space. LEO satellites will be used by airlines to connect passengers to uninterrupted streaming Wi-Fi services while in flight. Illustration courtesy OneWeb media assets.

hours before from the U.S., the airport knows you’re coming and they have these slots, and then every time with almost without exception, the jet gets put into a hold pattern.”

What if that flight can follow a more efficient flight path, with, say 10 percent more efficiency? “How do we do that?,” Stone said.

“The good news is there is technology that exists today to help.”

He described a sensor that SmartSky has developed offering a five dimensional trajectory-based operation, using patented algorithms. The sensor takes the 3D position of the commercial jet—the usual x y z positions—adds a fourth dimension (time), and a fifth dimension, called future time using predictive AI, which creates a model for upcoming weather patterns on the aircraft’s projected trajectory. “You can optimize your trajectory,” Stone said.

“We’ve modeled this. We’ve seen it. We know we can save between 5 percent to 15 percent on fuel, and that’s dramatic.”

The Race to Better Use of Connectivity Connectivity means more cooperation between satellites in various earth orbits, and private or commercial jets equipped to communicate with them, to give passengers in-flight internet, with live TV and on-demand entertainment streaming services, from takeoff to landing.

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Partnerships between airlines, satellite operators, and service providers are major drivers expected to transform the inflight connectivity (IFC) service market, overcoming infrastructure challenges and delivering a seamless inflight connectivity experience, according to a July study by Frost and Sullivan, a business consulting firm.

This more comprehensive IFC is becoming possible for airlines because of the increasing number of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations in space now or planned for the near future by satellite operators such as OneWeb, Intelsat, Viasat, and others.

The LEO satellites can provide a wide-band signal with lower signal latency. Latency is the delay experienced in sending and receiving a signal from satellite to aircraft.

A LEO satellite constellation can cover the planet in an orbit 1,200 miles or less from the surface of the earth, and are more nimble in their signal use and availability than geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) satellites, which remain in a fixed orbit 22,000 miles up from the surface of the earth. A LEO satellite completes 16 orbits a day.

The technical trick of getting aircraft traveling 600 miles an hour at 35,000 feet above the Earth to connect to a satellite that’s moving

15,000 miles per hour above the Earth is a challenge that the airlines and satellite operators are working on.

NASA is increasing access to the resources and infrastructure of the international space station to assist the commercial sector in developing and deploying new capabilities in LEO. Both the Congress and the National Space Council have declared that it is in the national and economic security interests of the United States to encourage the development of robust commercial sector in LEO. Airlines are promoting the IFC capability using a combination of GEOs and LEOs as a new service feature, since most travelers now expect the same sort of seamless internet streaming service capability during flight that they do on the ground. The market for IFC services is expected to reach

nearly $1 billion by 2032, according to the study.

The IFC Rollout Begins Brittany McSweeney, senior connectivity consultant for Southwest Airlines, said that IFC will be a game changer. The airline works with Viasat as their IFC provider. “I think it’s still really early to tell, but we’re all kind of excited to see how that unfolds,” she said during a panel at the Connected Aviation Summit in Denver. “But like any disruptor, it’s going to just encourage the existing players and new players to really improve and innovate. So I’m excited to see how the industry shifts over the next five years and even longer.”

She added that she thinks the level of importance of IFC differs depending on the type of passenger—the leisure traveler

versus a business traveler. “You have a little bit more grace with the leisure travelers,” McSweeney said. “So if they’re trying to stream or use social media and it doesn’t work, they’re angry.

But they’re not as angry as a business customer who was trying to participate in a call or send out an email or do something where they couldn’t complete that task.”

Since connectivity with streaming internet from take-off to landing is still a relatively new concept, how to charge for it is an issue that the airlines are working out.

Delta became the first U.S. airline to offer free Wi-Fi earlier this year to all customers, working in partnership with T-Mobile, according to a press release.

Wi-Fi is available on more than 500 Delta aircraft now. The airline is expected to be offering the service on more than

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700 Viasat-equipped aircraft by the end of 2023. Delta recently announced plans to bring free Wi-Fi to international and regional aircraft by the end of 2024.

Most airlines are taking a step-by-step approach to providing Wi-Fi. Andre Patrick, manager of in-flight Wi-Fi and analytics for Air Canada, said during the panel at the summit that they have introduced free texting for their special club members, and free Wi-Fi for their business class. “But we’re going to be looking at expanding it across the board to different areas within our aircraft,” Patrick said, adding that he thinks all airlines are going to have to shift to a more comprehensive Wi-Fi offering soon.

“I think you’re going to see a big uptick in people installing connectivity on board,” Norm Haughton, director, in-flight digital entertainment and Wi-Fi, for Air Canada said. “But I think, between the ultra-low cost carriers and the legacy carriers, there is going to be a differentiated strategy, mostly tied to customer loyalty strategies.” X

S I D E B A R

PTI 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 the 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, to be executed and adapted into the national aviation system,” 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 Supersonic 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, a test facility, and a customer delivery center. Overture, the first production aircraft, is expected to debut in 2026, with production at PTI beginning in 2029.

The company expects to employ 2,400 people by 2032 in the 174,000-square-foot hangar. 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 that rode on top of the wings rather than underneath. Honda Jet, that aircraft, has now become a reality and is one of the best-selling aircraft of its type on the market today.

The Honda Aircraft Company was born and ultimately decided to locate its world headquarters at PTI, complete with administrative offices, a manufacturing plant, and maintenance and repair facilities.

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Honda manufactures engines for the Honda Jet a short distance away in Burlington, NC. With a central East Coast location, close 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.

The airport is home to FedEx’s Mid-Atlantic hub, HAECO Americas, one of the world’s largest maintenance and repair organizations, and Cessna/Textron’s Mid-Atlantic maintenance facility. It has recently been announced that Marshall Aerospace, a British company, will construct an aircraft maintenance and repair facility at the airport.

Altogether, about 50 companies are located on airport property and taken together employ nearly 9,000 people. A supply-chain network of nearly 200 aerospace companies is 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. Several of those parcels have been graded, have Interstate and runway access, and are ready for development.

“Vision and foresight are part of this airport’s DNA,” Baker said.

“It’s only natural that we appreciate those qualities in others.”

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF AEROSPACE Why have Boom Supersonic, Honda Aircraft Company, FedEx, Cessna/Textron, HAECO Americas and nearly 50 other companies chosen to locate at Piedmont Triad International Airport?

CENTRAL EAST COAST LOCATION

More than half of the nation’s population lives within a 650-mile radius of the airport’s mid-Atlantic location

ADJACENT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY NETWORK Five interstates are within easy reach of the airport

WORLD CLASS WORK FORCE TRAINING FACILITIES

The Piedmont Triad leads the state in Aerospace Education

1,000 ACRES READY TO BUILD

Ready for development and linked to the main campus by a new taxiway bridge

Visit LandatPTI.com to learn why your next big move should be to the Piedmont Triad International Airport, the Center of North Carolina Aerospace

1000A Ted Johnson Parkway, Greensboro, NC 27409 | 336.665.5600 | FlyfromPTI.com

INNOVATIONS & STRATEGIES

AUTOMOTIVE

Ultium electric battery platform by General Motors for its EV vehicles. features a flexible battery architecture.

Photo from General Motors Newsroom.

The Electrification of Automobiles is in Full Swing BY: DAVID HODES

Mandatory switch to electric vehicles at all levels is getting closer — but is the consumer really ready to embrace the change?

10 | BXJ | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | bxjmag.com

T

he switch is on. But will consumers see the light?

Carmakers are betting on it. And the production infrastructure is ramping up. ...........................................................................................................

As the country—and the world—adjust manufacturing operations to make more electric vehicles, ancillary support industries and manufacturing infrastructure are growing as well.

One example: Electric vehicle battery facilities. Most of the announced battery plant projects are scheduled to begin production between 2025 and 2030. By 2030, this production capacity will be capable of supporting the manufacture of roughly 10 to 13 million all-electric vehicles per year. The North American electric car battery market is expected to reach $22 billion by 2028, according to Allied Market Research, a market research, consulting, and advisory firm.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that, to optimize supply chain logistics, many battery plants will be co-located with or near automotive plants.

added 1,100 union jobs for a third shift at the assembly plant to increase production of the Transit and the all-new E-Transit electric van. The investment is part of Ford’s $3.7 billion in investments in manufacturing facilities in the Midwest, that includes Ohio and Michigan.

“This Kansas City plant is the first plant Ford built outside of the Detroit market a long time ago,” Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort, told BXJ. “They’re making two of the best-selling vehicles, the Ford F-150 and the Ford Transit. General Motors has a plant here as well, one on the Missouri side and one on the Kansas side, right in the metropolitan area. Then there are a significant amount of suppliers that support both those plants. So this market has always been an automotive hub.”

There are over 700,000 vehicles made in the Kansas City area each year, according to the Kansas City Area Development Council.

Asked about transitioning to electric vehicles, Gutierrez said that the automotive companies have all laid out their plans, and each one of them is a little bit different on when they’re going to convert to an all-electric platform. “For us in Kansas City, Ford is already making the transit van an electric option. So we already have an electric vehicle being made here.”

In July, 2022, the Kansas Commerce Department announced that Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., plans to build one of the largest electric vehicle battery manufacturing facilities in the U.S. in Desoto, Kansas, just a 45 minute drive from the Ford assembly plant. The planned cylindrical Li-ion battery production project is expected to create up to 4,000 new jobs and result in an investment of up to $4 billion, which reportedly represents the largest economic development project in Kansas history.

THE PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION UNDERWAY

Most of the planned battery manufacturing projects in the United States are concentrated along a north-south band from Michigan to Alabama. Based on current plans, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Michigan will see the highest growth in battery manufacturing capacity.

ONE EXAMPLE One example of this trend is the Kansas City, Missouri region, reportedly the second largest automobile trading hub in North America by Brookings Institute, and employing more than 20,941 workers from a metro area of 2 million people.

Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri has been cited as its most productive worldwide, producing the new Ford Transit Van and Ford’s best-selling truck, the F-150. The plant has seen steady reinvestments: $1.2 billion in 2011, $400 million in 2019, and $100 million in 2021.

In July, 2022, Ford announced an investment of $95 million and

In July, 2022, Ford President and CEO Jim Farley introduced the Ford+ plan, calling it the company’s biggest opportunity for growth and value creation since Henry Ford scaled production of the Model T. It involves the formation of two distinct but strategically interdependent auto businesses—Ford Blue and Ford Model e—to help the company maintain its leadership among traditional vehicles competitors while addressing the competition coming from the growing electric car development.

In a press release, Farley was quoted as saying that Ford has “launched a series of hit products globally and the demand for our new EVs like F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E is off the charts.”

It’s all part of Ford’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, and to use 100 percent local, renewable electricity in all of its manufacturing operations by 2035.

GM meanwhile is promoting it’s Ultium EV battery platform, which uses a flexible battery architecture that can be adapted to most cars and trucks they sell, and offers a balanced battery placement for easier driving and handling.

All car manufacturers are digging in to building electric vehicles.

According to Consumer Reports, in their drive to get to zero-emissions electrified vehicles by 2040, Honda has formed a couple of major bxjmag.com

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INNOVATIONS & STRATEGIES

AUTOMOTIVE

BlueOval City, Ford’s all-new mega-campus in West Tennessee, is taking shape and preparing to build Ford’s next-gen electric truck, code named Project T3, in 2025, with plans for producing 500,000 trucks a year. Photo from Ford Media Center.

partnerships and committed to investing $40 billion in EV research and development, including engineering solid-state batteries.

Honda has an agreement with General Motors to use their Ultium electric vehicle platform.

Kia is chasing a goal of 1.2 million annual battery electric vehicle sales worldwide by 2030. And Volvo hopes to build only pure electric vehicles by the end of the decade.

Many car manufacturers are looking to roll out pure battery electric cars by the end of 2024.

BUT HOLD ON… A global EV outlook report by the International Energy Agency found that over 2.3 million electric cars were sold in the first quarter of 2023, about 25 percent more than in the same period last year. Sales were expected to reach 14 million by the end of 2023, representing a 35 percent year-on-year increase with new purchases accelerating in the second half of this year.

A crucial aspect of manufacturing electrified transportation is the demand for certain metals, and specifically the metal for EV batteries—lithium.

According to a climate study by the University of CaliforniaDavis, if today’s demand for EVs is projected to 2050, the lithium requirements of the U.S. EV market alone would require triple the amount of lithium currently produced for the entire global market.

This boom in demand would be met by the expansion of lithium mining with the accompanying social and environmental impact that large scale mining creates.

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Another example of early rough going: Ford’s Model e will lose $3 billion this year, after a loss of just over $2 billion in 2022. But Ford is still on track for a global capacity to build 600,000 EVs by the end of 2023, and 2 million by 2026.

Then there are the more pressing issues for EVs now on the road, mostly involving range, charging stations and charging times.

A report by National Public Radio revealed that the Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, on a road show tour to demonstrate the value of EVs, had to deal with problems with crowded and broken recharging stations along the way.

This charger infrastructure issue is growing among consumers, according to a recently released report by JD Powers, “U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study.”

There are currently three different kinds of EV chargers: Level 1 equipment provides charging through a common residential 120-volt (120V) AC outlet, and can take 40-50+ hours to charge an EV 80 percent from empty. Level 2 has higher-rate AC charging available through 240V (in residential applications) or 208V (in commercial applications) electrical service, and is common for home, workplace, and public charging. Level 2 chargers can charge an EV 80 percent from empty in 4-10 hours.

The most popular charger is the direct current fast charger, which offers rapid charging along heavy-traffic corridors at installed stations. DC equipment can charge an EV to 80 percent in just 20 minutes to 1 hour.

Satisfaction with DC fast chargers, the expected wave of the

future in EV chargers, has declined, according to the JD Power report. “Since consumer skepticism regarding public charging availability is the primary reason why vehicle shoppers reject EVs, this performance could prove to be a further hindrance to EV acceptance,” the report concluded.

The study also found that 20 percent of all users say they visited a charger but did not charge their vehicle because the charger was inoperable, or there were long lines to use the charger.

CAN EVS BECOME THE NEW REALITY? Americans’ adoption of electric vehicles is proving to be slow, according to a recent Gallup Poll. Few currently own one (4 percent) or are seriously considering purchasing one (12 percent).

Another 43 percent of U.S. adults say they might consider buying an electric vehicle in the future, while 41 percent unequivocally say they would not.

The idea that electric vehicles addresses climate change is not universally accepted by Americans. The Gallup Poll reported that, while about four in 10 U.S. adults think using EVs helps address climate change “a great deal” (12 percent) or “a fair amount” (27 percent), roughly six in 10 believe it helps “only a little” (35 percent) or “not at all” (26 percent).

But the push from the government continues unabated. The Biden administration has set a goal that half of all new vehicle

sales be electric by 2030. Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act adds and expands tax credits for purchases of new and used EVs, providing incentives to electrify heavy-duty vehicles like school buses, and includes support for the installation of residential, commercial, and municipal EV charging infrastructure.

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and Center for Sustainable Energy are committing to launch online dealer training in 2023 that will be available to over 180,000 salespeople at NADA’s 16,000+ member dealers to help them master the nuances of selling electric vehicles and accelerate mass-market EV adoption, according to a White House fact sheet.

Bottom line: While EVs continue to be marketed to a consumer still unsure about them, the plans of the Biden administration and the hopes of the auto manufacturers could be challenging to achieve.

A report from KPMG, a financial and business advisory firm, found that the conventional wisdom says EVs will eventually triumph and become the dominant force in the automotive business. “Yet, we still don’t know when EVs might reach a tipping point and become popular with a wide swath of consumers, and capable of generating the sales—and profits—to justify billiondollar bets. By 2025? By 2035? Never? Predictions are all over the map.” X

The Panasonic EV cylndrical Li-ion battery that will be manufactured at the new Desoto, Kansas plant just a few miles from Kansas City’s Ford manufacturing plant. Photo courtesy thinkKC

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT

CYBER SECURITY The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, released an alert in 2020 for organizations to adopt a heightened state of cyber security for remote work operations due to the pandemic.

Cyber Attacks Frustrating Attempts to Find Solutions

BY D AVI D HO D E S

Business managers are on the lookout for more security breaches targeting banks, infrastructure and government agencies around the world – and the hackers behind them

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n the universe of cyber security, there is an alert nearly every day about bad actors hacking into computer systems. And they are getting more serious. ...............................................................................................................................

Consider the following selection of events: •

•

June 12: The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) had a cyber attack of data that included the release of personal information for approximately 3.5 million holders of Oregon ID or driver’s licenses. While much of this information is available broadly, some of it is sensitive personal information.

July 5: HCA Healthcare, Inc., one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers reported a cyber attack of a list of certain information about patients in what appeared to be a theft from an external storage location exclusively used to automate the formatting of email messages.

• •

• • •

•

AP that reservations and casino floors in Las Vegas and states including Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York and Ohio were affected. Caesar’s Casino was also attacked.

Attacks like these against well-known large businesses are becoming commonplace.

In 2022, 493.33 million ransomware attacks were detected by organizations worldwide, according to Techopedia, an IT insight company. More details were listed: Phishing remains the most common cyber attack, with approximately 3.4 billion daily spam emails.

The global average data breach cost was $4.35 million in 2022.

In 2022, the average cost of breaches resulting from stolen or compromised credentials amounted to $4.5 million.

The healthcare industry has been the costliest for breaches for 12 consecutive years, with an average data breach cost reaching $10 million in 2022.

ON THE RISE

•

•

•

August 21: In a rare and complicated move, the FBI got a court’s permission to hack into a central computer infrastructure to scrub malicious programs off of 700,000 global connected computers.

September 4: The Missouri Department of Natural Resources put out a warning to customers that water and wastewater plants across the state could be subject to cyberattacks. This comes after the Environmental Protection Agency found out about potential threats to critical infrastructures, and issued their own alert.

September 10: The Associated Press reported that MGM Resorts International said an investigation is continuing after what it called a “cybersecurity issue” that led to the shutdown of computer systems at company properties across the U.S. MGM officials told

Cyber security issues have cropped up in most areas of business and industry, including supply chain, cloud security, critical infrastructure, identity and access management—with experts expressing particular concern about ransomware attacks, which are on the rise and using evolving tactics.

In 2022, CrowdStrike Intelligence, a cyber security monitoring and reporting company, discovered a 20 percent increase in the number of bad actors doing data theft and extortion campaigns with an evolved use of ransomware techniques.

Ransomware adversaries using additional pressure on victims have commonly leaked victim data as a leverage tactic since 2019, something that CrowdStrike Intelligence calls a sort of “double extortion” model.

For many organizations, the threat of a data leak—which may impact sensitive proprietary data as well as customers’ and employees’ personally identifiable information—can be a compelling incentive to pay a ransom.

In February and March 2022, one ransomware actor attracted attention in the security community for a series of high-profile data theft and extortion incidents targeting technology companies including Microsoft, Nvidia, Okta and Samsung. The ransomware actor used their public telegram channels to leak data including victim source code, employee credentials and other information.

Perhaps even more alarming is the rise of threat actors using artificial intelligence for both designing and executing attacks, such as development of phishing e-mails; bxjmag.com

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CYBER SECURITY

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has selected priority areas in government agencies, private sector organizations, and others who rely on NIST look forward to when it comes to assistance with cybersecurity and privacy matters.

impersonation attacks; development of complex malware code; and automation of attacks. What this could look like was shown with templates of phishing emails completely designed by chatGPT in a report from the cyber security division of the U.S. Health and Human Services.

LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS On the drawing board and being discussed behind closed doors in cyber security operations around the world are such ideas as cybersecurity mesh architecture, with scientists working on enhancing the adaptive capabilities of such a system.

Digital assets today are spread over many locations and clouds, making it hard to keep track of them if they are hit by a cyber attack. The mesh architecture is new concept made up of a collaborative ecosystem of tools and controls that builds 16 | BXJ | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | bxjmag.com

on a strategy of integrating composable, distributed security tools by centralizing the data for more effective collaboration and better security of digital assets spread over locations and clouds.

According to a report by Gartner, a global business consulting and research agency, researchers are hoping that, by 2024, organizations will have adopted the cybersecurity mesh architecture to integrate security tools as an ecosystem, and help reduce the financial impact of individual security incidents by 90 percent, on average.

There are defensive measures a company can pursue right now, according to CrowdStrike: • Prioritize identity protection. With identity becoming the new data source that adversaries exploit, defenders must adapt their security measures to stay ahead of

•

•

• •

threats and counteract tactics for gaining initial access.

- Stay on top of patching and updates. Ensure that all systems, software and applications are up-to-date with the latest patches.

Hunt for follow-on behaviors. While the vulnerability landscape changes daily, the post-exploitation actions an adversary takes in achieving their objectives are much less dynamic. Continuous hunting for known patterns of adversary behavior—such as logging in from new locations, accessing resources outside of normal operating hours and access-denied events—is an effective way to identify the abuse of both known and unknown vulnerabilities.

Implement multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.

Leverage up-to-date threat intelligence.

PLANS As the country heads into an election year, more attention has been created about cyber security and protecting the country from suspected incursions that occurred in the 2016 election.

To do that, the White House spelled out its cyber security objectives in a March, 2023 report, “National Cybersecurity Strategy,” identifying the broadened significance of cybersecurity as “essential to the basic functioning of our economy, the operation of our critical infrastructure, the strength of our democracy and democratic institutions, the privacy of our data and communications, and our national defense.”

To understand the scope of what is needed, the report called out the malicious players: the governments of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and “other autocratic states with revisionist intent.. aggressively using advanced cyber capabilities to pursue objectives that run counter to our interests and broadly accepted international norms.”

It also outlined two fundamental shifts in how the U.S. allocates roles, responsibilities, and resources in cyberspace: rebalance the responsibility to defend cyberspace, and realign incentives to favor long-term investments. A host of strategic objectives followed.

PROTECTIONS FOR EDGE DEVICES Looking into protecting so-called “edge devices”, such as small satellites, ground vehicles, and drones, has become another focus of cyber security experts, as explained by Kyle Miller, research analyst at the Georgetown University Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), where he works on the CyberAI Project.

Miller co-authored a report released in August, “Onboard AI: Constraints and Limitations”, about AI challenges and

recommendations to policymakers about how to engage with these technologies.

“At a very high level, edge devices are even more challenging to keep secure,” Miller told BXJ. “If you have a company with 100 people and everybody has their computers, you have an IT staff, you have a particular network that everybody uses—that’s rather structured. But with edge devices, if I buy a drone from a company, it might have certain hardening to it. It might be secure on a certain level. But once I buy that drone, if it’s not being updated over the air all the time, that software becomes outdated. Any vulnerabilities within that system remain for longer terms.”

That is not the case with such devices as military drones, he said, where the software is constantly updating. “The real dynamic we need to be tracking here is what is the rate of improvement on the edge compute side of things? These are small chips that are low power that you can fit on these edge devices. But the problem with that is they inherently have less compute onboard. So we need to track as that progresses over the next 10 years,” Miller said. “Will there be a lot of research and design and development investment into getting these onboard chips to be better? That is a completely open question.”

Miller attended the recent DEF CON cybersecurity conference—essentially a hacker’s conference—held annually in Las Vegas. Department of Defense (DoD) people encouraged attendees to “hack the hell” out of systems because DoD experts didn’t know where all their vulnerabilities were and wanted to uncover those weaknesses.

During that conference, hacking into a Tesla vehicle Model S was discussed. “What hackers did was bypass the part that doesn’t allow you to update the software on your own,” Miller said. “They could just upgrade the software onboard that vehicle without having to pay for it. And they’re like, look, we could do this. That’s not a very malicious example. No one’s getting killed on the road. But could you in real time hack into these things? I would say at a high level, any sort of digital system that uses software, and that is connected to a network and connected to the open Internet, has the potential to be infiltrated. So I would say yes, it is a real threat.

“So how much effort is Tesla and Waymo and all these different autonomous car companies willing to invest in money and talent in keeping their system secure, and hardened?,” Miller said. “It’s not easy to do this (type of hacking). You’re not going to find the high school kid hacking into this stuff, not at a scale that threatens the broader autonomous vehicle industry, in my opinion. But I had lots of caveats to this stuff because this is very emerging space.” X

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ARIZONA:

Thriving Innovation

A

rizona is strategically located in the southwest region of the United States, immediately accessible to three of the world’s largest economies – California (#8), Texas (#12) and Mexico (#15). In fact, Arizona is the only state in the nation within a day’s drive of all those major world markets. .........................................................................................

Major interstates, freeways, and transcontinental and interstate railroads connect the state directly to dozens of major markets throughout the region.

This infrastructure provides highly effective flow for people and products, including one-day truck haul routes between Arizona and California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah as well as deliveries to and from Mexico. Trucks originating in Arizona are capable of reaching 65 million people in a one-day drive, making market access particularly convenient.

For companies doing business on a global level, Arizona’s two international airports are located in Phoenix and Tucson. One of the largest in the world, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport transports more than 800 tons of cargo daily and more than 300 thousand tons annually.

In addition, the Phoenix airport serves more than 100 cities with nonstop flights which include international destinations. You can fly to Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas or Santa Fe in less than an hour. You can arrive in other major markets including Dallas, Denver or San Francisco in under two hours, or in a third to get to Chicago, Houston, Mexico City, or Vancouver, Canada.

The state’s lack of natural and weather-related disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards, and tornadoes makes Arizona a convenient location for companies that require employees and market access to be available consistently throughout the year. Along with the steady climate, Arizona is so geologically sound that it’s home to America’s largest nuclear generating facility. Palo Verde Nuclear Station provides businesses continual access to clean, reliable energy.

For more information on Arizona, please contact the Arizona Commerce Authority at 602-845-1200 or visit their website at www.azcommerce.com .

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.ARIZONA: SRP-Power to Grow Phoenix ......... ................................................................................

SRP has a long and rich history of supporting the economic development of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona. From building Theodore Roosevelt Dam to exploring alternative fuels, SRP has helped improve life in the Valley for more than 100 years. Today, SRP is one of the largest public power entities in the nation.

They are there to assist you as you consider locating or relocating your business to the Phoenix metropolitan area. They specifically focus on businesses whose power demand will be 1 megawatt or greater.

With more than 100 years of experience operating in the Phoenix metropolitan area, they have access to a vast array of resources to help ease your decision-making process.

SRP, itself, is two entities: the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, a political subdivision of the State of Arizona; and the Salt River Valley Water User’s Association, a private corporation.

The District provides electricity to 2 million people living in central Arizona. It operates or participates in 12 major power plants and numerous other generating stations, including coal, nuclear, natural gas, and renewable sources, such as hydroelectric, solar, wind and geothermal.

The Association delivers nearly 1 million acre-feet of water annually to a service area in central Arizona. The Association maintains and operates an extensive water delivery system which includes reservoirs, wells, canals and irrigation laterals.

Their Strategic Economic Services department looks forward to working with you to discuss economic development in the Phoenix metropolitan area. For more information, please visit www. powertogrowphx.com or call Karla Moran at 602-236-2396 or email karla.moran@srpnet.com .. X

WATER HELPS ALL THINGS GROW, INCLUDING BUSINESSES. For over 120 years, SRP has ensured that Greater Phoenix has had a reliable water supply — and that’s not changing any time soon.

As our residential and business populations continue to grow, we’re finding new ways to expand water storage capacity, use hydrologic data and activate long-term climate plans. If you’re searching for a new place to plant your business, Greater Phoenix has enough water to help it grow strong roots.

Get the full story at powertogrowphx.com.

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NEW MEXICO:

Photo by Andreas Rasmussen on Unsplash

Governor Designates Nine Target Industries for Growth

G

overnor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Economic Development Department (EDD) is dedicated to helping grow a sustainable, appropriate, and diverse economy by focusing on these industry sectors. .........................................................................................

Aerospace: an ideal climate, three national research laboratories, three U.S. Air Force bases, the internationally recognized Spaceport America, three testing facilities, plus 15,000 square miles of restricted air space all combine to create a superior environment for aerospace companies. Visit the Spaceport America website at www.spaceportamerica.com .

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Film & Television: With $5.75B being invested as part of production centers created by Netflix and NBCUniversal, New Mexico is a rapidly accelerating media hub and offers beautiful locations, history, culture, and one of the largest crew bases in the country, plus a very generous refundable tax credit.

Intelligent Manufacturing: the state’s deep bench in intelligent manufacturing includes tech industry leaders like Intel along with homegrown companies like SolAero, UbiQD, and 3D Glass Solutions – all examples of locally created and commercialized technology. Low risk of weather events and a stable, dry climate combine with customized incentives to make New Mexico a top tier option for advanced manufacturing.

Outdoor Recreation: home to five national forests 15 national parks and monuments, 34 state parks, and 26

wilderness areas, New Mexico’s outdoor industry covers everything from bicycling to skiing, stargazing to hot air ballooning, and a range of stunning landscapes and cultural and historical sites.

Sustainable & Green Energy: with 300+ days of sunshine annually, the state contains tremendous untapped solar capacity, not to mention a growing wind and biothermal energy sector, too. As of 2020, renewable energy provided 27% of the state’s utility-scale net generation.

Biosciences: biosciences make up more than one-half of all R&D conducted in New Mexico and there is a strong pipeline from the state’s three major research institutions as well as tech transfer initiatives into 600+ companies and organizations.

Sustainable & Value-Added Agriculture: long recognized for cattle ranching and farming, New Mexico now leads in dairy production (top 10 in milk, top 5 in cheese), growing pecans, pistachios, and peanuts, creating gold medal craft beer and wine, and a fast-growing farm to table and organic produce industry anchored by the state’s reputation as the Chile Capital of the World.

Cybersecurity: both of the state’s U.S. Department of Energy labs conduct extensive research in cybersecurity, complemented be work done at the Air Force Research Lab and White Sands Missile Range as well as New Mexico Tech, University of New

Mexico, and a growing cluster of firms in the cybersecurity industry.

Global Trade: New Mexico exports more than $3.5B in goods worldwide. Major trading partners include Mexico, China, and Japan. Computer & electronic products, at $2B, is the largest category of products exported. The state is also a destination for foreign direct investment, with companies including CN Wire, Admiral Cable, and Rhino Health manufacturing products here.

NEW MEXICO: Roswell-Chaves County

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While Roswell is known internationally for the 1947 UFO Incident, Roswell is also a vibrant community of 48,163 and numbering over 66,000 in greater Chaves County. Our community sits directly alongside the Pecos Valley and serves as the economic and cultural hub of Southeastern New Mexico.

Roswell has a proud and enduring heritage in aerospace and aviation. Robert Goddard—considered the father of modern rocket propulsion—conducted experimentation with liquid fueled rockets in Roswell in the 1930-40s. The Roswell Air Center (RAC) is the site of the former Walker Air Force Base. Being an original base of Strategic Air Command (SAC), the existing infrastructure is conducive to maintenance, 24/7 operations, and aircraft storage.

Roswell greater Albuquerque has

Southeast New Mexico’s Aviation Hub

4 TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE

for the concentration of industrial engineering technicians

ABQ.org | ABQSites.com

❖ over 310 days of

sunshine per year

❖ ~2000 acre shovel-

ready Mega site and other sites ready now ❖ extensive natural water resources available ❖ a fast growing aviation/aerospace industry ❖ daily direct flights to Dallas (DFW) ❖ low taxes / low cost of living ❖ a vibrant and diverse place to call home!

Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation (575) 622-1975 info@chavescounty.net www.chavescounty.net bxjmag.com

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Today, RAC is home to three maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities, major airlines, and several manufacturing activities. Roswell has ideal flying conditions—high altitude, largely uncongested airspace, and 310 days of sunshine per year offering extremely low weather volatility. This situation ensures minimal delays, low fuel demand, and minimal damage from corrosion. The air center is a regular tenant for military flight training, equipment testing, and research/development. RAC is also an active commercial airport with daily flights to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW).

Find out what opportunities Roswell might have for you! For more information, check out www.chavescounty.net, or contact the Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation (RCCEDC) at 575-622-1975 or info@chavescounty.net.

NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque: A High Quality Of Life

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Keeping true to New Mexico’s official nickname, the Land of Enchantment, the greater Albuquerque region attracts and retains an educated, skilled and diverse workforce, thanks to the exceptional quality of life, low cost of living and abundant amenities. This is a trifecta that is hard to find in other large metropolitan areas. They invite you to discover all the factors that make the greater Albuquerque region the best choice for companies and individuals alike.

The Albuquerque metro area and the State of New Mexico offer aggressive business incentives to help reduce your overall cost of doing business. From corporate income tax rates to workforce training, They offer excellent programs with a business friendly attitude. AREA is eager to provide assistance specific to your company’s location or expansion needs, in complete confidence. Their team of economic development professionals is organized to help you obtain the facts you need 22 | BXJ | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | bxjmag.com

to thoroughly evaluate the Albuquerque metro area. They can save you countless hours of research and analysis by providing a full complement of services, all at no cost or obligation to you.

Several industry clusters are growing and thriving in New Mexico, thanks to competitive incentives, worldrenowned laboratories and research facilities, an innovative entrepreneurial scene and a highly skilled workforce.

With unparalleled intellectual capital assets, strong institutional capacity for program graduates, and nearly 16,000 employed in industries which complement aerospace sectors, Greater Albuquerque offers unique strengths for companies seeking to locate and grow in a high-quality environment with a specialized set of skills.

With the density of intellectual capital assets within Greater ABQ, it is no surprise that the Greater Albuquerque region holds the largest share of employment within bioscience cluster industries. With 18,600+ jobs in 2021, Greater Albuquerque holds nearly 60 percent of all bioscience cluster employment within the state of New Mexico.

With unparalleled intellectual capital assets, strong institutional capacity for program graduates, and over 25,000 employed in industries which complement renewable energy sectors, Greater Albuquerque offers unique strengths for companies seeking to locate and grow in a high quality environment with a specialized set of skills in renewable energy production and research and development.

Film and TV in Albuquerque has become an important part of the creative economy providing high-paying creative and technical jobs and indirectly benefiting other industries and businesses in Albuquerque. What started as a niche industry in New Mexico has become an economic powerhouse. Today, the film industry supports hundreds of local businesses and thousands of jobs across the state. With more than $600 million in direct spending, it’s one of the state’s fastest growing industries.

New Mexico enjoys a strong and growing back office sector comprised primarily of customer service, technical support, order taking, claims processing, bilingual customer support, accounts payable, and mail processing. The state is home to more than two dozen customer service centers statewide, with some of the largest U.S. consumer companies represented: Comcast, Gap Inc., Fidelity Investments, and Hewlett-Packard.

Research and development capacity, combined Manufacturing companies from around the world are realizing the potential New Mexico has to offer. Advanced manufacturing in New Mexico is diverse and includes everything from bioscience and medical manufacturing, food production and value-added agriculture products, to cutting-edge aerospace and space manufacturing.

For more information on Greater Albuquerque, please contact the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance at 505-7053777 or visit their website at www.abq.org . X

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MISSISSIPPI:

Photo by Pieter van de Sande on Unsplash

Anything But Usual

A

n efficient regulatory environment. Strategic logistics comprised of river, ocean, rail and air. Natural resources available just outside your front door. All these things make doing business in Mississippi a winning solution for companies asking, “what’s next?” ......................................................................................

Mississippi is competitive, too. The Magnolia State offers untapped potential and a collaborative ecosystem that has led to innovations in every sector, such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare and IT. With a cost of living nearly 20% below the national average, Mississippi offers value for employers and residents. In addition, Mississippi has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the U.S. at 5%, and offers a variety of statutory and discretionary incentives, as well as loans and grants for minority and small businesses.

In Mississippi, you’ll find low business costs, affordable talent and a competitive climate for innovation. Mississippi means more. More square footage. More available sites. More money in your pocket to spend on the things you care about.

Aerospace & Defense. For six decades, NASA’s Stennis Space Center – located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast – has played a pivotal role in our nation’s aerospace and defense industry.

With its state-of-the-art rocket and jet engine testing facilities and research institutions, Stennis maintains one of the greatest concentrations of aerospace and defense personnel in the country. Mississippi offers a robust portfolio of resources and advantages, such as the Aerospace Initiative Incentives Program and their proximity to major military installations, to help industry leaders in this vital sector soar above and beyond the competition.

Automotive. The Magnolia State has been a key player in the automobile manufacturing industry since Nissan established bxjmag.com

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its 5 million-square-foot assembly plant in Canton in 2003. Nissan has invested significantly in the facility since its opening, and now, the company is gearing up to begin production of electric vehicles at the plant. In 2022, the automotive giant announced it was investing $500 million to partially convert the plant to begin production of two all-new, allelectric vehicles – positioning Mississippi to welcome more EV manufacturers to shovel-ready sites throughout the state.

Since the opening of Nissan Canton nearly 20 years ago, other industry-leading automotive companies have established operations in the state. Toyota and PACCAR have locations in Mississippi, along with a host of automobile suppliers.

Mississippi also is home to three of the nation’s largest tire makers, Continental Tire, Yokohama Tire and Cooper Tire.

Over half a million vehicles are produced in-state annually, including nine

globally recognized models. Mississippi is also a right-to-work state, with a low cost of living and other incentives available for manufacturers.

More than 200 employers in the auto industry employ more than 15,000 Mighty Mississippians on a daily basis. Pair that with Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, University of Mississippi’s Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence and several technical colleges that offer customized training to meet companies’ needs, and you have a winning combination for advanced automobile manufacturing.

For more information on all the benefits of working in Mississippi, please contact the Mississippi Development Authority at 601-359-3449, toll-free 800360-3323 or visit their website at www. mississippi.org .

MISSISSIPPI: Greenwood — Saylor Wheel Locating Manufacturing 0perations

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Saylor Wheel LLC is locating manufacturing operations in Greenwood.

The project represents a $23.4 million corporate investment that will create 145 new jobs.

Saylor Wheel will manufacture tire and steel wheel assemblies for the trailer industry with the steel wheels vertically integrated into the manufacturing process. The investment includes the purchase and rehabilitation of an existing building in Greenwood, as well the purchase of manufacturing and nonmanufacturing equipment.

The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance in support of the project through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX. Leflore County and Greenwood also are assisting with the project.

Rehabilitation of the building will soon be underway, and the company aims to begin operations in the coming months.

QUOTES

welcomes

to Greenwood, MS Invest in Greenwood TODAY! 662.453.5321 | 402 HWY 82 W www.greenwoodedf.com

24 | BXJ | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | bxjmag.com

"This $23.4 million investment and 145 new jobs is a testament to the strength and vitality of Mississippi’s economy.

The products produced by Saylor Wheel right here in Mississippi will help drive economic growth and strengthen Leflore County. I’m thankful for Saylor Wheel and look forward to seeing the positive impact of their manufacturing operations in Leflore County. – Gov. Tate Reeves “We are thrilled to welcome Saylor Wheel to Greenwood and Leflore County.

This economic development win speaks to the hard work and dedication of our community leaders and economic development professionals, all of whom work tirelessly to attract high-quality jobs to our state. We anticipate Saylor Wheel’s growth and success in Mississippi.”

– MDA Deputy Executive Director Laura Hipp

“Two words come to mind regarding the start of Saylor Wheel: gratitude, and teamwork. Teamwork by the Delta Council, the Economic Development Foundation, the city, the county, the state of Mississippi, the USDA, our political leaders, our investors, the community development entities MRC and Southern Bancorp, and the numerous professionals that critically contributed to this project - they made this company a reality. My gratitude for their help exceeds my reach for words.

Now is the time to make wheels in the Delta.”

– David Saylor, President, Saylor Wheel, LLC “The city of Greenwood is delighted that Saylor Wheel chose our city as its new home. We welcome the new opportunities that this company will provide to the citizens of Greenwood and the Mississippi Delta.”

– Mayor Carolyn McAdams, City of Greenwood “We appreciate the confidence that Saylor Wheel has in Leflore County and the tremendous investment that they are making in our community. We look forward to having them as part of our corporate family.” – Reginald Moore, President, Leflore County Board of Supervisors For more information on Greenwood, please contact the Greenwood Leflore Carrol EDF at 662-453-5321 or visit their website at www.greenwoodedf.com .

top notch! With a CEcD and a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) on staff, this duo is ready to take workforce development, business recruitment and expansion to the next level. The CWDA is a nationally recognized workforce development professional, who took the lead on obtaining the ACT Work Ready Certification for Hinds County. The workforce professional works with training professionals in the region to create customized training for any company. They have access to training, students, and manufacturing companies so once the students complete their certificate or degrees, that can get a good paying job locally. This area is working to strengthen the pipeline from kindergarten to job for all citizens in the county. Hinds County Economic Development Authroity’s CEcD currently serves on the IEDC Board of Directors in addition to settling in the role of Executive Director.

With an abundance of opportunity, the Hinds County Economic Development Authority is ready for a variety of projects. Because of the county’s wealth of resources, like interstate and rail access, Hinds County, Mississippi is destined to become the logistics and distribution pillar of the south providing efficient speed to market.

The healthcare industry is poised to expand as COVID becomes an endemic. The state of Mississippi will offer new companies wanting to expand the health care systems in Hinds County a special incentive to locate within the county limits. Other target industries include aviation, automotive suppliers, alternative energy sources, and integrated building systems. No matter what your business is, give Hinds County a look – see for yourself, the “World of Difference” that can benefit your company. X

WE’RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS

MISSISSIPPI: Hinds County

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Did you know there is a metro in Mississippi beaming with opportunity and resources ready for your project? This community features two major interstates, rail, two Entergy Qualified sites, a population of more than 230,000 citizens, and seven four-year universities!? Yes, this area is ready and open for business. Hinds County is the star of the state of Mississippi, the home of the capital city, Jackson, MS. Jackson and Hinds County have all the resources to attract new capital and host expansion of industries. Those resources include two interstates: Interstate 55, which runs from Chicago through Memphis toward New Orleans and Interstate 20, which runs from South Carolina to Texas, passing cities like Atlanta and Dallas. The population reach of these two interstates is more than 30 million people, almost 10 percent of the entire US population! Rail is available at several sites within the county. The county is proud to have two airports, the Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Hawkins Field. Both operate within FAA guidelines and are ready to serve new businesses on site that will support both travelers and businesses throughout Central Mississippi. Hinds County also is a place that has two Entergy Qualified Sites and many greenfield and buildings available for new businesses development or expansions.

The Hinds County Economic Development Authority staff is

Tamika Jenkins Executive Director Hinds County Economic Development Authority

P: (601) 353 6056 F: (601) 353 7179

E: Tamika@selecthinds.com www.selecthinds.com

125 South Congress Suite 1500, Jackson, MS 39201

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ALABAMA:

Photo by Allan Francis on Unsplash

A Pro-Business Attitude

B

eyond beauty, Alabama offers thousands of available sites, a proven track record of success, and a pro-business attitude that allows them to develop custom incentive packages tailored to a company’s individual needs. Consider them your toolbox to building a great business: they have the resources, atmosphere, workforce, and competitive advantages to cultivate growth and expansion in any field.

Accessibility

Population & Major Metropolitan Areas

Alabama Research Capabilities Interactive Map

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Alabama has 13 Metropolitan Statistical Areas that serve as home to prospering businesses, prestigious colleges and universities, nationallyrenowned health centers and doctors, and an affordable housing market.

There’s a reason why Alabama hospitality is legendary and their quality of life cannot be beaten.

Geography

Alabama boasts a geography that spans all different sorts—one of the most varied in the nation, in fact. From mountains and valleys to beaches and riverbanks, there’s a wealth of natural beauty on display when you need to get away.

• Total Area – 52,424 square miles • Highest point – 2,407 feet above sea level (Mt. Cheaha) • 35,469 square miles of forest (71%) • 1,776 square miles of water • 53 miles of coastline • 1,350 miles of navigable waterways •.Accessible minerals – limestone, salt, quartz, and iron ore 26 | BXJ | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | bxjmag.com

Alabama sits at the heart of the fastest growing region in the United States. Comprised by a network of thousands of roads, plentiful airports, inland waterways, and proximity to the 9th largest seaport in the U.S., Alabama is as easy to access as it is a choice for businesses.

• 6 Interstates – Totaling 1,126 miles • .4 Class 1 Railroads totaling more than 2,500 miles of rail • 90 Public Airports • 19 U.S. Highways totaling 3,852.85 miles • 9th largest deepwater seaport in U.S.—Port of Mobile • 5 cargo airports Companies and site selection consultants from around the world can quickly explore relevant research being conducted at Alabama universities and research organizations thanks to a new interactive map designed to catalog research capabilities in the state. Companies can use the tool to connect with researchers who could assist in product development, testing, and other functions. The map was developed by the Alabama Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or Alabama EPSCoR. For more information on doing business in Alabama, please contact the Alabama Department of Commerce at 800-248-0033 or visit their website at www.madeinalabama.com

ALABAMA: Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance

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The Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance region – which consists of Fayette, Lamar, and Marion counties – offers the best of both worlds.

while homebuyers can find affordable large acreage properties connected to 1-gig fiber.

Northwest Alabama has experienced robust growth in the last 18 months, with multiple business expansions and new businesses moving into the area. One industry that has yet to take off in Northwest Alabama is automotive manufacturing, but that is about to change.

“For the last 10 years, Northwest Alabama has been on the cusp for attracting The region has long been a rural manufacturing powerhouse. Six Fortune 500 companies operate facilities in the Northwest Alabama region. Northwest Alabama is a leader in metal fabrication, manufactured homes, glove manufacturing, wood products, and other types of manufacturing.

Target sectors include automotive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, food production, and logistics & distribution.

Over 30% of workers are employed at manufacturing facilities. In addition, over 6,000 workers commute to productionrelated jobs outside the region. The region has several of the best-positioned industrial parks on Interstate 22 between Birmingham and Memphis.

automotive industry projects,” says Bill Taylor, former CEO of Mercedes-Benz Alabama. “Well, now they are really poised to grow. For a rural area, they have some compelling locational advantages including available workforce with automotive training.”

For more information on Northwest Alabama, please call 205-495-9952 or visit their website at northwestalabamaeda.org... X

Discover

Northwest Alabama’s Skilled Manufacturing Workforce.

75 MILES

Major Auto Manufacturing OEMs and suppliers within 200 miles: Toyota Honda Mercedes Mazda

200 MILES

Hayashi Telempu Yoruzu Lear APMM

• Over 30% of our highly skilled workforce is employed by manufacturing companies.

• Over 2,100 workers from our region commute to automotive industry and related jobs.

At the same time, Northwest Alabama offers all the advantages of a rural setting.

Located in the picturesque Appalachia foothills, the region has good schools and little traffic, while being well-connected to the global economy. The region is within a 1 to 1.5-hour drive of five major metro areas (over 1.7 million people). A 200-mile radius encompasses 14 million people. Freedom Fiber, one of the most innovative rural fiber initiatives in the country is building new fiber lines, in partnership with Alabama Power, throughout the region. Businesses can now access 10 gig service in Northwest Alabama,

• Over 50 automotive OEMs and suppliers are located within a 90-minute drive of our shovel-ready industrial parks on I-22.

• Infrastructure ready with 10 Gig fiber service available for business.

Info@NorthwestAlabamaEDA.com NorthwestAlabamaEDA.com

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LOUISIANA:

Photo by Gower Brown on Unsplash

Aerospace Poised For Expansion

T

raditional and emerging industries are growing in Louisiana. A highly productive and motivated workforce, low taxes, unrivaled infrastructure and logistics, a pro-business climate and the nation's best workforce recruitment and training program provide a competitive advantage. Louisiana’s key industries include Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, Agribusiness, Energy, Entertainment, Process Industries, Software Development, and Water Management. ......................................................................................

Louisiana’s aerospace sector is poised for expansion, thanks to the state’s unique combination of business advantages: superior infrastructure and logistics, abundant sites, expedited permitting, competitive incentives, the best customized workforce development program in the country and an established advanced manufacturing talent pipeline sustained by higher education partnerships.

Industry-recognized aerospace and aviation companies such as

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Arrow Aviation and Metro Aviation started in Louisiana while globally recognized companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Western Global Airlines have established operations in Louisiana and are benefiting from the state’s unique advantages.

Manufacturers can benefit from Louisiana’s sizeable available workforce and status as a right-to-work state. Currently more than 430,000 workers in Louisiana are employed in occupations relevant to manufacturing, according to Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. New investors in the state can be sure of Louisiana’s continued workforce investment as the state continues to make strategic investments in higher education designed to meet the needs of industry. The majority of the state’s research universities have institutes, programs of study and/or centers specializing in manufacturing focus areas.

Well situated for both inbound and outbound logistics, Louisiana’s unrivaled infrastructure offers strategic advantages for the aerospace industry. The state is home to: • Six interstate highways.

• Six Class 1 railroads.

• .Six deep water ports including the Port of New Orleans.

• E. ight Foreign Trade Zones with multiple subzones and six ports across the state offering foreign trade zone affiliation.

• .Seven commercial service airports, two general aviation airports supporting the maintenance of commercial passenger, freighter or government aircraft, and four airports offering foreign trade zone affiliation.

For more information on Louisiana, please contact Louisiana Economic Development at 225-342-3000, toll-free 800-450-8115 or visit their website at www.opportunitylouisiana.gov

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA: Leading Louisiana in Economic Growth

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Southwest Louisiana (SWLA) is a five-parish area intersecting the Acadiana and Central Louisiana regions. It is composed of the following parishes: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis.

Southwest Louisiana has the ideal export situation: a concentration of pipelines supplying cheap, abundant natural gas; existing infrastructure for energy production and transportation; deep-water shipping access and shallow-draft inland waterways; a skilled workforce trained to serve industrial needs; and a community that welcomes and embraces industrial growth.

SWLA is part of the Gulf Coast Industrial Corridor, where petrochemical exploration, transportation, and production are commonplace. The region is also home to a thriving lumber and timber products industry, farming and agriculture, including aquaculture, fisheries and other maritime industries.

The Lake Charles Metro Area is a corridor of heavy industry, home to some of the country’s largest petrochemical refineries and LNG export facilities, plus downstream manufacturers of refined products, such as plastics and chemicals.

Oil exploration and production are historical mainstays of the SWLA economy. The upstream industry, including natural gas production, maintains a strong presence due to oilfield service companies and a skilled workforce.

SWLA is a major center for the U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) export industry. Cheniere LNG, Cameron LNG, and Calcasieu Pass-Venture Global LNG were among the first LNG export facilities operating in the U.S., with even more proposed for construction in this area.

SWLA is home to numerous gaming resorts, live music venues, festivals, parks, and recreational facilities. The Lake Charles Metro

Area offers more than 6,000 hotel rooms for hosting local conventions, tournaments, and gatherings of all kinds.

SWLA is home to McNeese State University and SOWELA Technical Community College, where they are constantly evolving to prepare local talent for the diverse industries of tomorrow.

The Port of Lake Charles is the premiere multimodal facility serving SWLA. The Port is a deep-water port located approximately 36 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico. Several other ports offer maritime transportation services across the region for both inland and Gulf-bound traffic. The Lake Charles area is served by three Class I railroads, including the Rail Logix facility at Lacassine Industrial Park, a hub for rail-to-vehicle transloading.

Lake Charles Regional Airport offers the only commuter airline service in SWLA, while Chennault International Airport is an industrial airpark serving charter flights. Proximity to Houston, Dallas, and New Orleans make SWLA a hidden gem in the logistics industry.

SWLA embraces agribusiness as a cultural and economic driver. A locally grown product such as rice is not only a major export commodity, but also a staple of the local cuisine. The same holds true for other crops like crawfish, sugar cane, and soybeans, in addition to cotton, timber, and livestock. The Wood Basket of Louisiana, a vast area of planted pine forests, has allowed sawmills and other forest-related industries to thrive in Beauregard and Allen parishes. With lush forests, farmlands, and fisheries, along with a warm climate and logistical access, Southwest Louisiana’s abundance is appreciated locally and around the world.

For more information on Southwest Louisiana, please contact the SWLA Economic Development Alliance at 337-433-3632 or visit www. allianceswla.org or www.chooseswlouisiana.com . X

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OPPORTUNITIES

FLORIDA:

Photo by Bill Jelen on Unsplash

The Future Is Here

F

lorida attracts companies across various key sectors and sizes with its robust economy, infrastructure and competitive tax climate. Few states can match the scale and scope of Florida’s industry assets. Supported by the growth of a robust economy, thriving infrastructure and top-ranked labor force, there are nine key business industries in Florida. They include Aerospace/Aviation, Cleantech, Defense & Homeland Security, Financial & Professional Services, Headquarters, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Logistics & Distribution, and Manufacturing. ......................................................................................

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With a rich supply chain and top connectivity, Florida’s aviation and aerospace companies are shooting for the stars. Home to the renowned Kennedy Space Center, Cecil Spaceport and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida’s aviation and aerospace industry is the world’s gateway to space. As the birthplace of commercial aviation, Florida has 130 public-use airports and 20 commercial airports to seamlessly move goods and people around the globe. The Sunshine State is the undisputed air traffic hub of the Americas, a major hub for flight training and MRO and a leading location for manufacturing aircrafts and aircraft components. In addition, Florida has the rich supply chain and highly skilled workforce to support engineering, robotics, surveillance, technology and more. Boeing, Embraer, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA and OneWeb Satellites are just a few of the companies pushing the envelope in aviation and aerospace in Florida.

Home to 20 major military installations and three unified combatant commands, Florida has one of the nation’s largest defense and

homeland security industries. Virtually every major defense contractor from the U.S. and abroad has significant operations in Florida. With over 17,900 companies and 194,000 employees, the Florida defense and homeland security industry is one of the nation’s largest. From defense aviation to biometrics to cybersecurity, Florida’s areas of industry expertise are wide-reaching, and there are few states that can compete with its labor force — ranked fourth in the nation for high-tech employment.

With the second-largest foreign trade zone network in the U.S., Florida is an ideal location for logistics and distribution operations.

Home to 20% of all U.S. exporters and the second-largest foreign trade zone network in the nation, Florida is the ideal choice for logistics, supply chain and distribution companies to locate. Nearly every major global logistics integrator has a presence in Florida, including the headquarters for Ryder System, Inc., Landstar System Inc. and CEVA Logistics U.S, Inc. The broader wholesale trade, transportation and logistics industry in Florida accounts for over 71,600 companies, and employs more than half a million talented individuals across the state.

As the Western Hemisphere’s commercial gateway, Florida is a top choice for any company in search of global access and a direct path to rapidly expanding markets in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For more information on these industries and their other key industries, please contact Enterprise Florida at 407-956-5600 or visit their website at www.enterpriseflorida.com .

FLORIDA: Indian River County

CENTRAL TO WHERE YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS TO BE .................................................................................................

Indian River County – Vero Beach, Sebastian, Fellsmere - strikes a perfect balance between business and pleasure. Those who live, work or visit the area find that the local communities are safe and loaded with ecological, cultural, educational and technological amenities. Many corporate-level executives have located their companies to the area because of the executive’s positive vacation experience, or perhaps they own a winter home on Vero’s barrier island.

Located on Florida’s east coast, midway between West Palm Beach and Cape Canaveral, Indian River County is within three hours of over 17 million consumers, or 90% of Florida’s population. It has easy access to markets but is far from urban sprawl, traffic and congestion. Visitors from other parts of Florida are amazed, and pleasantly surprised, at the county’s lack of traffic. The area is rich in history and natural resources, with 26 miles of unspoiled beaches and scenic lakes, plus some of the best bass fishing available in Blue Cypress Lake. It is also the center of the world famous Indian River Citrus District.

Indian River County is a cost-competitive location for new or expanding businesses. It has hundreds of acres of low-cost land available for development, much of it located near I-95, a major north-south transportation route along the east coast. The county offers competitive property tax rates, and Florida has no state income tax.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY IS EMERGING AS THE FLORIDA HUB, A LOCATION THAT’S SEAMLESSLY BLENDED THE BEST OF EVERYTHING THAT FLORIDA HAS TO OFFER

Because location is central to success • Located along Florida’s Central East Coast – within 3 hours of 19+ million consumers • Easy access to highways, rail and ports – with a new interchange under construction at I-95 • Workforce of 630,000 within a 50-mile radius • Tropical climate means no weather delays or downtime in production

Sebastian

• Cost competitive business environment – local incentives available

Indian River County Vero Beach West Palm Beach

• Superb quality of life attracts innovative businesses and talented professionals

Miami

Central to where your business needs to be.

Visit: IndianRiverED.com Call: 772.567.3491 or email: helenec@indianrivered.com

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The Opportunity Zone initiative offers investors an even greater reason to consider Indian River County, FL. All properties west of I-95 in Indian River County are designated as an Opportunity Zone and zoned for industrial use, including two shovel-ready industrial parks. State and local incentives are also available to relocating and expanding companies, including property tax abatement, tax refunds, and job training grants.

An available and trainable workforce of approximately 638,000 within an hour’s drive time adds to the county’s appeal as a desirable location. Indian River State College (IRSC) has five campuses located throughout the region, offering 2-year and 4-year degrees as well as several industrial and technical certifications. IRSC is very successful in securing training grants for local employers. They can develop specially-designed training programs in a matter of weeks rather than months. Because location is central to success, Indian River County isn’t just where you want to be – it’s central to where your business ought to be. It has the perfect blend of everything the Sunshine State has to offer.

For more information on locating your company to Indian River County, Florida, contact Helene Caseltine, Economic Development Director with the Indian River Chamber of Commerce, at 772-5673491 or helenec@indianrivered.com. Or, visit their website at www. indianrivered.com .

FLORIDA: SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Whiting Aviation Park Provides Unique Opportunities to Aviation Businesses

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The new industrial space in Northwest Florida is a big draw for aviation-related companies. Adjacent to Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Whiting Aviation Park is a 239-acre commercial/ industrial park with a 6,000-foot runway access. It’s also Florida First Certified – meaning it’s project-ready with due diligence completed to minimize risk and accelerate speed to market.

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limited-access use agreement between Santa Rosa County and the United States Navy. This agreement allows civilian tenants of the aviation park to use the Navy’s airfield facilities. Another perk: Whiting Aviation Park offers monitored airspace and visual flight rule conditions for over 300 days a year.

The development of Whiting Aviation Park has partly been funded by Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. This fund, created following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, offers $1.5 billion in economic development grant funding only for Northwest Florida. The fund can be used for infrastructure development, workforce enhancement, and tax rate reduction. Space Florida also offers companies in the aerospace and related industries unique opportunities, including facility and equipment financing and tax efficiencies to reduce short- and long-term capital costs.

In an area known as one of the most active air traffic zones in the world, Whiting Aviation Park is within driving distance of five aviation-related military installations in the surrounding counties, as well as being in proximity of several growing commercial operations and aviation-related OEMs. The fact that Northwest Florida has the largest concentration of military retirees in the nation means a trained and ready workforce is in place.

The Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office is ready to assist businesses who find a new home at Whiting Aviation Park. From site selection and employee recruitment and training to financial assistance with loans, grants, and tax-exempt bonds, the Economic Development Office is equipped with services that will expedite and give guidance throughout the process, as well as provide businesses with advantages that make growth easy and profitable.

Visit WhitingAviationPark.com to learn more. X

INDUSTRY

NEWS

TexAmericas Center Celebrates Record-Breaking Growth in Employment, Companies on Footprint

brought in six new businesses in 2023 and boasted a 93 percent retention rate of existing tenants. Companies recorded 610 new jobs, marking a 223 percent increase over 2022, according to the report.

Texarkana, TX —– TexAmericas Center (TAC) announced its continued “We saw growth in the past year and we’re very proud of that. We’re and impressive growth in new businesses and year-over-year job growth at its especially proud, though, of the growth since TexAmericas Center was founded industrial park, highlighted in its 2023 TexAmericas Center Annual Census of more than 25 years ago. We want to be a catalyst for progress, but more than Employment and Payroll report. anything we want to support the hard-working men and women in our region TexAmericas Center, which owns and operates one of the largest mixed-use by fostering good jobs,” Norton said. “In just the past five years, we’ve supported industrial parks in the United States, announced the highest combined tenant payroll and largest number of tenants on the organization’s footprint in its history. businesses so they could collectively grow employment numbers by 85 percent.

Over the 2023 fiscal year, TexAmericas Center tenants provided $56.6 million We hope to continue to build upon those numbers.”

In the next year, TexAmericas Center will continue to recruit domestic in combined annual payroll, a 17 percent increase over 2022. Meanwhile, companies to its footprint and put increased emphasis on courting foreign employment is at 1,359 jobs, an 81 percent increase year over year. investments and overseas companies that are looking to expand domestically.

“New defense contracts stemming from support to the Red River Army - The organization’s support goes beyond business interaction. Staff will go Depot are partially to thank for the increase in employment and salaries,” said above and beyond to help families relocating to Texas with assistance in finding Scott Norton, Executive Director and CEO of TexAmericas Center. “The defense housing, navigating school districts, finding ESL classes, and more. contracts have helped spur continued economic development because they’re “We can’t wait to say ‘Welcome to TexAmericas Center! We’re glad you’re also having an impact on surrounding businesses that are supplementing here,’” Norton said. services, becoming vendors, and supporting these contracts. We have a robust ammunition and energetics cluster on our footprint, and this year’s Census report emphasizes the strategy behind those clusters.”

The nationally ranked industrial park

Empire State Development Announces Hp Hood To Grow Operations In Genesee County

quarter of 2025.

Headquartered in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, HP Hood has five New York State production facilities in Batavia, Vernon, Oneida, Arkport and Lafargeville.

Renowned Dairy Product Processor Commits to Creating Close to Founded in 1846, today Hood is one of the largest branded dairy operators in the 50 New Jobs at Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in Batavia United States.

The company’s portfolio of national and super-regional brands Genesee County, NY — Empire State Development (ESD) announced and franchise products includes Hood, Crowley Foods, Planet Oat, Heluva Good!, that dairy product manufacturer HP Hood will grow its operations in Genesee LACTAID®, and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®. The company’s annual sales are Valley Agri-Business Park. The project will include the addition of new processing more than $3 billion. systems, along with other upgrades which will allow the company to increase Gary Kaneb, President and CEO of HP Hood LLC, said, “Our investment capacity for the production of additional extended-shelf-life (ESL) beverages at in the Batavia facility is being driven by the continued growth of ESLdairy and the Batavia facility. As a result, the company has committed to creating up to 48 non-dairy beverage categories. We are grateful for the support of Empire State new jobs at the manufacturing facility. To date, the company has created more Development as Batavia continues to be a strategic site for the expansion of our than 400 jobs at the site and currently employs close to 1200 statewide. Hood ESL manufacturing capabilities.” purchased the on-site, 363,000-square-foot plant in 2018 from the Dairy Farmers The Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park is located at the heart of the Buffaloof America for $60 million and soon after expanded the facility by another Rochester Tech Corridor.

For additional information about the park, visit: http:// 100,000 square feet. HP Hood is the agri-business park’s largest landowner. gcedc.com/agpark.

“This continued commitment from one of the nation’s most prominent dairy companies will create top-quality jobs and spur new investment in the Finger Lakes,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “Agriculture and food processing are key pillars of the region’s economic development efforts, and HP Hood’s latest investment shows that our multipronged growth strategy is working.”

ESD is assisting the forward-thinking project with up to $1 million through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for the job creation commitments. The total project cost has been placed at $120 million. Genesee County is also considering providing incentives for the project. Greater Rochester Enterprise also assisted with the expansion effort.

Construction on the planned updates is expected to be completed in the first

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INDUSTRY

NEWS

Governor Shapiro: Pratt Industries Invests $500 Million in Pennsylvania to Create Hundreds of New Jobs

Carlisle, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger joined Pratt Industries Executive Global Chairman Anthony Pratt to announce a new commitment by the corrugated packaging company to invest $500 million and create hundreds of jobs in Pennsylvania over the next ten years.

The announcement was made today as Governor Shapiro and Secretary Siger toured the company’s state-of-the-art plant in Carlisle, which employs 215 workers in full-time manufacturing jobs. Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has announced over $1.2 billion in new private sector investment in Pennsylvania.

“I want to plant a flag, and make it clear to companies across the country and around the world that Pennsylvania is open for business. Having Pratt Industries invest a total of $1 billion in Pennsylvania and create hundreds of new jobs is a clear sign that the Commonwealth is a place where global businesses can grow and succeed,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Whether they’re based in Australia or Allegheny County, we are showing the private sector that an investment in our Commonwealth is a worthwhile one – and companies that commit to moving and growing here know that the Commonwealth will be an active partner, and that we’ll work as hard for them as they work for their customers and employees.”

Pratt Industries has invested $500 million in Pennsylvania to date and employs more than 800 total workers at its facilities in Carlisle (Cumberland County), Reading (Berks County), East Greenville (Montgomery County) and Macungie and Emmaus (both in Lehigh County). As part of its new $500 million commitment, the company will invest in recycling, remanufacturing and clean energy infrastructure.

The Commonwealth, through DCED, provided Pratt Industries with a more than $1.3 million funding offer in 2011 to locate a box manufacturing

Northvolt to establish $5 billion gigafactory in Quebec, Canada

Montreal, Canada / Stockholm, Sweden — Northvolt announced that it will establish a fully integrated lithium-ion battery gigafactory, just outside of Montreal, in the Canadian province of Quebec. The factory, named Northvolt Six, will host 60 GWh of annual cell manufacturing capacity, with adjacent facilities for cathode active material production and battery recycling, enabling fully circular production at site.

Construction of the first 30 GWh phase of the project is due to commence before the end of 2023 and the first operations are set to begin in 2026. This initial phase of cathode and cell manufacturing, coupled with recycling, is expected to require a total investment of 5 billion USD (7 billion CAD) and employ up to 3,000 people. It is developed with strong support from the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec and will represent the largest private investment in Quebec’s history.

Peter Carlsson, CEO and Co-Founder of Northvolt, comments: “In the seven years since Northvolt was founded, we have pursued a singular goal – to establish a new, sustainable model for battery manufacturing. Today, we are expanding our ambitions by bringing Northvolt to Canada.”

The selection of the 170-hectare site for Northvolt Six in McMasterville and Saint-Basile-le-Grand just outside the city of Montréal was made after an extensive review of locations in North America. The site fulfils a multitude of criteria that are necessary to ensure that the company will be able to meet its commitment to

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plant in Macungie that helped create 125 jobs.

Pratt Industries is America’s fifth largest corrugated packaging company and the world’s largest, privately-held producer of 100% recycled containerboard.

Originating in Australia, Pratt Industries was founded in the U.S. more than 35 years ago and operates manufacturing facilities in more than 25 states. The company is the largest Australian employer in the United States, providing 11,000 jobs in more than 70 factories across the country.

“Pratt Industries is proud to employ more than 800 Pennsylvanians across the state in high-paying, green collar, advanced manufacturing jobs, and our total culminative investment in Pennsylvania now exceeds $500 million,” said Anthony Pratt, Pratt Industries Executive Chairman. “As part of that commitment, and as a result of Governor Shapiro’s leadership, I’m honored today to pledge a further investment of $500 million in recycling, remanufacturing and clean energy infrastructure over the next ten years, to create hundreds of new jobs in the great state of Pennsylvania. Our investments will allow the company to grow for years to come, supporting our customers, employees and the community.”

For more information about the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit DCED website, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

sustainable battery production. Quebec hydroelectricity guarantees cell production from 100 percent renewable energy and the region represents an ideal location in the North American automotive value chain.

Northvolt Co-Founder Paolo Cerruti will lead the project as CEO of Northvolt North America, which will have its head office in Montreal. Cerruti comments: “We have in Northvolt Six enormous potential, not only to rapidly expand our ability to bring sustainable batteries into markets of North America, but to accelerate Quebec’s emergence as a key actor in the global energy transition. With its unique access to renewable power and raw materials, we see this as the ideal base of operations for Northvolt’s first gigafactory outside of Europe. We look forward to engagement with all local stakeholders and the province, to make Northvolt Six a textbook example of sustainable investment.”

About Northvolt Northvolt was established in 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden. Pioneering a sustainable model for battery manufacturing, the company has received $55 billion in orders from key customers, including BMW, Fluence, Scania, Volvo Cars and Volkswagen Group. The company is currently delivering batteries from its first gigafactory Northvolt Ett, in Skellefteå, Sweden and from its R&D and industrialization campus Northvolt Labs, in Västerås, Sweden, supported by over 5000 employees in Sweden, Germany, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the US and Canada.

Gov. Whitmer Announces Nel Hydrogen to Build Gigafactory in Plymouth Township, Bringing 517Jobs and $400 Million Investment to Michigan

Whitmer. “Earlier this year, I was honored to represent Team Michigan on my economic mission to Norway, which helped us close the deal and bring home this cutting-edge facility. Nel Hydrogen chose Michigan over several other states and nations because of our skilled workforce, strong network of universities, and worldleading mobility industry. Together, we will keep building on our leadership in cars, chips, and clean energy and share our story to bring even more jobs and investments home to Michigan. Let’s get it done.”

The project, expected to generate a total capital investment of up to $400 million and create more than 500 good-paying clean energy manufacturing jobs, will be supported in part by a $10 million Michigan Business Development Program grant. The MSF board also approved a 15-year, 100-percent State Essential Services Assessment Exemption Request, valued at up to $6.25 million, in support of the project.

The new 507,000-square-foot manufacturing facility will be used to manufacture Proton Exchange Membrane and Alkaline hydrogen electrolyzers and is expected to be a full greenfield build constructed specifically for Nel Hydrogen.

Latitude Corp. expands US footprint by establishing first South Carolina operations in Clarendon County

The company is purchasing a 50,000-square-foot facility located at 2414 Joe Rogers Blvd. in Manning. This location will manufacture large metal components.

Operations are expected to be online by June, 2024. Individuals who are interested in joining the Latitude Corp’s team should visit the company’s careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $400,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to Clarendon County to assist with the costs of building improvements.

“We are proud that South Carolina’s strong business climate helped to bring Latitude Corp. to South Carolina and are confident that Clarendon County will be an ideal location for the company’s newest operation. Congratulations to Latitude Corp., and welcome to South Carolina.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

Amazon to Build Two State-of-the-Art Operations Facilities in Virginia Beach, Creating 1,000+ New Jobs

possible.”

“City leadership, stakeholders, and partners are thrilled Amazon is making such a significant investment in Virginia Beach,” said City of Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer. “Virginia Beach is the ideal location for Amazon operations facilities due to its strategic location to The Port of Virginia, accessibility, and available workforce. We welcome Amazon to the Virginia Beach community and look forward to a successful partnership.”

“In the past few years, Amazon has truly embraced the Hampton Roads community, opening facilities in multiple locations and quickly becoming one of the region’s major employers. This announcement marks yet another milestone in Amazon’s investment in and dedication to Hampton Roads,” said Douglas L. Smith, President & CEO, Hampton Roads Alliance. “The Alliance congratulates Amazon, along with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the City of Virginia Beach, on their continued success and thanks them for their commitment to growing the Hampton Roads economy.”

In the 650,000-square-foot Virginia Beach robotics fulfillment center, Amazon associates will pick, pack, and ship small items to customers such as books, electronics, and toys.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. The City will fund stormwater and road improvements between Dam Neck Road and London Bridge Road to provide access to the facilities. Dominion Energy will provide power to the sites.

LANSING, MI — Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Norwegian hydrogen company Nel Hydrogen has chosen Plymouth Charter Township as the location for its new automated gigafactory for production of electrolyzer technology for green hydrogen production. The announcement, which will create 517 good-paying jobs and invest $400 million in the local community, builds on Michigan’s leadership in advanced manufacturing and clean energy.

Through electrolysis, hydrogen can be produced from water and renewable energy; as the most abundant and lightest element in the universe, hydrogen can play a significant role in accelerating Michigan’s clean-energy transition away from fossil fuels.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nel Hydrogen’s up to $400 million gigafactory creating more than 500 good-paying jobs to Southeast Michigan,” said Governor

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Latitude Corp., a contract manufacturer of precision metal manufacturing solutions, announced plans to expand its U.S. footprint by establishing operations in Clarendon County. The company’s $29 million investment, in its first South Carolina facility, will create 200 new jobs.

Latitude Corp. started in 1990 as a machine shop in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Consistent growth prompted the company to expand and diversify into metal fabrication, welding and powder coating services. Today, Latitude Corp. is headquartered in Verona, Wisconsin and works with customers in numerous industries including agriculture, aerospace and defense, commercial appliances, government, healthcare, and is targeting growth in electric vehicles, energy and construction. The company has an additional operation in Tucson, Arizona.

Company to establish multi-story robotics fulfillment center and “last mile” delivery station

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Amazon will launch a new, state-of-the-art fulfillment center and delivery station in the City of Virginia Beach, creating full-time jobs with industry-leading pay and comprehensive benefits starting on day one. Amazon will establish a multi-story robotics fulfillment center and delivery station, which will bring more than 1,000 new full-time jobs. The new robotics fulfilment center is anticipated to launch operations in 2025, with the delivery station anticipated to launch in 2024 in time for the holiday season.

“Amazon’s cutting-edge fulfillment centers generate major capital investment and thousands of jobs and strengthen Virginia’s position as a logistics industry leader on the East Coast,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We see Amazon’s expanding footprint impacting economic growth and innovation across the Commonwealth, and we will continue to compete for additional investment in Virginia.”

“Virginia is a great state for business and gives us the opportunity to better serve our customers in the region,” said Holly Sullivan, Amazon’s Vice president of Worldwide Economic Development and Public Policy. “We are excited for our future in the Commonwealth, and for what this means for our customers as we continue to grow. We’d also like to thank Governor Youngkin, local, and state leaders for their continued strong support in making another jobs announcement in Virginia

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Governor Lee, Commissioner McWhorter Announce Malibu Boats, LLC to Expand, Locate New Manufacturing Operations in Roane County Powerboat manufacturer to create nearly 800 new jobs in East Tennessee, invest $75 million through expansion

LENOIR CITY, TN . — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and Malibu Boats officials announced the company will invest $75 million to expand manufacturing operations in East Tennessee.

Malibu Boats will create 770 new jobs in Roane County over the next five years as the company locates some of its Cobalt boat brand production in an existing facility at the Roane Regional Business and Technology Park.

Germany-Based mtex Brings Investments in Technology, Engineering, Machining to Albuquerque

The Lenoir City location will be the company’s second plant outside of its headquarters in Loudon, Tennessee, and will allow the company to expand production and manufacturing capabilities of Cobalt boats to better meet its growing global customer demand.

Malibu Boats, LLC is a subsidiary of Malibu Boats, Inc. and one of the largest employers in East Tennessee. The company designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and sells recreational powerboats globally. Founded in 1982, the parent company employs roughly 3,000 people. Production and hiring for its new Cobalt boats facility are anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2024.

Since 2019, TNECD has supported more than 50 economic development projects in the East Tennessee region, resulting in approximately 7,200 job commitments and $2 billion in capital investment.

prioritize advanced manufacturing, and welcome companies like mtex to a built tech environment,” Gruner said. “We offer unparalleled advantages in this industry, including a robust workforce, universities graduating top tech candidates, and proximity to complimentary, supportive institutions.”

The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA), a non-profit economic development organization, assisted mtex in its expansion planning to New Mexico. “The greater Albuquerque region is paving the way to becoming a top location for innovation industry investment,” Danielle Casey, President & CEO of the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA), said.

“With over 16,000 jobs in industries which complement the aerospace cluster in greater Albuquerque, this investment further augments the economic environment of greater Albuquerque and is a huge win for the region and the state of New Mexico.”

Albuquerque, NM —Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Mayor Tim Keller, and mtex Antenna Technology USA announced that the antenna and telescope technology company will open a facility in Albuquerque to fulfill obligations to North American customers, including the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, MA. Wiesbaden, Germany-based mtex hosted a delegation from New Mexico to announce the expansion on Sept. 28 at its facility in Leipzig. Those attending included Mark Roper, New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) Economic Division Director and City of Albuquerque Economic Development Director Max Gruner, both of whom have been instrumental in recruiting mtex to New Mexico.

The company plans to invest $16 million into its Albuquerque facility at the Sandia Science and Technology Park. The company will create a 70,000 square foot space for their self-developed manufacturing technology for high performance AI panels with a state-of-the-art machining center. They plan to have 62 employees and begin operations in 2027. The project is expected to have an economic impact of $182 million over 10 years.

“New Mexico is the optimal location for the company in terms of workforce, education, livability, business operating costs, and logistical transportation connections to U.S. customers,” mtex Antenna Technology CEO Lutz Stenvers said. “We are bringing investments in technology, engineering, and machining to Albuquerque, we feel that it’s the place to be right now as we look forward to possible collaborations with University of New Mexico, engineering schools such as New Mexico Tech, and other high-tech companies.”

“New Mexico is the place to be for advanced science and engineering, and now these high paying jobs are coming to New Mexico as mtex and other companies tap into New Mexico’s skilled workforce and our long history of scientific innovation,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said.

Stenvers also recognized the strong partnerships the company has developed with city and state officials. “I must also underline, thanks to Max Gruner, Mark Roper, and their teams that we feel really welcome as a foreign company coming to Albuquerque. Having a direct personal connection and being guided and supported is for us an important element in our growth story. “ “Albuquerque’s existing strengths and infrastructure allow us to Photos courtesy of mtex Antenna Technology

36 | BXJ | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | bxjmag.com

Israeli cybersecurity company Cybecs chooses Tampa for regional headquarters

Tampa, FL — Cybecs, an Israeli cybersecurity company, announced that it is establishing its regional headquarters in Tampa. The company plans to create 150 jobs over the next three years in roles such as information technology, software development, sales and human resources.

“We were looking to expand with an office in the Eastern time zone, particularly the Southeast, and Tampa stood out to us because of the strong tech presence here,” said Asaf Levy, CEO of Cybecs. “We’re excited to build a strong team in Tampa, tapping into the deep pool of tech talent that this growing city has to offer.”

Cybecs, which offers rapid technological solutions to counter cyber threats for global operations, is initially leasing space in downtown Tampa as it ramps up its operations in Tampa. Cybecs offers customized/personalized end-to-end services to companies across a wide range of industries, including defense, e-commerce, banking, healthcare, transportation, aviation, education, and various others, just to name a few. It joins a growing list of cybersecurity companies choosing to expand to Tampa, including Ridgeline International, Rapid7 and OPSWAT. The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council provided a community and labor market overview to make the case for Tampa, and it will continue to assist the company with support for training grants and finding skilled talent with its partners at CareerSource Tampa Bay and local universities.

The Tampa Bay EDC has seen an increase interest in foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, particularly in the Financial and Professional Services and Information Technology sectors. More than 40% of Tampa

Zeus Celebrates Grand Opening Arden Hills, MN — Zeus, a global leader in advanced polymer solutions, recently commemorated the grand opening of its Minnesota facility in Arden Hills. The state-of-the-art catheter manufacturing facility is expected to create more than 100 jobs.

“Establishing a presence in Minnesota will create opportunities for innovation and partnership with our current OEM and medical device customers. It will also open doors for new relationships,” said Steve Peterson, Zeus president and CEO. “As we continue expanding globally, we are honored to now be part of this medically advanced region.”

The 75,600-square-foot building will house CathX Medical, acquired

by Zeus in 2021. The facility includes an advanced research and development lab and cleanroom equipped with the latest technologies to design, develop, and validate new medical catheter prototypes. It also brings additional capabilities in-house to Zeus, including laser cutting, ablation, and welding.

“This is an exciting time for Zeus as we expand how we collaborate with our industry partners and experts,” noted Suresh Sainath, general manager of CathX Medical, a Zeus Company. “As we embark on our new journey, we are eager to support and connect with our new community while we continue relentlessly pursuing perfection in our products and processes.”

Bay EDC’s new prospects this year have been international companies.

“We continue to see interest from not only technology companies but also international companies choosing Tampa to launch or expand their U.S. operations,” said Angel Gonzalez, chair of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council and regional president of SouthState Bank. “We welcome Cybecs to our community, which is another great addition to our thriving technology and cybersecurity ecosystem.”

About Cybecs

Cybecs was founded to address rapid technological advancement, changing business models, global privacy regulations, and increasing cyber threats for global organizations. Cybecs offers personalized solutions and holistic client safeguarding using our inventive security strategies and pioneering suite of services and products known as RedRok. We stay ahead of the threats, so you stay ahead in business. For more information, visit www.cybecs.com.

As part of the celebration, Zeus also presented Children’s Minnesota with a $20,000 donation to support its efforts, ensuring every child receives exceptional care and access to innovative medical devices such as those produced by Zeus customers.

Every day, our non-profit pediatric health care system sees the vital impact donations like this have on caring for our patient families. We are grateful for this generous gift,” said Jennifer Soderholm, chief development officer and president of the Children’s Minnesota Foundation.

About Zeus Zeus, headquartered in Orangeburg, South Carolina, is the world’s leading polymer extrusion and catheter design manufacturer. With over 55 years of experience in medical, aerospace, energy, automotive, fiber optics, and other leading industries, Zeus’s mission is to provide solutions, enable innovation, and enhance lives. The company employs over 2,400 people worldwide with facilities in Aiken, Columbia, Gaston, Orangeburg, and St. Matthews, South Carolina; Branchburg, New Jersey; Chattanooga, Tennessee; San Jose, California; Arden Hills, Minnesota; Guangzhou, China; and Letterkenny, Ireland. For more information, visit www.zeusinc.com.

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2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

ALABAMA

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

Cullman Economic Development Agency

Arizona Regional Economic Develoment

Chaffee Crossing

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

Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority

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

Elmore County Economic Development

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

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

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

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

City of Flagstaff Economic Development

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

Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth

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

Salt River Project (SRP)

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

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

CALIFORNIA

City of Eastvale

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

Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development

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

East Arkansas Crossroads Coalition

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

Mississippi County Economic Development

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

City of Moreno Valley Economic Development

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

City of Ontario Economic Development

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

Greater Irvine Chamber

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

COLORADO Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority

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

City of Surprise

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

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City of Siloam Springs

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

City of Canon City

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

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

FLORIDA

City of Fountain Economic Development Commission

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

Enterprise Florida, Inc.

800 North Magnolia Avenue Suite 1100 Orlando, FL 32803 407-956-5600 www.enterpriseflorida.com .......................................................................

City of Titusville 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 .......................................................................

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

Pinellas County Economic Development

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

Indian River Chamber of Commerce

Santa Rosa County EDO

Lake County Economic Growth

City of St. Cloud

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

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

Osceola County

Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality

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

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

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

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

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

Pasco Economic Development Council

City of College Park

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

GEORGIA

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

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2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

City of East Point

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

City of Highland Economic Development

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

Alliance STL | St. Louis Regional Economic Development

Jason Hall. CEO One Metropolitan Square Suite 1300 St. Louis, MO 63102 314-444-1105 jason@greaterstlinc.com www.greaterstl.com .......................................................................

Go Topeka

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

Forward Forsyth

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

Liberty County Development Authority

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

Putnam Development Authority

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

Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority

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

City of Litchfield Ecnomic Development

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

City of Marshall

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

City of Vandalia

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

Intersect Illinois

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

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

INDIANA

ILLINOIS

Champaign County Economic Development Corporation

Village of Arlington Heights Business & Economic Development

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

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Huntington County Economic Development

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

Miami County Economic Development Auth.

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

KANSAS

Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation

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

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

Russell County Eco Devo & CVB

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

Salina Economic Development Organization

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

Shawnee Economic Development

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

Wyandotte Economic Development Council

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

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

KENTUCKY

City of Pikeville

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

Be NKY

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

South Western Kentucky EDC

Carter Hendricks Executive Director 2800 Fort Campbell Blvd.

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

LOUISIANA Louisiana Economic Development

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

SWLA Economic Development ALLIANCE

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

St. Mary Parish of Economic Development

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

MAINE

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

MARYLAND

Calvert County Economic Development

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

Carroll County Economic Development

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

Cecil County Economic Development

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

The Right Place, Inc.

Dorchester County Economic Development

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

Kent County Department of Economic & Tourism Development

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

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

Montgomery County Economic Development

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

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

Greater St. Louis, Inc.

Maggie Kost Chief Business Attraction Officer One Metropolitan Square, Suite 2200 St. Louis, MO 63102 314-444-1115 Maggie@GreaterSTLinc.com www.GreaterSTLinc.com .......................................................................

Sikeston Regional Chamber & Economic Development Corp.

Talbot County Economic Development

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

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 ....................................................................... bxjmag.com

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

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

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2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

NEW YORK 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

Choose New Jersey

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

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

Bill Noonan, Chief Business Development Officer 11-43 Raymond Plaza W, Suite 1420 Newark, NJ 07102 609-297-2200 wnoonan@choosenj.com Fulton County Center for www.choosenj.com Regional Growth .......................................................................

Ronald M. Peters 34 West Fulton Street Gloversville, NY 12078 518-725-7700 ext. 2 Gloucester County Department of ronp@fccrg.org Economic Development www.fccrg.org .......................................................................

Tom Bianco, Director 1480 Tanyard Rd., Sewell, NJ 08080 Mohawk Valley Edge 856-384-6930 Nick Bruno tbianco@co.gloucester.nj.us 584 Phoenix Drive www.gloucestercountynj.gov Rome, NY 13441-4105 .......................................................................

315-338-0393 nbruno@mvedge.org www.mvedge.org .......................................................................

New Jersey EDA

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

NEW MEXICO

Saratoga EDC

OKLAHOMA

Harnett County Economic Development

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

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

Ponca City Development Authority Piedmont Triad Airport Authority

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

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 Warwick Department of Tourism, Culture, and Development

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

Tori J.E. Riley, VP 56 Duplainville Road NORTH DAKOTA Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-587-0945 toririley@saratogaedc.com www.saratogaedc.com .......................................................................

NORTH CAROLINA

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

Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC EDC of Lea County

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

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

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

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

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

Lexington County Economic Development

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

South Carolina I-77 Alliance

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

SouthernCarolina Regional Alliance

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

TENNESSEE

City of Lebanon

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

DeSoto Economic Development

Cedar Hill Economic Development Corporation

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

LCRA

NETWORKS – Sullivan Partnership

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

TEXAS

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

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

City of Fort Worth

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

Bowie Economic Development Corporation Blount Partnership

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

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

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

Karen Dickson Economic Development Manager 3700 Lake Austin Blvd.

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

McKinney Economic Development Corporation

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

Mineola Economic Development Corp City of Leander

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

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

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

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

Conroe Economic Development Council

Odessa Economic Development Corporation

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

Tom Manskey 700 N. Grant Ave. Odessa, TX 79761 432-333-7880 tom@odessaecodev.com www.odessatx.com .......................................................................

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2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation

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

Laredo Economic Development

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

Marble Falls EDC

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

Plainview Economic Development Corporation

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

TexAmericas Center

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

Whitesboro Economic Development Corp.

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

UTAH Mount Pleasant EDC

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

New Braunfels EDC

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

Eagle Mountain Economic Development

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

VIRGINA

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

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

WASHINGTON

City of Lakewood Economic Development

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

City of Maple Valley

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

Try-City Development Council

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

WISCONSIN Arlington Economic Development

Pflugerville Community Development

Bedford County Office of Economic Development

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

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Madison Region Economic Partnership

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

New North, Inc

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

Portage County Business Council, Inc. PCB

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

WYOMING

Advance Casper

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

City of Franklin Economic Development

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

Cheyenne LEADS

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

2023

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS

NEW BRUNSWICK The Laramie Chamber Business Alliance

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

CANADA ALBERTA

Calgary Economic Development

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

MANITOBA

City of Brandon

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

Ignite Fredericton

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

Imagine Chaleur

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

Expansion Dieppe

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

ONTARIO

City of Guelph

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

City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development

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

Middlesex County

County of Elgin

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

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

City of Mississauga Economic Development

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

Town of Aurora Economic Development

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

Vaughan Economic and Cultural Development

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

ADVERTISER & EDIT INDEX Advertiser

AD

Edit

Advertiser

ALABAMA

LOUISIANA

Northwest Alabama

Southwest Louisiana

Economic Development Alliance

27

26

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport

3

Salt River Project

19

Edit

BC

29

MARYLAND Kent County

ARIZONA

AD

IFC

MISSISSIPPI 18

FLORIDA Indian River County

31

31

Santa Rosa County

1

32

Greenwood

24

24

Hinds County

25

25

Albuquerque

21

22

Roswell-Chaves County

21

21

NEW MEXICO

bxjmag.com

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