Business Xpansion Journal: December 2024 - January 2025

The highway to automotive investment success leads to Middlesex County

Middlesex is a rich rural-urban landscape in the heart of southern Ontario, and boasts all the must haves for automotive businesses looking to expand or upgrade their facilities:

pPrime location

pAffordable land prices

pEducated workforce

pMulti-level government support

pDesirable quality of life

Ease of shipping is part of what’s driving prosperity here:

Trucking – Reliable transportation connections keep products rolling down the 401 and 402 highways to destinations across the globe. U.S. deliveries from Middlesex have three border crossing options (Detroit/Windsor, Port Huron/ Sarnia and Buffalo/Fort Erie) all within a two-hour drive.

Train – Both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways crisscross the county.

Airplane – London International Airport is extremely convenient for cargo and people.

Freighter – Port access to shipping channels in the Great Lakes is only sixty minutes away.

Auto Select: Middlesex County

The Province of Ontario is focussed on being a world-wide auto sector leader, and Middlesex County has an economic development plan perfectly suited to manufacturers looking to put down roots in one of its many industrial parks – sites where the upfront work of gathering property information; mapping; and completing the environmental, heritage, archaeological and species assessments have already been done, thus reducing risk in advance of construction.

Middlesex is also well situated with easy access to large Toyota and General Motors assembly plants only 60 minutes east along the highway.

Given the convergence of automotive and technological expertise, coupled with the County’s receptive investment climate, it’s no wonder that savvy corporations are already building and benefiting here. Some that already call Middlesex home include:

• Armo-Tool

• PentaCast

• Meridian Lightweight

• Variform

• Goss Global

Smart Help Available

Middlesex has a growing population of 82,854 residents. Plus, our inclusion in the Greater London Region (pop. 505,780) gives manufacturers access to Canada’s 11th largest market, and two large educators: Western University and Fanshawe College. Both institutions rank as leaders in research and public/private partnerships.

It’s a Wonderful Life

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

Enjoy the ride with us in Middlesex County.

ARKANSAS: Destined For Success

OKLAHOMA: Lower Costs, Bigger Opportunities

NEBRASKA: The Door To Opportunity Is Everywhere, But It’s Easier To Find When People Hold It Open

INNOVATION AND STRATEGIES: The Changing Dynamics for IT Accelerates Information technology runs the business world. But how to use it, and who should drive investing in it, is becoming a role-changer for IT pros

By David Hodes

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: Fintech’s Shifting Digital Market

The landscape of financial technology, defined during the pandemic, is expected to shift back to banks from high-tech apps developers

By David Hodes

INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Data Center Uses and Efficiencies Still a Moving Target Managing more and more data available from bigger and bigger data centers for faster analytical results is catching most companies unprepared

By David Hodes

WYOMING: A Business-Friendly Tax Climate

NORTH DAKOTA: Gets It Right

MONTANA: Where Business Can Thrive

MINNESOTA: Star of the North

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

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

FEATURES EDITOR

David Hodes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

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 Nick Boliek nick@dialedinmediagroup.com

SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES & REQUESTS 205-862-5175 or www.bxjmag.com

King Publishing, Inc., 1000 Stafford Court, Birmingham, AL 35242; www.bxjmag.com. Advertising rates are furnished upon request. Subscriptions are free to those who qualify. Non-qualified subscriptions are $69 in the U.S.; $89 in Canada and Mexico; elsewhere outside the U.S. is $99 for 10 issues. Back issue rate is $6 when available. Payment must accompany order. The views expressed in all articles and advertisements appearing in the Business Xpansion Journal magazine are solely those of the author and advertiser, respectively.

© Copyright 2024, King Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No partof this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to Business Xpansion Journal, 1000 Stafford Court, Birmingham, AL 35242. Subscribers can make address changes by calling 205-862-5175 or by e-mail at www.bxjmag.com.

1000 Stafford Court, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35242

TEL: 205-862-5175 Printed in the U.S.A.

The Changing Dynamics for IT Accelerates

BY: DAVID HODES

Information technology runs the business world. But how to use it, and who should drive investing in it, is becoming a role-changer for IT pros

When looking at the grand landscape of information technology, it’s difficult to hone in on one specific aspect that has recently changed, or is getting ready to undergo change, because there is so much happening at a faster and faster clip.

IT has represented an incredibly diverse data handling storage and use dynamic ever since the first computer chip in an integrated circuit was invented in 1958 by Jack Kirby, a Texas Instrument engineer. Kirby was quoted as saying that it would “reduce the cost of electronic functions by a factor of a million to one.”

Information technology is working inside everyday business and consumer devices—laptops, desktops, cars, wearable wellness devices and newcomer inventions like the popular Apple Watch—and is part of the standard operating procedures of corporations who have outgrown their internal IT department and are putting everything on the cloud. Coming on the data scene now is artificial intelligence (AI). And that is a true data delivery game-changer.

THE CHIP FACTOR

The cloud stores data in massive data centers for use by the data owners.

A large data center might be using hundreds of thousands to millions of computer chips to run its data storage and use operations. And it’s the evolution of the chip that is at the heart of all things related to the Internet of Things (IoT)—a connected network of physical devices.

McKinsey Digital, a business research company, reports that data center computer manufacturers, and even several retail computer manufacturers, are planning to produce their own chips that integrate the former individual systems on a chip. This systems-on-a-chip (SoC) approach can help optimize performance, cost, and power consumption of chips.

But that’s just one example of how a dynamic chip landscape is shaping data delivery.

Allied Market Research reports that, in September, 2022, chip developer ARM launched its next generation of data center chip technology called Neoverse V2 to meet the growth of data from 5G and internet-connected gadgets.

And in April 2023, Broadcom Inc. launched a new chip designed to connect artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputers, which can boost the performance and efficiency of AI systems. This chip, called the Unified Wire Engine, integrates high-speed communication capabilities into a single component, enabling faster data transfer and improved coordination between AI processors. The development is expected to enhance the capabilities of AI applications across various industries.

There are other bigger-picture IT chip dynamics underway driven by AI. For example, use of AMD central processor units are outpacing Intel’s units in data centers—a first. Since 2023, AMD has invested more than $1 billion to expand the AMD data center AI ecosystem and strengthen the company’s AI software capabilities, according to a company press release.

IT TODAY

Peter Carr is a professor of manufacturing systems engineering at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Canada. He is also an adjunct lecturer in the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business where he teaches masters courses in operations and supply chain management and project management.

With so much data piling up from bigger and deeper dives into more information technology sources, people generally want to successfully use it all. But it’s tricky. “What we know is that 70% of technology projects fail, and only 10% of AI initiatives are delivering an impact on organizational performance,” Carr told BXJ. “So what that means is there’s a big disconnect between the potential of what technology can do, and what it is actually doing for most companies. So their focus is how can they actually achieve performance results for organizations, and not simply implementing the technology and switch it on. There’s more to it than that.”

What is happening now is that organizations have gone through a long period where they’ve used more and more technology, and that’s allowed them to accumulate a lot of data, he said. “Now they hope that AI will enable them to take, or extract value, from that,” Carr said. “What a lot of them are realizing is that they can’t simply adopt an AI tool of some kind to data. They hope they can deal with their dirty data (data that resides in multiple sources). There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to clean up.”

IT departments in organizations are being driven to implement new technologies. “They are engaging with people, getting their input, and allowing them to make the move from where they are now to where they want them to go,” Carr says, “but it is a very sensitive and important process. Some organizations get that right.”

WHEN IT MEETS AI

Most organizations are now being prompted to include AI within their IT offerings. But it’s a complicated ask with far-ranging implications for business success.

AI will automate half of all work between 2040 and 2060, according

AMD recently introduced the AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors with the world’s most

for next-gen AI PCs that paves the way for AI-infused computing directly

to a 2023 technology review report by MIT. Goldman Sachs predicts a $7 trillion increase in global GDP attributable to generative AI.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) 2022 report on the subject found that 94% of organizations were using AI in some way, but only 14 % were aiming to achieve enterprise-wide AI by 2025. “Chief information officers (CIOs) and technical leaders will have to act decisively, embracing generative AI to seize its opportunities and avoid ceding competitive ground, while also making strategic decisions about data infrastructure, model ownership, workforce structure, and AI governance that will have long-term consequences for organizational success,” the MIT report concluded.

“They need to know what it means for them,” Carr said. “It really just depends on the organization itself. It’s important for the CIO to have an awareness of what the possibilities are, from a technology point of view. The hard part for them today is around connecting the business needs and objectives with the business strategy of the organization.”

Carr said that if an organization is bringing in AI, using that to look at its data, and draw lessons from that to be applied to their processes, there needs to be good understanding of the processes themselves and how they fit together to impact the performance of the organization. “That then raises the question of what companies need to do to ensure that capability is there to actually apply the knowledge that’s coming from the artificial intelligence,” he said. “That comes back to what’s important to the CIO. They need to know about the technology,

but alongside that, they also need to know more about the processes and the strategic aspect for the organization.”

RETHINKING IT GOING FORWARD

An annual of survey of CIOs conducted by Gartner, Inc., a business and research advisory company, found that, on average, only 48% of digital initiatives enterprise-wide meet or exceed their business outcome targets.

The survey revealed that a small cohort of CIOs and CxOs (which is the chief experience officer, designated to improve customer, partner, and employee experience), known as the “digital vanguard,” has the highest achievement rate, where 71% of their digital initiatives meet or exceed outcome targets. “This digital vanguard distinguishes themselves from the rest of CIOs and CxOs because they co-own digital delivery,” said Raf Gelders, vice president of research at Gartner, commenting on survey results. “CIOs and CxOs are equally responsible, accountable and involved in delivering the digital solutions their enterprises need. This is a radical departure from the traditional paradigm of IT delivery and business ‘project sponsorship’ that predominates in most enterprises.”

The new goal of corporations and the use of IT is for everybody in the organization to think more like data scientists. This goes to the issue of occupational identity, according to an article in CIO, a business-to-business publication. “Executives need to expand their professional identities to include data. Data professionals need to

powerful neural processing unit (NPU)1

on a laptop. Photo courtesy AMD.

recognize that changes in information do not necessarily equate to changes in behavior. Going forward data professionals are not just in the information/insight delivery business, they are in the ‘create insight that drives value creating behavior’ business.”

WHERE TO NEXT

Global IT spending is predicted to total $5.7 trillion in 2025, according to Gartner’s quarterly IT forecasts, representing an increase of just over 9% from 2024. Global spending on software is expected to increase to $1.23 trillion in 2025, up 11% from 2024; global IT services are expected to grow to $1.73 trillion in 2025, up just over 5% from 2024.

But there remains bumps in the road of adoption. “CIOs will begin to spend on generative AI, beyond proof-of-concept work, starting in 2025,” according to John-David Lovelock, analyst and vice president of Gartner. “More money will be spent, but the expectations that CIOs have for the capabilities of generative AI will drop. The reality of what can be accomplished with current generative AI models, and the state of CIOs data, will not meet today’s lofty expectations.”

According to a 2024 global survey by Rimini Street, an enterprise software support provider, CIOs and CFOs both believe they are responsible for the company’s underlying technology decisions. Only 20% of CFOs find IT investments are showing business value, and they want in on that decision-making process.

“Working closely with the CFO in strategic alignment and in

the early stages of planning helps technology teams make smart decisions that are in line with both the corporate vision and budgetary goals for the business,” Rimini Street CIO Gertrude Van Hoen said, referring to the results of the survey. “It’s the partnership that drives favorable outcomes for the company, and we lean heavily into this relationship to ensure we are identifying ways to achieve greater profitability while freeing funds for innovation.” X

Jack Kirby, engineer at Texas, inventor of the first integrated circuit. Picture courtesy of Texas Instruments.

Fintech’s Shifting Digital Market

BY: DAVID HODES

The landscape of financial technology, defined during the pandemic, is expected to shift back to banks from high-tech apps developers

Financial technology, commonly called fintech, boosted by the pandemic, has been working through the digital financial industry for a few years now as more and more consumers are using applications such as digital wallets and Google pay to make their purchases.

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

Fintech today is integrating generative AI into financial services, which presents “a transformative opportunity to enhance operational efficiencies, customer engagement, and overall decision-making capabilities,” according to a white paper by the Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR), a nonprofit think tank about innovation and collaboration.

REGULATION CONCENTRATION

The work now is to develop fintech models and measure risks, which implies a start up mentality.

But it’s not like starting over, because existing frameworks are already robust yet sufficiently flexible to meet the innovative demands of generative AI, the AIR white paper states, and can be fine-tuned to effectively manage specific risks within financial institutions.

The focus today should be on optimizing, clarifying and adapting these established frameworks to ensure comprehensive risk evaluations. “Looking forward, the discourse on generative AI in financial services will continue to evolve. We will continue to examine external risks associated with generative AI, including systemic and operational challenges, and the integration of these technologies into global financial systems.”

EXAMPLES OF FINTECH DEVELOPMENT

Fintech companies are seeking to gain a better foothold and expand service opportunities among financial institutions.

One example is the recent acquisition of FinTron, a fintech app developer, by Apex Fintech Solutions. FinTron apps are designed to assist in, simplify and demystify investing with such apps as their “robo-experience” automated investing account that helps the average consumer build long-term wealth by managing risk and maximizing returns.

Apex hopes to use FinTron help to expand their investment services to a wider user base of financial advisors, fintech firms, neobanks, insurance companies and retirement planning firms.

Banking on the Move to Fintech

A 2023 report by Cornerstone Advisors, a financial services advisory firm, found that digital transformation efforts continue to dominate mid-size financial institutions—76% of banks and 87% of credit unions are currently pursuing a digital transformation strategy.

Digital investments rose significantly in 2022 from the previous year.

The Cornerstone research found that nearly 30% of community-based financial institutions have replaced or selected a new peer-to-peer (P2P) payments application in the past three years, and roughly one in 10 intends to replace its existing P2P payments system in 2025.

“P2P is important to financial institutions’ payments strategies because P2P use encompasses all demographics,” the report concluded. “According to Cornerstone’s consumer study, six in 10 Gen Xers (ages 42 to 57) and four in 10 Baby Boomers (ages 58 to 76) are sending money electronically to their friends, family, and other parties who accept P2P payment transfers.”

Rallying to support fintech development are Neobanks, or banks without a formal brick-and-mortar building, created originally in response to the needs of people in pandemic lock-down situations. These banks operate exclusively using financial technology.

There are 72 neobanks in the U.S., 137 in Europe, and 45 in South America. Examples of U.S. neobanks include Acorns, founded in 2012 and based in Irvine, California; Chime, founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco; Lili, founded in 2019 and based in New York, NY; One, founded in 2022 and also based in New York; and Revolut, founded in 2015 and based in London.

FINTECH AND THE PANDEMIC

Fintech development represents a strange sort of silver lining to the uncertain cloud of business confusion from the Covid pandemic.

The pandemic drove more development and application of fintech across the globe in what was being perceived as a fast-moving revolution in how financial services were managed. One estimate from researchers at the University of Zurich is that the pandemic’s spread led to between a 21% and 26% increase in the relative rate of daily downloads of finance−related mobile applications.

A study published in the Journal of Financial Intermediation (JFI) confirmed that a positive and significant relationship existed between the spread of Covid and finance-related app downloads.

“Digital finance adoption is posited to have helped many households and firms mitigate some of the health risks and adverse socioeconomic effects of the pandemic,” according to the study.

James Doherty, the head of business development for financial services at Sinch, a financial communications platform company based in Stockholm, Sweden, agrees that the pandemic affected the application of fintech in banks at first—surging interest, then big tech stepping in.

But there is a bounce-back underway “I think people were overly exuberant about how much the financial services industry could be disrupted so quickly,” Doherty told BXJ. “I think now there’s a healthy optimism about how financial services can evolve, but it’s not going to be this revolution that just breaks the way we see banking. It’s more of a long term thing where both fintech and the banks themselves are going to significantly change how they work with digital banking clients.”

It still may be a long slow road to get there for banks, he said, because they are decades and sometimes centuries old. They have the lack of technical depth that goes along with their age. “Whereas these fintechs literally started the business from scratch,” Doherty said. “I think there’s an appetite for banks to do it. But they’re a bit stodgy. And they’re also hamstrung by a regulation or the perception of what the regulation is. Or by their legacy systems,

where their applications and all similar tools connect to different business systems. In a traditional bank, especially one of a significant size, there is no one person who knows what all the systems are. There’s a lot more confusion, a lot more people you have to talk to. So their ability to do fintech is hamstrung by their legacy.”

With all the advantages of a true fintech system for banking— especially for customers of banks—why don’t banks prioritize getting it set up? “There’s much more of a look before you leap mentality here,” Doherty said. “Stakeholders in large banks want to see things operating first in different environments before they adopt sometimes. I think the largest banks are more willing to experiment simply because they have the resources and the teams to do it.”

He cited an example of a bank in Spain that deliberately created a technology arm to test new products outside of the bank infrastructure to make sure they were safe before bringing them in-house. “That takes time.”

There are banks who have hired AI engineers and conversational AI designers because they have the resources to do it. “Whereas if you take your community bank, or your credit union, they’re still trying to figure out how to do those same things, but do it with fewer resources,” Doherty said. “That’s going to be the challenge—how to make things simple enough where your local

credit union can also use these tools to have the digital transformation, and democratize the digital transformation, if you will.”

THE FUTURE OF FINTECH

A 2023 Harris Poll reported that the average consumer used between three to four fintech apps, and 20% projected that they will be using six or more apps in the next six months—an increase from 14% in 2020.

While Americans are using fintech to do everything from pay bills online to file taxes, the most widely used digital tools for money management revolve around payment services, according to the poll.

The poll also determined that fintechs have the potential to continue to revolutionize the investment landscape, even for traditional investment avenues like high-yield savings accounts. “By allowing consumers to start investing with very small amounts of money, fintechs can make it easier for the next wave of investors to participate in investment activities traditionally reserved for those with more capital.”

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a non-profit organization dedicated to investor protection and market integrity, reported that fintech is transforming broker-dealers business lines, including investment banking, wealth management, trading and research. Broker-dealers are also exploring leveraging new technologies like cloud storage, machine learning, and block chain to enhance their overall operational infrastructure and compliance functions.

But there are growing pains. FINRA, together with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the North American Securities Administration Association (NASAA) recently issued an investor alert on AI and investment fraud. “The alert noted a number of different items, one of which is that investors should watch out for unregistered or unlicensed investment platforms claiming to use AI,” Haime Workie, vice president and head of FINRA’s Office of Financial Innovation, said during a FINRA podcast. “We’ve actually seen a number of these proliferate since the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI, where you have these investment tools, some claim to provide information, some claiming to potentially do more, potentially give you advice, that are unregistered. And so, folks should really be wary of tools that are unregistered. And make sure you understand what the information is that you’re getting before you make any type of investment decisions based off of it.”

“The growth of fintech is going to be massive,” Doherty said, “once both the regulators figure out a way to regulate it, and how the banks can ensure that what they do is safe. It’s going to happen, but it’s going to happen more slowly at the beginning. What that exactly looks like, I have my own theories. But I do think it’s going to make the customer experience more personalized. It’s going to make the decision-making process on the banking side a lot faster. And I think it’s going to honestly make a significant change about how we view banking as consumers.” X

Data Center Uses and Efficiencies Still a Moving Target

BY DAVID HODES

Managing more and more data available from bigger and bigger data centers for faster analytical results is catching most companies unprepared

Data centers continue to have an extended moment in the tech spotlight as the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) expands the need for more computer power for businesses across the globe to use. ...............................................................................................................................

The AI market is projected to reach $184 billion in 2024, according to Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform, rocketing to $826 billion by 2030.

The largest market size will be in the United States, projected to be $50 billion this year.

The market’s growth rate is influenced by advancements in AI robotics, autonomous and sensor technology, computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, and generative AI, according to Statista.

Northern Virginia reigns as one of the country’s data centers kings for now. But one of the biggest data center developers in the U.S., Denver-based Vantage Data Centers, will be building their next data center in the Midwest—a $2 billion data center project near Columbus, Ohio.

EXPLOSIVE DEVELOPMENT

Market experts at Blackstone, an alternative asset management organization, estimate that the U.S. will see over $1 trillion invested in data centers over the next five years, with an additional $1 trillion invested internationally.

The largest data center currently under construction—on 270 acres in Northern Virginia—will offer an estimated 500 megawatts, which is equivalent to the power demand of 375,000 homes.

Blackstone reported that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently proposed building clusters of 5,000-megawatt data centers across the U.S., each of which would be equivalent to the entire U.S. data center capacity built in the last 12 months.

POWER PROBLEMS

According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, data centers are one of the most energy-intensive building types, consuming 10 to 50 times the energy per floor space of a typical commercial office building.

These data center spaces account for approximately 2% of the total U.S. electricity use.

Goldman Sachs Research estimates that data center power demand will grow 160% by 2030.

In their 2023 global data center trends report, CBRE, a global commercial real estate services and investment company, found that a worldwide shortage of available power is inhibiting growth of the global data center market. Sourcing enough power is a top priority of data center operators across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

AI technology is also finding a pathway into various industries, including healthcare, finance, and retail.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW – AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING

In an op-ed piece for Foreign Policy magazine, Jared Cohen, the president of global affairs at Goldman Sachs and co-head of the Goldman Sachs Global Institute, wrote that competition over AI has so far been dominated by debates about leading-edge semiconductors. “But the next phase is also about geography and power. Specifically, where can the data centers that power AI workloads be built?”

Right now, the U.S. is leading the data center universe. Statista reports that, as of March, 2024, there were 5,381 data centers in the United States; 521 were in Germany; 514 in the United Kingdom.

Data center developers are hoping to use more sustainability energy sources. But there’s only so much of that available. “It will be difficult to power all these data centers with windmills solar plants, and batteries, so it depends on how you define ‘green,’” said Bill Stein, executive managing director and co-founder of Primary Digital Infrastructure, as quoted in a white paper published by Colliers Data Center Advisory Group. “Gas is a helpful source of power today, and it’s not zero carbon, but it’s certainly cleaner than coal. Also, small nuclear reactors, or modular nukes, are a potential power source five to ten years from now. I believe these can be put in place safely and that the need for power is so great that we won’t have a lot of choice.”

REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINT

Data centers are predicted to produce 2.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions globally by the end of the decade, according to research by Morgan Stanley, a financial services advisory. During that period of time, greenhouse gas emissions by the global data center industry will amount to about 40% of what the entire U.S. emits in a year.

The Yondr data center hyperbloc mockup. It has flexible data hall capacity of 15 - 40MW per hall deployed in pairs per building.

Limiting the carbon footprint of data centers is clearly a problem that needs new ideas in sustainable solutions.

One new approach comes from the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT). These are panels made of layers of spruce, pine or douglas fir—which is the strongest softwood—glued together.

Microsoft announced in October that they are experimenting with using CLT in two data centers in northern Virginia, expecting it to displace a portion of the thick concrete typically used for flooring and ceilings. To ensure durability and waterproofing, a thin layer of concrete will be applied for reinforcement.

According to press release from Microsoft about their CLT project, even when including that thin protective layer of concrete, the result will be a much lighter building requiring far less steel.

In 2021 Microsoft built its new Silicon Valley headquarters out of CLT, the company’s first large-scale use of CLT.

One of the companies designing, building and operating CLT data centers is EcoDataCenter, based in Falun, Sweden.

“We developed the first data center building with CLT in the world,” John Wernvik, chief marketing and communications officer for EcoDataCenter, told BXJ. “We’re glad that Microsoft finally decided to jump on our train.”

From the design sketches he has seen, Wernvik said that Microsoft will be experimenting with using CLT for the flooring, with support beams still made out of steel. EcoDataCenter’s own data center in Sweden uses CLT for “pretty much 90% of the full structure, like all the beams, both ceiling and flooring,” he said.

One of the aspects they have been struggling with about CLT is convincing other people that you can actually build critical infrastructure with it, Wernvik said. “That was at first much harder than we

initially thought, mainly because of insurance reasons, and very little knowledge on how most laminated timber actually works,” he said.

“In Sweden, building with wood is part of our building culture. We’ve been building airports, hotels, and hospitals with CLT structures.”

One of the main reasons for using CLT is because of the flexibility within the material, Wernvik said. “We’ve had cases where we needed to open up and put another door in. Or put other cable infrastructure

Strong and stable, cross laminated timber can be used as floors, walls and roofs in building construction, replacing or used with traditional building materials such as concrete and steel. Photo courtesy of USDA.

Picture courtesy Yondr.

in place. Then it’s pretty much like you take a chainsaw and cut a hole and draw through the new cables. That’s very much harder to do with steel and concrete.”

Wernvik said that EcoDataCenters is expanding their operations. Their studies show that one of their CLT data center customers can cut five metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

He said they expect to be using timber more and more often in some of the data centers now on the drawing board. “The percentage of CLT in our newer data centers is increasing all the time, because we learn how to adapt to the material and find new ways to increase the percentage of wood that we use.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Data centers will be relied on more and more as both cloud storage and the use of AI become standard business practices.

On the horizon is the need to store even more data, and provide immediate analytic processing capabilities among pillars of data, instead of just storing huge amounts of data for later use.

A report by S&P Global Market Intelligence, “2024 Trends in Data, AI, and Analytics,” predicts that there is a new class of database vendors emerging with database architectures optimized to deliver real-time analytics, oftentimes in less than a second.

Real time means the time gap between when data gets into the database to when it becomes usable for queries. The smaller that gap, the greater the opportunity to deliver ever faster results, resulting in a competitive advantage for companies.

But corporations are still hesitating to jump in and commit to all the data now available to them.

The S&P report found that wall-to-wall data-driven decisionmaking is still not the top priority in most organizations, even though collecting data, analyzing it and using its insights to inform strategic decisions has been practiced for decades.

It comes down to new and updated training for designated employees such as CIOs, because data science platforms, used for predictive decision-making, can be difficult to work with.

Predictive decision-making was not a major issue when qualified, skilled and expert data scientists were the main data users a few years ago. But today, data-driven decision-making has become a widespread business mandate, which means data science platforms increasingly need to be used by non-data scientists.

It’s a conundrum today of data rich and information poor, because data rich companies are still information poor, even as leaders have implemented a wide array of programs aimed at exploiting data, according to an article in Harvard Business Review. “Most still struggle to build data into their business strategies and, conversely, to align their data efforts to the needs of the business. There are a host of reasons, from lack of talent to unreasonable expectations to culture. Solving these problems is essential for those that wish to unleash the power of data across their organizations.” X

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) being used in a new Microsoft datacenter under construction in northern Virginia will enable the company to reduce the use of steel and concrete-two big contributors to carbon emissions.

Photo courtesy of Microsoft.

DESTINED FOR SUCCESS ARKANSAS:

Centered between Canada and Mexico, and located in the middle of the U.S., Arkansas is strategically located to reach tens of millions of people easily and cost-efficiently. Its unemployment rate consistently ranks below the national average, and 44 campuses of higher learning result in an educated workforce enriched by long-term training and primed for the 21st century challenges.

On any given day in Arkansas, they’re curating the world’s largest private database and operating one of the nation’s largest truckload carriers, while commanding the world’s dominant retail empire. Home to four Fortune 500 companies and more than 141 international corporations, Arkansas is an industry melting-pot from which one success builds on another.

Their unique blend of industries connects you to a lucrative index of resources, talent, and decision-makers. Aerospace and aviation represent Arkansas’ #1 export, and they’re home to nearly 170 well-known aerospace and defense companies that include MRO, component parts, completion centers, and defense contractors as well as the Little Rock Air Force Base. The state is also home to the Highland Industrial Park, one of the nation’s fastest growing defense corridors, with companies like Aerojet Rocketdyne, Esterline, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

Arkansas knows the food and agribusiness industry. They’re home to Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest food companies, and

manufacturing facilities for some of top companies in the industry, including PepsiCo, Nestle, JBS USA, Kraft Heinz, and many others. Arkansas is also an agricultural leader, producing 49% of all the rice in the U.S.

In the technology sector, Arkansas is rising. With the third-lowest cost of living in the country and business incentives for technologybased organizations, the state is attracting companies from around the world and bringing in a skilled workforce to fill high-tech jobs in cybersecurity, fintech, retail, supply chain and more.

Arkansas is home to the world’s largest retailer – Walmart – and seven other companies on Fortune magazine’s list of the largest 1,000 companies in the U.S. Home to corporate leaders in retail, transportation, food processing and oil, their economy is as diverse as their workforce.

In Arkansas, the metals industry employs over 22,000 people and accounts for 13.6% of total manufacturing. Mississippi County boasts the 2nd largest capacity for steel production in the nation. Other key industries in Arkansas include timber & forest products, firearms & ammunition, distribution & logistics, and transportation equipment.

For more information on Arkansas, please contact the Arkansas Economic Development Commission at 501-352-1431 or visit www. arkansasedc.com

ARKANSAS: Mississippi County — Work Here, Live Here, Thrive Here!

Mississippi County, Arkansas, has undergone a remarkable

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

OPPORTUNITIES

transformation from its historical roots in cotton production to becoming the leading steel-producing county in the United States. This evolution is a testament to strategic economic development initiatives and robust public-private partnerships that have redefined the region's industrial landscape.

From Cotton to Steel: A Strategic Shift

Between 1932 and 1960, Mississippi County was the largest cotton-producing county in America. While agriculture remains vital, the county has strategically diversified into steel manufacturing, attracting significant investments from industry giants such as Nucor, Big River Steel, and U.S. Steel. This shift has positioned Mississippi County as a national leader in steel production, with over $10 billion in capital investments from steel roll manufacturers alone.

Economic Development and Workforce Initiatives

The Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF), established in 2002, has been instrumental in this industrial transformation. Funded by a county-wide ½ cent sales tax for economic development, GREDF has facilitated the recruitment of 28 companies and supported 43 business expansion projects, resulting in over 9,000 new jobs and more than $10 billion in capital investments since 2003.

To support this industrial growth, Mississippi County has prioritized workforce development. Manufacturing accounts for 35% of county employment and 63% of the regional GDP, with local steel producers leading in innovation and sustainability. The county offers access to sites ranging from small parcels to mega-sites, competitive energy prices, and unique transportation modes, including direct access to the Mississippi River, enhancing its appeal to diverse industries.

"Work Here. Live Here.": Addressing Housing and Retention

Recognizing the need to attract and retain a skilled workforce, Mississippi County launched the "Work Here. Live Here." program. This initiative offers up to $50,000 in forgivable loans for new home construction or renovation to employees of participating companies who commit to residing in the county for at least four years. Since its inception in fall 2022, the program has attracted over 100 new homeowners, primarily first-generation buyers and young families, and has led to the construction of new homes, new neighborhoods and transforming the landscape and trajectory of families for generations.

A Model for Rural Economic Revitalization

Mississippi County's strategic initiatives exemplify effective rural economic revitalization. By leveraging its agricultural heritage, investing in industrial diversification, and fostering public-private partnerships, the county has created a resilient and dynamic economy. The "Work Here. Live Here." program

further enhances community development by reducing barriers to homeownership, thereby strengthening the local economy and improving residents' quality of life.

As Mississippi County continues to build upon its successes, it serves as a compelling model for other regions aiming to transform their economic landscapes through strategic planning, investment in workforce development, and innovative community programs. For more information please visit www.cottontosteel.com or call 870-532-6084.

ARKANSAS: Camden

The historic town of Camden is located on the Ouachita River in the heart of the Arkansas’ timber basket in South Central Arkansas. Steeped in its heritage Camden offers plenty of exciting opportunities for the history buff or outdoor enthusiast. From their historic national registry properties including the McCollum Chidester House, to their nearby state parks-White Oak Lake and Poison Spring, Camden has plenty to see and do. Rich in Civil War history because of the Battle of Poison Spring, Camden also is home to one of the few remaining historic Freedman Bureau offices in existence. Hunting and fishing are favorite pastimes in their area. If you prefer-take in a round of golf, a tennis match or simply a walk or bike ride on “The Trace”.

Their community offers some of the best restaurant possibilities in South Arkansas, from upscale dining at the Postmasters Grill, a restored historic post office, to Native Dog Brewing, a locally owned brew pub with a view of the Ouachita River.

Volunteers enjoy working with their local festivals which include the annual Daffodil festival, Hot Air Balloon Festival and Craft Fair and First Fridays downtown street festival.

The South Arkansas Intermodal Park in Camden is the regional distribution hub for South Arkansas. Intermodal facilities include: warehousing, land leasing, and rail interchange with two Class I Railroads-the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The Camden & Southern Railroad is the onsite shortline railroad providing loading/unloading services and railcar switching in the park.

Camden is proud of its Aerospace & Defense industry base which touts notable industries such as: Lockheed Martin, Aerojet Rocketdyne, General Dynamics, and Raytheon.

SAU Tech provides two-year associate degrees and partners with local industry on workforce training.

Ouachita County Medical Center offers excellent health care for their residents with a heart Cath lab, chemical dependency unit, ICU and ER in a setting recognized as one of Arkansas safest hospitals. X

Lower Costs, Bigger Opportunities OKLAHOMA:

Oklahoma’s pro-business environment makes their state a great place to do business. Oklahoma has some of the lowest tax rates and some of the best tax incentives in the nation. The state offers companies a low cost of doing business, a low cost of living for employees, and tax rebates that reduce tax burdens even further. .........................................................................................

Oklahoma’s Quality Jobs incentive program is a 10-year cash rebate that promotes job growth and helps improve your company’s bottom line by injecting cash back into your business as you expand and create new jobs in Oklahoma. The Quality Jobs program provides a cash rebate to companies that create well-paying jobs and promote economic development.

Oklahoma’s industries are diverse, much like its landscape. Here you’ll find the world’s largest Department of Defense Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. Head northeast and there’s the world’s largest commercial airline MRO and Google’s 2nd largest data center. Out west you’ll see wind turbines on the horizon as you head toward Goodyear’s largest tire manufacturing facility. It seems pretty

obvious companies that operate in Oklahoma find success, no matter the industry.

Oklahoma is the MRO capital of the world. A highly skilled workforce, unrivaled incentives and the world’s aerospace giants like Boeing and Lufthansa Technik are keeping this industry soaring in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma is the premier location for the ever-evolving unmanned systems sector. Key assets and test sites across the state are setting the stage for research and development, manufacturing and more.

Global research centers and new technologies are keeping the Agribusiness industry pushing forward. Oklahoma is 1st in rye production, 2nd in canola production, 5th in beef production and is home to a vast array of companies ranging from paper and packaging manufacturing to beverage production and fertilizer manufacturing.

Tax credits for engineers, transferrable skillsets, low energy costs and more have Oklahoma poised to be the next automotive hub. Oklahoma’s wages are among the most competitive in the country and our CareerTech, located across 169 sites throughout the state, offers training in specific pathways aligning with the automotive workforce demand.

Biosciences are another key industry sector. World-renown research centers like the Noble Foundation and Oklahoma Medical

Research Foundation are developing treatments and cures for disease and crop health. A culture of collaboration and innovation paired with significant investments at our research institutions makes Oklahoma a hotbed of life science, biomedical technology and research and development.

Oklahoma’s central location, diverse landscapes, professional workforce and low costs of living and business make it a formidable partner for the film, television and music industries.

With Oklahoma’s abundance of water and renewable energy and some of the lowest electricity rates in the U.S., companies like Google and Dell continue to grow in our state. It’s no surprise that data centers and back office support are investing in Oklahoma and its workforce.

A central location, multi-modal transportation system and impressive supply chains mean you can improve your bottom line in Oklahoma. From food processing and aerospace to pipe and plastics, thousands of manufacturing companies have found success operating here.

Institutional knowledge and a skilled workforce combined with abundant natural resources and a driven strategy make Oklahoma a leader in renewable energy. Not to mention they are 3rd in wind energy generation and 6th in solar potential.

Oklahoma is at the center of it all. With 4 inland ports, 3,850 miles of rail and 12,000 miles of highway, it’s no wonder why we are a hub for logistics operations and distribution centers like Amazon, Dollar Tree, Macy’s and more.

For more information on Oklahoma, please contact the Oklahoma Department of Commerce at 800-879-6552 or visit their website at www. okcommerce.gov .

OKLAHOMA: Cleveland County

NESTLED in the heart of central Oklahoma, Cleveland County offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and big-city amenities. From the serene countryside of Lexington to the vibrant college town of Norman to the growing suburbs of Moore, our county provides excellent opportunities for businesses and families alike. With a strong workforce, quality education options, proximity to Oklahoma City, and our strategic location at the crossroads of three major interstates, Cleveland County is an ideal place to establish your business while enjoying a high quality of life. Cleveland County is primed for growth and ready to help you achieve success!

THRIVING CITIES, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

Lexington: Recognized as the oldest town in the original Oklahoma Territory, its historical roots provide a unique cultural experience. Rural charm and family-friendly atmosphere describe this close-knit community that fosters a sense of belonging and support.

Moore: A resilient city known for its no-nonsense business support and commitment to economic prosperity for all. With an intentional focus on providing a thriving retail economy on one end of the spectrum to courting companies like Simple Modern

- a headquartered company committed to doing business with excellence, Moore is a city on the move with steadfast city leadership focused on the future.

Noble: This charming community boasts a rich history as the site of the nation's first "all-electric town” and also as home to Oklahoma’s State Rock -the world-famous Rose Rock. Familyfriendly with a strong sense of community, it’s the perfect place to retreat and enjoy the peace and tranquility of Oklahoma.

Norman: As Cleveland County’s capital city, Norman boasts a vibrant cultural and expanding sports scene and is home to the newest member of the Southeastern Conference - the University of Oklahoma. It’s also home to Oklahoma’s first and only aviation high school, the Oklahoma Aviation Academy.

Slaughterville: A hidden gem known for its rural atmosphere and strong sense of community, Slaughterville is characterized by spacious homes on abundant acreage, allowing for a serene, country lifestyle.

South Oklahoma City: Experience the best of suburban and urban living with its proximity to significant employers such as Tinker Airforce Base and easy access to the amenities of Oklahoma's capital city. With ample parks, outdoor spaces, cultural attractions, and diverse cuisine offerings, SOKC attracts families, businesses, and individuals seeking a vibrant community with unique character.

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE

•

•University of Oklahoma: A world-class institution with nearly 32,000 students, offering a vast pool of talented graduates to meet your workforce needs. #1 Aviation College in and #1 Meteorological School in the U.S. and HQ to the National Weather Center.

• •Moore Norman Technology Center: Recognized regionally as the first choice for workforce development and training, preparing students for high-demand careers.

• •Mid-America Christian University: Offering 20 bachelor's degrees with a student-faculty ratio of 13:1, ensuring personalized education.

• •Randall University: A private Christian College offering associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees.

STRATEGIC LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY

• •Minutes away from Oklahoma City, the state's economic powerhouse.

• •Intersected by major highways: I-35, I-44, and I-40, providing seamless connectivity.

• •Easy access to Will Rogers World Airport for global business travel.

QUALITY OF LIFE

• •Lake Thunderbird for outdoor enthusiasts and mountain biking.

• •World-class Museums, including the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, the National Weather & Science

EXPANSION

OPPORTUNITIES

Museum, and the Jacobsen Museum of Native Art.

• •A Thriving Art & Music Scene with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the Yellow Rose Gallery and the Norman Music Festival.

ECONOMIC VITALITY

• •3rd fastest-growing county in the State of Oklahoma.

• •Diverse industry mix, including aerospace, agribusiness, energy, and manufacturing.

• •Home to innovative companies like Bosch, Hitachi America, Immunological Therapies, and Simply Modern.

Experience the best of Oklahoma in Cleveland County –where talent, opportunity, and quality of life converge. Join us in shaping the future of this dynamic region!

When selecting a site for relocating your business, consider what makes good business sense. Cleveland County derives its value proposition from important factors such as available talent, cost of living, quality of life, transportation networks, and responsive county leadership.

Our quality of labor correlates directly to our high level of education. According to recent data, 35.2% of the workforce have a bachelor's degree or higher. It's worth noting that this level of educational achievement is 20% higher than the state average. Cleveland County also boasts a high school graduation rate of 92.2%.

Cleveland County's location in the heart of America minimizes travel time to either coast and provides residents and businesses with connections to more than 80 million people within a 500-mile radius. Positioned on the southern edge of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area also enables the County to access supplementary human capital from the region's population of 1.4 million residents. Our county's central location at the crossroads of 1-35 and 1-40 plays a dynamic role, as does nearby Will Rogers World Airport, which has direct flights to all major cities across the country.

For more information on Cleveland County, please contact the Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition at 405573-1900 or visit www.SelectClevelandCounty.com

OKLAHOMA: Ardmore

Ardmore, Oklahoma, has positioned itself as a focal point for economic growth, drawing in significant investments and attracting diverse industries to the region. Spearheading the transformation is the Ardmore Industrial Airpark, which has garnered over $50 million in infrastructure investments that will expand operational capacity.

Dot Foods, a long-time Ardmore employer, recently announced an expansion which includes the addition of a stateof-the-art refrigerated warehouse. This facility supports Dot Foods' logistics and distribution of perishable goods, bolstering local employment. Dot Foods' presence is a catalyst for additional job creation and economic activity, aligning with Ardmore’s strategy to diversify its industrial base.

Ardmore is also making strides in sustainability and environmental stewardship. Circulus, a plastic recycling company,

ARDMORE, OK

Ardmore, Oklahoma is ideally situated between 2 major metropolitan areas – Dallas and Oklahoma City on Interstate 35. Our location makes Ardmore the logical choice for logistics, energy, and manufacturing.

Save More for Your Business

Low construction costs, utility rates, overhead, and taxes make the cost of doing business in Ardmore significantly less than most of the nation.

Earn More for Your Business

When you get more and save more, you earn more. New and expanding companies often tell us that locating in Ardmore, Oklahoma was one of their best business decisions.

The Ardmore Development Authority owns three industrial parks and several single sites and buildings, giving our organization both the power and incentive to negotiate favorable terms for expanding companies. When combined with Oklahoma’s state incentives, you’ll simply get more in Ardmore.

has experienced significant growth and recently drew major attention with its acquisition by Dow Chemical. This acquisition underscores the company’s value in the recycling sector and Ardmore’s role in fostering cutting-edge sustainability efforts. Circulus’ operations are set to expand further, making Ardmore a significant hub in the plastics recycling industry, aligning with global efforts to reduce plastic waste.

In another groundbreaking project, Woodside Energy has chosen Ardmore as the location for H2OK, a green hydrogen production facility, with a projected investment of nearly $1 billion. This ambitious venture highlights Ardmore’s forwardthinking approach to renewable energy and environmental innovation. H2OK will leverage renewable energy sources, significantly reducing carbon emissions. With a final investment decision expected in 2025, the Woodside project has the potential to place Ardmore at the forefront of green energy initiatives in the U.S., setting a precedent for other regions to follow.

As Ardmore continues to attract new industries, it also faces transitions within its traditional industrial sector. Michelin, a longstanding presence in the community, plans to wind down its tire production in Ardmore by the end of 2025. Although this transition marks the end of an era, it presents an opportunity for economic diversification and growth. Michelin’s exit will release a skilled workforce into the labor market, providing a well-trained talent pool for new and expanding industries. Additionally, the wind down will allow the company to find a new user for the 750,000-square-foot warehouse, potentially accommodating new businesses that can capitalize on Ardmore’s strategic location and workforce.

Ardmore’s growth is further supported by the continued

northward expansion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which increasingly brings businesses and residents closer to the region. Ardmore’s proximity to this booming metro area enhances its appeal as a site for logistics, distribution, and industry, positioning it as a vital midpoint for businesses looking to bridge operations between Texas and the broader Midwest. This geographic advantage, combined with Ardmore’s strategic investments in infrastructure, sustainability, and workforce readiness, sets the stage for sustained economic development in the coming years.

Ardmore’s economic development efforts exemplify a comprehensive approach to growth, balancing traditional industry support with an eye toward innovation and sustainability. With significant investments in infrastructure, promising projects in green hydrogen and recycling, and the adaptability shown in the Michelin transition, Ardmore is on a path to becoming a robust, diverse economic hub.

OKLAHOMA: Broken Arrow A Strong Economy, An Innovative Spirit

Broken Arrow has what your company needs to grow and thrive. Thanks to a high concentration of higher education and technical training programs, they have a highly skilled workforce ready for jobs in manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and professional services. They can work with your team to identify business incentive programs managed locally or by the state, from retail development to manufacturing site construction.

Named “the most livable small city in America,” the City of Broken Arrow is located in the northeastern corner of Oklahoma,

adjacent to the city of Tulsa. Broken Arrow has a residential population of over 119,000, making it the 4th largest city in the state. With over 1 million people within a 40-mile radius, Broken Arrow offers a vibrant city experience that lives as a suburban, family-oriented community. The city is home to a wide range of businesses and industries. In fact, Broken Arrow is ranked third in its concentration of manufacturers in the state, with over 300 companies engaged in that sector.

Broken Arrow partners with local companies, investing in winwin projects that create jobs and develop public infrastructure. The city recently invested over $6 million in a jobs creation package that helped local company Flight Safety International build a new, state-of-the-art 375,000 square-foot facility that also included additional public infrastructure.

Broken Arrow offers easy access to transportation and distribution resources such as air service, highways, and port. The city is easily connected to the world via the Tulsa International Airport (TUL), just 20 minutes away with non-stop flights to over a dozen major airport hubs in the U.S., including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Los Angeles. There are three more regional airports within 50 miles.

Broken Arrow is built on innovation. With a long history in manufacturing, their growing community of nearly 300 manufacturing companies and more than 6,000 employees produce products from heat exchangers and flight simulators to medical-grade glass and food manufacturing.

Over 300 Oklahoma-based companies provide parts and services to one of broken Arrow’s top employers, Flight Safety International, supporting the local economy with jobs. The New York based company designs and manufactures fullflight simulators for commercial, government, and military organizations.

Broken Arrow is home to a wide range of healthcare facilities and social services agencies, from full-service hospitals, primary doctors, specialty medicine clinics, nursing homes, home health care services and outpatient surgery centers. The primary hospital is Ascension St. John Broken Arrow, which was recently awarded a five-star rating.

Their growing retail sector not only creates new jobs in the community, but also provides a varied and modern shopping experience for their residents, ranging from downtown boutique shops to luxury shopping destinations.

For more information on the many opportunities in Broken Arrow, please contact the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation at 918-893-2100 or email to amber.miller@bachamber.com or visit their website at www.brokenarrowedc.com X

NEBRASKA:

The Door To Opportunity Is Everywhere, But It’s Easier To Find When People Hold It Open

It’s the Good Life – for you and your business. Nebraska is uniquely positioned as a state with both the capacity and capability to support businesses of any scale. It’s a state that delivers the tangibles you need and the support that you want. Nebraska is working toward something greater, and they know you are too. They can help you get there with programs and services designed to help you succeed. Why Nebraska? Everything, from the people here to the legislative climate, has a genuine answer to the question.

Nebraska is located in the middle of everything and built for connections. With 9 major airports and over 300 miles of inland waterways, Nebraska has the infrastructure in place to support your business. Nebraska is home to several of the nation’s leading transportation companies and is located on one of the busiest rail connections in North America.

Big enough to get your business exactly what you need, but small

enough that you’ll know exactly who you need to call. Nearly every state in the U.S. has a public power utility, but Nebraska is the only state served 100% by publicly-owned utilities, meaning your power works for you and your interests.

Ranked as one of America’s Top 10 States for Business, year-in and year-out, Nebraska is a state that combines affordability, opportunity, and an environment primed for growth. The cost of doing business in Nebraska is 8% below the national average, and they are a right-to-work state.

Nebraska has earned a reputation for its skilled, hard-working labor force – partly because they have one of the best educational systems in the nation. They’re proud to rank #9 in the country for education (U.S. News and World Report, 2021) while consistently maintaining one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates.

Nebraska ranks lower than the national average on housing, utilities, transportation, and health costs. Whether you’re searching for wide-open spaces or bustling urban areas, Nebraska has something to offer.

For more information, please contact the Nebraska Department of Economic Development at 800-426-6505 or visit their website at www. opportunity.nebraska.gov .

NEBRASKA: Phelps County DG Fuels Set to Transform Phelps County Economy

The new DG Fuels sustainable aviation fuel plant planned in Phelps County will majorly impact the local economy, boosting retail and agricultural sales and creating hundreds of jobs.

A new study commissioned by the Phelps County Development Corporation estimated the project will boost the Phelps County economy by hundreds of millions of dollars annually when it becomes operational. Prepared by NPPD economist Melissa Trueblood, PhD., the study estimates that during the construction phase of the project capital expenditures will top $4.2 billion, and the project will generate new taxes on production and imports (TPI) exceeding $5 million.

“These figures could change, even increase, as we move through this process, but it’s clear that DG Fuels is a transformational project for our region,” PCDC Executive Director Ron Tillery said. “And the benefits will extend across every sector of the economy.”

Once the plant is operational, the projected annual payroll for 640 permanent DG Fuels employees will reach $54 million and create an additional 313 secondary jobs such as doctors, teachers, restaurant workers, etc. That secondary employment is expected to generate more than $16 million annually. The report showed that the community could expect to see a 15.7 percent increase ($6.3 million) in retail sales annually once the project is complete.

“This project truly is the definition of economic development,” PCDC Board President Shane Westcott said. “The millions of dollars it will inject into the economy will have a tremendous effect on generations well into the future. Even without the additional on-farm revenue included, this project will have a positive economic impact for everyone in Phelps County. The jobs will allow young people to stay in Phelps County and raise their families.”

DG Fuels will purchase an estimated 1.2 million tons of corn stover annually adding $144 million into the pockets of farmers in the South Central Nebraska region with no

negative impacts on supplies for cattle feed or nutrient replenishment in the fields.

Westcott, who is also a Phelps County farmer, said the project is truly value added for local ag producers.

“Farmers will have the opportunity to sell a product they are already producing - stover,” Westcott said. “It's an income stream that can be tapped into relatively easily. All farmers in the area will have equal opportunity to sell the product to DG Fuels. The residual impact on things like implement dealers, ag input sales, etc., will have a long-standing effect on profitability for those operations. These positive effects for the ag sector are phenomenal.”

Gov. Jim Pillen has said that bioeconomy projects like the DG Fuels project will be Nebraska’s “Silicon Valley” opportunity. Pillen said these projects will boost the state’s rural economy and revitalize the job market.

Julie Bushell, head of the Nebraska BioEconomy initiative, said Nebraska is well-positioned to lead the emerging economy.

“We’ve got everything we need right here – people, water crops, livestock,” Bushell said. “We’re at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, and now is the time to leverage that. Our state’s longstanding leadership in water management and agricultural practices positions us to deliver what the global economy is demanding.”

In a video posted to News Channel Nebraska, Bushell said farmers will not be required to conform with the SAF tax credit, which means that all farmers can equally participate using their current farming practices.

A team of local ag experts and farmers has worked closely with Bushell to finalize details of grower agreements for the project.

“Our understanding today is that the contracts will be rolled out to farmers in public meetings giving all farmers an equal opportunity to contract with DG Fuels,” Westcott said. “The goal is to have transparent, detailed communications with farmers.”

Initially, the focus will be on farmers in an eight-county region surrounding Phelps County. Meetings with farmers could take place as early as December. X

ron@phelpscountryne.com

A Business-Friendly Tax Climate WYOMING:

With a low tax burden, including no corporate or personal state income tax, Wyoming has been identified by the Tax Foundation as having the most business-friendly tax climate in the nation. In Wyoming, you can spend less and earn more.  .............................................................................................

Strategically located in central North America, many routes lead to, through, and from Wyoming.

• A total of 915 miles of interstate crisscross Wyoming. Interstate 15 connects to Los Angeles and Canada, and is accessible via I-80 or I-90.

• BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad own a combined 1,844 route-miles of track in Wyoming. In all, the state’s freight-rail system consists of 1,868 miles of track.

• Wyoming features 10 commercial airports with final destination service to major cities around the world. Three international airports border the state in Denver, Salt Lake City and Billings, Montana.

• Wyoming’s excellent transportation access has been a

major factor in the creation of new business parks suited to manufacturing and transportation and warehousing companies.

The tectonic forces that created Wyoming’s complex Rocky Mountain terrain preserved rich fossil beds from multiple geologic eras, making the state a major producer of coal, natural gas and crude oil.

Wyoming has the smallest population in the U.S. but supplies more energy than any other state.

Wyoming’s unique geological features also produce some of the best wind resources in the nation. Sustained winds are funneled through mountain passes and out across the high prairie.

Wyoming also straddles the Continental Divide, providing the headwaters for four major river basins in the western U.S.: the Missouri-Mississippi, Green-Colorado, Snake-Columbia and Great Salt Lake.

Add it all up, and Wyoming has ample resources and cost-competitive rates for industrial, commercial and agricultural use.

There are nine telecommunications providers near Interstate 80 and throughout Wyoming. Nearly 80 percent of housing units in

CASPER IS CITY LIVING WITH A RURAL ADVANTAGE

Casper has the only Foreign Trade Zone in the state, a stable manufacturing & distribution hub, a thriving BioMed and BioTech entrepreneurial industry, and progressive industry diversification into Aerospace & Defense, and so much more.

EXPANSION

OPPORTUNITIES

the state have broadband access through telco, cable or wireless providers.

Wyoming enjoys easy access to year-round recreation opportunities and wide-open spaces. Here, the great outdoors and economic opportunity go hand-in-hand, making Wyoming an ideal spot for expansion and talent attraction.

ransportation and logistics also play a major role in business. Strategically located, many routes lead to, through and from Wyoming. A total of 915 miles of interstate crisscross Wyoming. Interstate 15 connects to Los Angeles and Canada and is accessible via I-80 or I-90. Wyoming features 10 commercial airports with final destination service to major cities around the world. Three international airports border the state in Denver, Salt Lake City, and Billings, Montana.

Wyoming has a diverse profile of businesses within the agricultural industry. From beef and lamb producers to local brewers, distillers and coffee roasters, rural communities support these thriving businesses. Local farmers now grow hemp, helping to diversify the production and value-added ag economy.

With an abundance of natural resources, Wyoming is known as the “Energy State.” Wyoming consistently ranks high in traditional, emerging, and renewable energy sources, including wind. Other target industries in Wyoming include blockchain technology; data centers and IT; manufacturing; outdoor recreation; carbon capture; and DAC technology.

For more information on Wyoming and its opportunities, please contact the Wyoming Business Council at 307-777-2800 or visit www. wyomingbusiness.org

WYOMING: CASPER — The Heart Of Wyoming

Casper is truly the heart of Wyoming. As the main retail and service center, financial and business hub, and top destination for healthcare, Casper’s location provides a number of advantages for your business.

Casper and Wyoming’s business-friendly benefits include: low energy costs; State’s only Foreign Trade Zone; State’s only international airport; low operating costs; project-ready sites; light manufacturing and industrial infrastructure; skilled workforce and workforce development; reliable broadband; downtown professional office space; State’s largest medical facility (Banner Health); State’s largest community college (Casper College); and Pathways Innovation Center, their newest high school providing technical training.

Casper is located in the center of the state and provides the region’s leading location for business, banking, and professional services. For many, Casper is a one-stop shop and integral to the local economy.

Casper and Natrona County’s longtime manufacturing sector has transformed to meet current needs and impact lasting innovation across many sectors. The reshoring of many overseas

manufacturing operations has been impactful for Casper, providing a local supply chain for in demand products.

Oil, gas, mining, and wind power are all foundational sectors that have made Casper thrive. Their fertile lands provide traditional, emerging, and renewable energy sources a great place to start or expand operations for energy development.

Casper has a prosperous entrepreneurial community filled with innovators that have less barriers to entry and a core network of support and resources to help with the challenges of starting a successful business. Advance Casper is the host of the Casper Start-up Challenge. In addition, Advance Casper hosts three alternative financing platforms for entrepreneurs including the only organized angel investment fund in Wyoming, Breakthrough 307, statewide equity crowdfunding platform, Invest307, and traditional crowdfunding platform, The Local Crowd.

Casper and Natrona County’s longtime manufacturing sector has transformed to meet current needs and impact lasting innovation across many sectors. The reshoring of many overseas manufacturing operations has been impactful for Casper, providing a local supply chain for in demand products.

An emerging sector in Natrona County is in the environmental technology and manufacturing sector, from recycling and wastewater solutions to electric vehicle charging stations and freshwater restoration to innovations in high-productivity agricultural and stormwater filtration manufacturing. Casper is a forward-thinking community, supportive of expansion into environmental manufacturing of all types.

Again, with Casper as the heart of Wyoming, they lead in healthcare capabilities. In addition, entrepreneurs are developing innovations in the biomedical sphere. Medical device and biomedical product manufacturers are finding success in their community filled with many healthcare professionals.

Taking advantage of many of Casper’s available sites, information technology and data centers are appearing in the community, with access to the necessary utility and ventilation. Their local college has many qualified graduates in both disciplines looking to provide a reliable workforce.

The Natrona County/Casper International Airport is the only Foreign Trade Zone in Wyoming, making importing and exporting favorable for manufacturers and distributors. In addition, Casper is logistically primed for over road trucking, with I-25 and highway 26, 220, and 487 that provide access to smaller parts of the state. In addition, rail spur access provides additional transportation capabilities.

To learn more, please visit www.advancecasper.com or their local information site www.choosecpr.com or call 307-577-7011.

WYOMING: Cheyenne

Catchy headlines like "Open for Business" and "Businessfriendly" litter the economic development landscape. But the

one phrase that is a staple of every community's marketing plan is "Quality of Life," and for good reason. Research shows that people are choosing where to live based on amenities more than the availability of jobs, as once was the case. But what really creates an overall state of happiness, health, and life satisfaction? Is it a low-stress lifestyle? Is it access to a lively downtown with abundant shopping, restaurants, and breweries? Is it access to a good education and schools for children? Is it a safe and involved community? Is it all the above, and more? To complicate the question, everyone is re-evaluating what it takes to reach this place, feeling, or ideal situation. Like never before, individuals, and companies, are looking at their lives and the lives of their families, and many are re-defining what quality of life means to them.

Cheyenne, Wyoming, was one location noticing these changes taking place across the country. Cheyenne located just 90 miles north of Denver, Colorado, has always celebrated their abundant resources and unique lifestyle. Still, suddenly, they aren’t the only ones interested in what is happening in their state.

Companies are suddenly looking to leave more restrictive states are calling Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development organization for Cheyenne and Laramie County. Site selectors, developers and businesses owners are nothing the large distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, and data centers already calling Cheyenne home. It’s not uncommon to hear that they had no idea all the great things happening in the Midwest state.

Businesses discovered that Cheyenne offered shovel-ready business parks that allowed them space to grow and succeed,

exceptional transportation options, and top-ranked broadband connectivity.

If that wasn't enough, they learned that their company and their employees would keep more of their money because Wyoming doesn't have Personal or Corporate Income Tax, an Inventory Tax, Sales Tax on manufacturing equipment, sales tax on electricity and gas used in the manufacturing process, and a low sales tax of just six percent. In fact, Wyoming has been ranked #1 by the Tax Foundation for the last ten years, based on its overall business tax climate, corporate tax structure & and individual income tax structure.

The residents of Cheyenne Those in Wyoming understand that clean air and water, well-regarded educational institutions and healthcare facilities, a robust greenway and park system, and a safe community to grow their business and raise their family is their definition of the quality of life...all of this with an average commute time of just 14 minutes. Re-evaluating their futures –because they are finding that Wyoming is the definition of quality of life. For more information, please call Cheyenne LEADS at 800-255-0742 or visit www.cheyenneleads.org . X

WYOMING

The #1 most business-friendly tax climate in the US

CHEYENNE

Gets It Right NORTH DAKOTA:

You might say their reputation precedes them and they're proud of it. When it comes to supporting emerging businesses, entrepreneurs and expansions, North Dakota gets it right. The state's growing manufacturing, technology-based businesses, unmanned systems, agricultural and energy industries are drawing some of the world's most recognized companies into the state and providing expansion for some of their homegrown ones.

This includes manufacturing companies like ComDel Innovation which serves customers in aerospace, medicine, industry and consumer products. It’s giving life to entrepreneurial projects like the Grand Farm Initiative, the world’s first 100% autonomous farm. Combined with a legendary work ethic and a highly educated workforce, North Dakota has become a dynamic place to live, work, invest and be in business.

Business incentives, government accessibility, and workforce performance, combined with North Dakota's favorable position as one of the lowest cost states for operating a business, are driving top companies to establish operations in North Dakota.

North Dakota works hard to assist existing business through many of the same programs used to attract new businesses. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership, for instance, assists manufacturers to help them

become more competitive; other programs and incentives are available to assist in efforts to expand or continue your operations.

Business development staff is available to assist all primary sector businesses, whether new or existing, especially those related to our target industries. Local development staff in communities throughout the state also pursue business retention and expansion activities.

Business incentives, government accessibility, and workforce performance, combined with North Dakota's favorable position as one of the lowest cost states for operating a business, are driving top companies to establish operations in North Dakota.

Connecting makers and consumers with the right product at the right time is a delightfully challenging dance. Fortunately, North Dakota’s integrated supply chain network of rails, roads and skyways is up for the task. Take their railways, for example. They have over 3,480 miles of track operated by two Class I rail companies and several short line systems. Eight commercial airports and 89 public-use airports make use of Their spacious skies. Don’t forget the more than 107,000 miles of roads that provide intrastate connectivity.

Location and timing are key to any project's success, and being close to rail, whether it has a carload or intermodal focus, can help businesses save on transportation costs. Minot, ND offers a BNSF certified site for intermodal development. The certified site is an 800 acre park that is ready for rapid acquisition and development with 386 acres designated as rail-served. BNSF projects that a customer that builds a new rail-served

facility on a BNSF Certified Site can save between size to nine months of construction time, reducing development time and increasing speed to market.

In short, here you can get your product where it needs to go whether it needs to cross the state, the border or an ocean.

North Dakota is connecting to tomorrow. They are ranked #2 in the nation for ultra-fast internet access. North Dakota’s IT industry contributes significantly to the state’s overall growth and economic strength. It is connected to virtually every industry across the state. Nearly 3300 businesses employ close to 22,00 in various fields including IT, human relations, finance, and marketing. Companies like Microsoft and Amazon have long called North Dakota home.

For more information on the opportunities that North Dakota provides, please visit www. nd.gov or www.commerce.nd.gov or call 701-328-5300.

NORTH DAKOTA: Bismarck Mandan, Moving Business Forward

At first, the Bismarck Mandan community seems like any other Midwestern town. But, a closer look reveals a community making its mark.

Bismarck Mandan has North Dakota's largest public school district. Fall 2024 saw a 20th straight year of rising enrollment. Mandan, not to be outdone, has seen an increase in enrollment for fourteen years straight. Both have opened new elementary schools. MPS built a new high school to house its growing student population. It also completed a CTE center for students to explore career paths. The Bismarck Career Academy is a joint career and technical education center. It benefits BPS and is shared by Bismarck Public Schools and Bismarck State College.

Bismarck State College (BSC) is now North Dakota's polytechnic institution. It is the only one in the region. It offers bachelor's degrees in

applied science, like Cybersecurity and Advanced Manufacturing. BSC is not the only higher ed institution in Bismarck Mandan making strides. The University of Mary has opened a new College of Engineering. This investment in education helps companies fill their workforce pipeline.

The Bismarck Mandan community has a very competitive tax structure. It has some of the lowest income and property taxes in the country. There are many local and state incentive programs for businesses interested in Bismarck-Mandan. Among these is a scholarship/ loan repayment program for students in high-demand trades. Bismarck Mandan is also home to The Bank of North Dakota (BND), the only state-owned bank in the United States. BND has unique financing programs, including an interest buydown program. It helps offset costs for emerging or expanding companies.

Bismarck Mandan's population grew by 20% in the last decade. This growth demands high-quality amenities for a better life. Bismarck Mandan has 100+ miles of walking trails and river sports. As well as nearby campgrounds, hunting, and fishing opportunities. Upcoming riverfront development will be home to unique live music and food truck grounds. Local groups, clubs, and networking organization allow new community members the opportunity to get involved.

Bismarck Mandan is at the intersection of I-94 and U.S. 83. It provides access to markets across the Midwest and beyond. The Bismarck Airport has daily flights through Delta Airlines to Minneapolis/St. Paul, United Airlines to Denver, American Airlines to Dallas/Fort Worth and soon O’Hare Chicago, and less than daily service through Allegiant Airlines to Las Vegas, Phoenix/ Mesa, St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa Bay, and Orlando/Sanford. Two class-1 railroads (BNSF and Canadian Pacific) service the Bismarck Mandan area. It has ample resources like water, natural gas, and power. Bismarck Mandan has low power and water rates that are below the national average. This makes it cheap to do business here.

Bismarck Mandan values business and supports its primary industries. As the community grows, there is interest in valueadded energy, food and beverage processing, and farm and construction equipment manufacturing. If your business wants to make its mark, Bismarck Mandan is the perfect place. X

Where Business Can Thrive MONTANA:

Montana is where ideas grow into opportunities. Their spectacular nature and unparalleled access to public lands make for a one-of-a-kind backdrop to build and grow your business. The state provides confidential, streamlined business development consulting to support you during all phases of your corporate expansion/relocation project.

Montana’s skilled and educated workforce is one of the state’s greatest assets. Many state government programs help build on this strong foundation in areas of apprenticeship, worker training, and much more.

Montana ranks high in quality of infrastructure: from short average commutes to larger-scale transportation logistics. There are 15 commercial airports, 3 foreign trade zones, and more than 3,300 miles of rain infrastructure.

Montana consistently ranks as a state where business can thrive, thanks to pro-business state tax policies, competitive cost of doing business, and streamlined regulatory environment. There is no

sales tax and the government and economic development leaders work together to ensure that the business climate remains favorable to companies of all sizes, including some of the nation’s leading corporations.

You probably know Montana as a scenic wonderland drawing nature-lovers and recreation enthusiasts to its majestic peaks and wide-open spaces throughout the year. What you may not know is the Big Sky State is also the most entrepreneurial place per capita in the country, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurship, with 540 residents for every 100,000 starting a business each month, nearly twice the national average. Also,there’s no traffic.

Montana is the 4th largest state by area, but the 43rd in population. Only Alaska and Wyoming have fewer people per square mile. (Thus, no traffic.) But what there is is so much more.

Home to 9 National Park Service Areas, including Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, plus another 55 state parks, Montana boasts more than 147,000 square miles of spectacular unspoiled nature, 57,000 square miles of public land, and nearly 11,000 square miles dedicated to gaming. There are also over 400 miles of rivers and streams designated as blue-ribbon trout waters. And lots of skiing, even in the summer.

Other important business sectors include agriculture, timber, mining, healthcare, and high-tech, which is coming on particularly strong of late. According to the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, the state’s technology sector is growing at seven times the rate of the state’s overall economy, which itself has consistently out-performed the national economy over the past ten years. The tech sector in Montana now generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue.

Montana’s evolving workforce benefits from a stellar education system, which boasts one of the highest graduation rates in the country and a strong culture of cooperation between educators and employers to meet the needs of the state’s 21st Century economy.

For more information, please call the Montana Department of Commerce at 406-4310609 or visit www.choosemontana.com .

NorthWestern Energy

Economic vitality is crucial to Montana’s future, and for many years, NorthWestern Energy has held a strong commitment to the communities it serves. Community Works encompasses NorthWestern Energy’s tradition of funding community activities, charitable efforts and economic development within its service territory. In 2024, NorthWestern Energy’s Community Works programs provided nearly $2 million in funds for community sponsorships, charitable contributions and economic development organizations in its service territory. NorthWestern Energy is committed to serving as a meaningful and dedicated contributor to the economic development process, and they see their role as “energizing Montana’s economy.” Their emphasis is on “Building Montana’s Future,” and the mission of the Economic

Development team is to help retain existing jobs in Montana, promote business expansion and recruit new businesses to the state. The economic development employees assist site selection consultants, economic development agencies, government agencies, existing businesses and potential new businesses. They are actively involved in economic development initiatives at the local, state, regional and

national levels. They can answer questions about utility rates, availability of utility distribution and transmission services, utility operations, power reliability, energy supply, and energy efficiency programs. X

For more information on NorthWestern Energy please call (888) 467-2669 or visit their website at www.northwesternenergy.com

Powering Montana’s Business Community

NorthWestern Energy is proud to have a rich heritage of providing utility services that contribute to the growth and economic prosperity in our communities. The mission of our Economic Development team is to help retain existing jobs, promote business expansion, and recruit new businesses in the communities we serve. We are your partner in growth, development and success. To find out how NorthWestern Energy can assist your business, visit our website or call us at (888) 467-2669.

Star of the North MINNESOTA:

Minnesota is home to 17 renowned Fortune 500s, including 3M, General Mills, U.S. Bancorp, Target and Best Buy. Their Twin Cities ranks 1st per capita among the 30 largest metros – and Minnesota ranks 5th – in Fortune 500 concentration per capita. The largest private company in the country – Cargill – is also headquartered here. Global health care leader Mayo Clinic began in Rochester, Minnesota and still calls their state home. And, global medical device giant Medtronic has its operational headquarters here.

Minnesota is home to more than 10,000 lakes. They're also home to a diverse economic ecosystem where there's room for everyone to thrive. Their six major economic regions cover everything from tried and true industries like agriculture and manufacturing as well as up-and-coming industries like FinTech and the Internet of Things.

Minnesota's manufacturing sector is the backbone of the state's economy. Their history of innovation, along with their highly skilled workforce, makes the state a hotbed of manufacturing. Minnesota's diverse, technology-driven advanced manufacturing sector is strong in high-tech manufacturing, including computers and electronics, medical devices, vehicles and more.

Minnesota is committed to developing, building and promoting health and life science technologies across a broad swath of industries – including medical devices, health care, pharma & biotech, health IT, animal science, biomaterials/biofuels and more. They have a robust health

and life sciences ecosystem. Businesses looking to start, expand or relocate in Minnesota will find a supportive community of like-minded partners in the public, private and nonprofit sectors who are passionate about their work and its potential to save and improve lives across the globe.

Minnesota is also committed to developing, building and promoting sustainable solutions across a swath of industries – including water, solar, wind and other clean energy technologies. Their state has long been a leader in biofuels, and carbon emissions from Minnesota's power sector have declined 40 percent in the last ten years as their state transitions to a cleaner energy future. Additionally, the state has a robust smart mobility infrastructure and industry leaders pioneering new technologies in sustainable transportation methods.

Minnesota's leading food products sector sprouted in the state because the industry is rooted in their agricultural history. From farm to table, Minnesota is a food production and agriculture powerhouse. Agricultural production and processing industries generate over $106 billion annually in total economic impact and support 388,134 jobs.

Minnesota is uniquely suited to be a leader in Innovation and Technology. The state has a long tradition of innovation and creativity – and has been home to companies that have changed the way the world lives. Their innovation and technology industries include:

• Manufacturing, such as computer and electronics, telecommunications, and medical devices

• Services, such as telecommunications, professional, technical and support services

• Information products and services, such as software, e-commerce, digital media

Photo by Matt Barton on Unsplash

• Innovative newer products and services such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and technology for medical, biotechnology, agriculture, finance and insurance.

Key to Minnesota's success is their tech-savvy workforce, a thriving ecosystem of higher education institutions, R&D, and public-private partnerships that drive their innovation.

Minnesota's robust economy is supported by strong and diversified finance and insurance industries. From credit unions, banking services, and health insurance, Minnesota companies offer the whole spectrum of financial and insurance services. Financial and insurance industries employed 153,739 people in Minnesota in 2022 and include commercial banking, credit unions, real estate credit, investment advice and insurance, among other activities. These industries are nearly 20 percent more concentrated in the state than in the U.S., according to the state's location quotient (1.18). There are 10,590 finances and insurance locations here.

Whether you're looking to expand an existing business, relocate from another state or country, or need regulatory and permitting guidance for a complex startup, expansion or relocation, their business consultants have the right background, information, and connections to other state and local agencies to help turn your plans to reality. For more information, please call 651-259-7432, joinusmn@state.mn.us or visit www.mn.gov .

MINNESOTA: Lakeville — Thriving in the Twin Cities Metro

Lakeville, Minnesota is a place where businesses and families thrive! With a population of 76,000 (an increase of 36% since 2010), Lakeville is one of the fastest growing cities in the Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area. The City is ranked 7th largest in the Twin Cities metro, 9th largest in Minnesota, and 30th fastest growing in the country. Lakeville is conveniently located along I-35, just 22 miles from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and 26 miles south of Minneapolis. Nearby attractions include the Mall of America, Minnesota Zoo and Valleyfair.

Lakeville has an active and growing business community with more than 1,600 businesses that employ over 21,000 people. Our industrial park is one of Minnesota’s largest and is home to nearly 200 manufacturing and related industrial businesses, which employ over 5,000 people. Of the City’s 38 square miles, over 660 acres is developed industrial park property, with 780 acres of land ready for greenfield development.

Lakeville’s vision for the future is to continue increasing economic sustainability through diversified economic development. In the last five years, the city saw growth across all sectors with the addition of retail, healthcare, daycares, restaurants, and manufacturing expansions. In 2023-2024, the industrial park saw $60 million in growth, including the completion of a 360,000-square-foot office/warehouse and the construction start of a 280,000-square-foot cold storage facility. Lakeville’s commercial areas saw an infusion of $54 million worth of building permit activity during the same timeframe, including two multistory medical offices.

The Lakeville labor shed (30-minute drive-time area) includes portions of eight counties, reaching north to Minneapolis and St. Paul and south to Faribault. Total population in the labor shed area has increased over the last five years and has reached nearly one million people. Lakeville has an employment rate of 74%, with 63% of Lakeville residents falling between the

prime working ages of 18-64 years old and 53% of our population obtaining a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Lakeville led the metro area for residential building permits from 2013-2022 and remained in the top 5 in 2023-2024. Last year, the city issued 309 single-family home permits and are on track to issue similar permit numbers by the end of 2024. In addition, the city saw the construction of 252 market-rate townhome units and 152 attached and detached townhome units.

Lakeville combines a peaceful and safe small-town atmosphere with big city opportunities. The City’s residents are proud of its historic downtown, excellent schools, community arts center, extensive parks system, and wide array of recreational activities, including the Dakota County Curling Club located in Downtown Lakeville! The City has nearly 1,900 acres of public park and open space, including 140 miles of pedestrian and bike trails and a 5-acre dog park. The city also has five recreational lakes for fishing, boating, swimming, and motorized water sports. The community offers three award-winning school districts within its boundaries and 97% of the population has a high school diploma. The Lakeville Area Arts Center, a city-owned and operated facility, provides a wide variety of options for live music, entertainment, theater, art, pottery classes and more.

Lakeville, Minnesota is certainly Positioned to Thrive - making it a great location for any project! For more information call 952-985-4420 or visit www.LakevilleBusiness.com X

7th largest city in the Twin Cities metro

Hundreds of greenfield acres available for industrial growth

Ranked #1 in residential permits from 2013-2022

Conveniently located on I-35 for easy transit access

Less than 30 minutes from MSP International Airport Award-winning schools and a highly educated workforce We invite you

thrive

us!

NEWS INDUSTRY

Irving Tissue to Expand, Invest $600 Million in Macon, Georgia Facility

ATLANTA, GA — Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Irving Tissue will add at least 100 new jobs as part of a nearly $600 million expansion at its Macon facility. Company President Robert K. Irving, Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller and other state and local leadership celebrated the announcement at Irving Tissue’s fifth anniversary celebration in Macon.

Irving Tissue’s current facility is located at 1897 Allen Road in the Sofkee Industrial Park and employs more than 400 people. It produces ultra-premium quality household paper products, including soft bath tissue and high-quality paper towel that is both strong and absorbent.

The expansion includes a third ThruAir Dry paper making machine, additional converting lines, and a new, fully automated warehouse. Today’s announcement will increase Irving Tissue’s annual ThruAir Dry capacity by 75,000 tonnes, the equivalent of 15 million cases, and the total annual capacity at the Macon facility to 225,000 tonnes, the equivalent of 45 million cases.

The state’s manufacturing sector generates over $70 billion each year, driven by nearly 430,000 workers.

This expansion comes on the heels of several recent manufacturing expansions in Georgia. In September, Shinsung Petrochemical, an automotive supplier, invested an additional $11.2M in a new manufacturing facility in

Meta Selects Louisiana for $10 Billion Artificial Intelligence Optimized Data Center

RICHLAND PARISH, LA — Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta announced it will build a $10 billion artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana, a transformational investment that cements the state’s status as a major innovation hub and puts this picturesque rural community on the leading edge of a global digital revolution.

Meta projects the data center will support 500 or more direct new jobs in Richland Parish. LED estimates the project will result in the creation of more than 1,000 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 1,500 potential new jobs in the Northeast Region. The company estimates 5,000 construction workers at peak of construction on the 2,250-acre former Franklin Farm megasite that sits between the municipalities of Rayville and Delhi, about 30 miles east of Monroe.

Hyperscaler data centers such as the one planned for Richland Parish are housed in huge physical structures designed to process the vast amounts of data required to support digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads. The facility is the largest of more than 20 Meta data centers around the world.

“Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. And this data center will be an important part of that mission,” said Kevin Janda, Meta Director of Data Center Strategy. “Richland Parish in Louisiana is an outstanding location for Meta to call home for a number of reasons. It provides great access to infrastructure, a reliable grid, a business-friendly climate, and wonderful community partners that have helped us move this project forward. We’re thrilled to be a new member of the Richland Parish community and are committed to investing in its long-term vitality.”

LED expects the project, one of the largest private capital investments in the state’s history, to spark new economic activity and investments throughout northeast Louisiana as multiple industries benefit from the billions of dollars invested. Meta makes a concerted effort to source labor and materials locally, and partners with local schools and organizations to advance STEAM education and digital skills that can be used to compete in the digital workforce.

“This project is an example of what Louisiana can accomplish when economic

Bryan County, creating an additional 30 manufacturing new jobs in the state.

This summer, GF Casting Solutions AG, which produces lightweight components for the mobility and energy industries, announced a more than $184 million investment in a new manufacturing facility in Augusta. The project will create 350 new jobs for Richmond County. StandardAero, a leading provider of business aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, began work on a $33 million expansion of their operations in Augusta. The expansion will create 90 new jobs in Richmond County. [AC1]

Irving Tissue will be hiring for management, supervisory, and machinist positions. Interested individuals can learn more about open roles at careers. jdirving.com

development partners play offense rather than waiting for good projects to come to them,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “Louisiana has been actively positioning itself as a hub for AI innovation, with plans to support startups, grow a skilled workforce, and shape forward-thinking policy. Meta’s historic investment is just the beginning of a bold strategy to drive economic growth through AI, expand and diversify the state’s tech sector, and prove to the world that when Louisiana says that we are ready to compete on the global stage, we mean business.”

To power the data center, which at its largest point extends more than one mile from front to back, Entergy will add clean, efficient power plants to its system to meet growing power demands, including from the data center. Meta has pledged to match its electricity use with 100% clean and renewable energy and will be working with Entergy to bring at least 1,500 MW of new renewable energy to the grid through its Geaux Zero program. In addition, Meta has committed to contribute up to $1 million a year to Entergy’s “The Power to Care” low-income ratepayer support program, a figure that will be matched by Entergy Louisiana.

In addition to Meta’s commitment to match its electricity usage with clean and renewable energy, the company prioritizes water stewardship in its operations, including minimizing water use at its data centers. Meta has pledged to restore more water than it consumes at this data center by investing in water restoration projects in Louisiana.

To support both the construction and eventual operation of the data center, Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) has committed $250,000 in Workforce Rapid Response funding to Delta Community College to develop programs and expand capacity. Delta will scale up its construction trades programs to meet the initial construction needs, and partner with peer institutions experienced in developing and delivering curricula for data center operations.

Meta expects construction to continue through 2030 with site work beginning in December. The company has also committed to invest more than $200 million in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water systems. The company is expected to take advantage of a new Louisiana incentive program, established by Act 730, that offers qualifying projects a state and local sales and use tax rebate on the purchase or lease of data center equipment. Meta is also expected to participate in the state’s Quality Jobs program.

ROCHE CANADA EXPANDS GLOBAL INFORMATICS HUB IN ONTARIO, CANADA

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO Invest Ontario is proud to partner with Hoffmann-La Roche Limited (Roche Canada) to support the establishment of a Global Informatics Hub in Mississauga, Ontario. Roche is a world-leader in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals with a passion for addressing real challenges faced by patients around the world. This investment of more than $130 million CAD over five years will create up to 250 new jobs in innovative areas like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, computational biology and data analytics.

Canada is an important part of the global Roche Group network. With this expansion, they will now be considered one of the top five Informatics technology hubs supporting the Roche global business.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a multinational organization with a 93-year history in Canada. They currently employ nearly two thousand people at their offices across the country, and their ongoing investments support the entire healthcare value chain in Ontario from research through to commercialization.

Over the last six years, Ontario has attracted over $5 billion in new investments in the life sciences sector, including significant contributions from leading biomanufacturing and life sciences giants. The life sciences sector is a key contributor to Ontario’s economy, employing more than 72,000 people in high-value jobs across 2,000 firms

AVAIO Digital announces a $3B sustainable data center campus in Appomattox County, VA

Appomattox County, VA - AVAIO Digital Partners (AVAIO Digital) has signed an agreement with the Appomattox County Economic Development Authority (EDA) for the purchase of a 452-acre business and industrial site in Appomattox County VA. AVAIO Digital plans to develop the site into a $3 billion data center campus with substantial onsite green power. AVAIO Digital has confirmed 300 MW of power from CVEC and Dominion and the site is fully zoned for data centers, strategically located atop major long-haul fiber lines with direct links to major hubs, and is cleared and ready for rapid construction.

Mark McComiskey, managing partner of AVAIO Digital stated, “We are delighted to be working with Appomattox County, Virginia to make a major investment in the region’s digital and electrical infrastructure that will address the growing demand for digital services in a highly sustainable manner.”

“This project in Appomattox County exemplifies our strategy of expanding Virginia’s thriving data center industry beyond traditional hubs, bringing high-tech

Lilly announces $3 billion expansion of its recently acquired manufacturing facility in Wisconsin

KENOSHA COUNTY, WI —Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced a $3 billion expansion of the Kenosha County, Wisconsin, manufacturing facility that the company acquired earlier this year. This investment will extend the company’s global parenteral (injectable) product manufacturing network, helping to meet the growing demand for its diabetes, obesity and future pipeline medicines across therapeutic areas. Lilly expects to add 750 highly skilled jobs to the current 100-plus workforce at this location.

The company plans to start construction on the expansion next year. This represents another step in Lilly’s historic manufacturing expansion agenda to help more people who depend on its medicines. Since 2020, Lilly has committed more than $23 billion to construct, expand and acquire manufacturing sites worldwide.

The acquisition, expansion, and additional purchases of land and the adjacent warehouse bring Lilly’s total planned investment in Wisconsin to $4 billion. The expanded facility will focus on manufacturing injectable medicines, device assembly and packaging for medicines across multiple therapeutic areas.

Lilly will use advanced automation, including guided vehicles, robotics and production equipment, to accelerate medicine production. From data

which is 44% of Canada’s total.

“As one of the largest life sciences jurisdictions in North America, Ontario is a prime location for domestic and international biomanufacturers looking to invest and bring their innovative ideas from lab to market,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “The new jobs in Roche’s Global Informatics Hub are a welcome addition to our province’s growing life sciences ecosystem and represent a vote of confidence in our highly-skilled workforce and research environment. We look forward to seeing this partnership grow and bring economic growth and good-paying jobs to Mississauga.”

The province recently launched Phase 2 of the sector strategy, Taking Life Sciences to the Next Level. This comprehensive strategy sets ambitious goals to advance R&D, strengthen biomanufacturing capacity, accelerate commercialization and cements Ontario as a leader in the next generation of life sciences technology.

jobs and significant investment to communities across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “By leveraging Virginia’s world-class digital infrastructure and business-friendly environment, we’re creating opportunities for economic growth and diversification in every region of our state.”

The Appomattox County Economic Development Authority (EDA) has played a crucial role in enabling this project. Garet Bosiger, Chairman of the EDA, commented, “We’re thrilled to support AVAIO Digital in this transformative project. It represents a major opportunity for economic growth and technological advancement in our community.”

The Appomattox Data Hub is part of AVAIO Digital’s expanding portfolio of hyperscale projects across the United States and Western Europe. AVAIO Digital has secured more than 1.2 GWs of power from utilities at sites across the country and is moving to build out this full capacity with almost 600 MWs available by 2027. The company’s focus on green power generation, sustainable practices and innovative design positions it as a leader in the next generation of data center infrastructure.

management to operations, digital automation will be embedded throughout the site to accelerate processes and increase accuracy, allowing employees to focus on making safe, high-quality medicines.

New highly skilled jobs at the site will include operators, technicians, engineers and scientists – in addition to more than 2,000 construction jobs during the expansion project’s construction.

“Southeastern Wisconsin has seen tremendous growth over the past year with major companies announcing significant investments in our state, and we are thrilled to add Lilly to that growing list with their $3 billion expansion that will add 750 highly skilled, family-supporting jobs to Kenosha County,” said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. “As a U.S. Regional Tech Hub, Wisconsin is a national leader in personalized medicine and biohealth, and through this partnership with Lilly, we’re going to keep advancing research and innovation and bolstering Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry, all while supporting workers, families, and patients across our state and around the world.”

Lilly aims to advance innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing by fostering partnerships with local higher education institutions and supporting various community initiatives in Wisconsin.

ALABAMA

ARIZONA

Cullman Economic Development Agency

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

Northwest Alabama EDA

Tom Wisemiller 4020 U.S. Highway 43 Guin, AL 35563 205-468-3213 twisemiller@northwestalabameda.org www.northwestalabamaeda.org

Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority

Justice Smyth

Executive Director P.O. Box 2667

Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 205-349-1414 info@tcoeda.com www.tcoeda.com

Arizona Regional Economic Develoment

Mignonne Hollis, Executive Director

750 E. Bartow Drive Suite 16 Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 520-458-6948

hollism@aredf.org www.aredf.org

City of Flagstaff Economic Development

John Saltonstall, AZED Pro Business Retention & Expansion Manager

Economic Vitality Division

City of Flagstaff

211 W. Aspen Avenue Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Office 928-213-2966

Cell 928-606-9430

jsaltonstall@flagstaffaz.gov www.flagstaffaz.gov

Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth

Patti King, Executive Mgr. 17235 N. 75th Avenue Suite D-145 Glendale, AZ 85308

520-836-8686 pking@pinalalliance.org www.pinalalliance.org

ARKANSAS

Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development

James Lee Sillman

Executive Director 625 Adams Aveune Camden, AR 71701

870-836-2210

870-836-8899 (f) caidcark@yahoo.com www.teamcamden.com

Clarksville Economic Development

Steve Houserman 205 Walnut Street, Clarksville, AR 72830

479-754-6486

shouserman@clarksvillear.gov www.clarksvillear.gov

East Arkansas Crossroads Coalition

Alicia Woolman

1790 N. Falls Boulevard, Suite 2 Wynne, AR 72396

870-238-5300 crossroads@crossroadscoalition.org www.crossroadscoalition.org

Salt River Project (SRP)

Karla Moran P.O. Box 52025 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2025

602-236-2396

Karla.moran@srpnet.com www.powertogrowphx.com

City of Surprise

Mike Hoover

16000 N Civic Center Plaza Surprise, AZ 85374

623-222-3328

Mike.hoover@surpriseaz.gov www.surpriseaz.gov

Mississippi County Economic Development

Clif Chitwood 4701 Memorial Drive

Blytheville, AR 72315

870-532-6084

clif@cottontosteel.com www.cottontosteel.com

City of Siloam Springs

Kristifier Paxton

Community Development Director P.O. Box 80 Siloam Springs , AR 72761

479-238-0930

kpaxton@siloamsprings.com whysiloam.com

CALIFORNIA

City of Eastvale

Gina Gibson-Williams

Economic Development Manager 12363 Limonite Ave. Suite 910 Eastvale, CA 91752

951-703-4425

ggibson.willams@eastvaleca.gov www.eastvaleca.gov

City of Moreno Valley Economic Development

Mike Lee

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

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

City of Canon City

Rick Harrmann

128 Main Street Canon City, CO 81212

719-276-5279

rlharrmann@canoncity.org www.canoncity.org

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

City of Titusville

Nicholas Gow 555 South Washington Avenue

Titusville, FL 32796-3584

321-567-3774

economicdevelopment@titusville.com www.YEStitusvilleFL.com

Grand Junction Economic Partnership

Curtis Englehart, Executive Director 122 N. 6th Street Grand Junction, CO 81501 970--245-4332 curtis@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

Sean J. Park 800 N. French St., 3rd Floor Wilmington, DE 19801

302-576-2128

sjpark@wilmingtonde.gov www.wilmingtonde.gov

FLORIDA

Enterprise Florida, Inc. 800 North Magnolia Avenue, Suite 1100 Orlando, FL 32803

407-956-5600 www.enterpriseflorida.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, MEDP

President/CEO

Post Office Box 3845

Haines City, FL 33845-3845

863-422-2525

cyndi@hainescityedc.com www.hainescityedc.com

Hernando County Office of Economic Development

Valerie M. Pianta, MEDP, Economic Development Director 15800 Flight Path Drive

Brooksville, FL 34604

352--540-6400

vpianta@hernandocounty.us www.hernandobusiness.com

Holmes County Development Commission

Joe Rone

Executive Director 106 E Byrd Avenue Bonifay, FL 32425

850-547-6154

jrone@holmesedc.com www.holmesedc.com

Indian River Chamber of Commerce

Helene Caseltine

Economic Development Director 1216 21st Street Vero Beach, FL 32960

772-567-3491

helenec@indianrivered.com www.indianrivered.com

Lake County, Economic Development

Kathleen Dial, Director 315 W. Main Street Tavares, FL 32778

352-742-3925

Kathleen.dial@lakecountyfl.gov www.lakecountyfl.gov

Pinellas County Economic Development

Dr. Cynthia Johnson, EDFP, Director 13805 58th Street North, Suite 1-200 Clearwater, FL 33760 727-464-7332

cyjohnson@pinellas.gov www.pced.org

Orlando Economic Partnership

Destin Wells

Senior Vice President, Economic Development

200 S. Orange Avenue, Ste. 200 Orlando, FL 32801

407-902-2420

Destin.Wells@orlando.org InvestOrlando.org

Osceola County

David Rodriguez, Economic Development Manager 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 4400 Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-742-0620

407-742-4202 (f) david.rodriguez@osceola.org www.chooseosceola.com www.osceola.org

Pasco Economic Development Council

Bill Cronin, President & CEO 16506 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 101 Lutz, FL 33558

813-926-0827

813-926-0829 (f) bcronin@pascoedc.com pascoedc.com

Santa Rosa County EDO

Shannon Ogletree, , Executive Director 6491 Caroline Street, Suite 4 Milton, FL 32570-4592 850-623-0174

Shannon@sant arosa.fl.gov www.santarosaedo.com

City of St. Cloud

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

Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality

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

GEORGIA

City of College Park

3667 Main Street College Park, GA 30337 404-305-2052 404-305-2057 (f) www.collegeparkga.com/

City of East Point

Maceo Rogers CEcD

2757 East Point Street

East Point, GA 30344

404-270-7057

jmrogers@eastpointcity.org www.eastpointcity.org

Forward Forsyth

Alex Warner

P.O. Box 1799

Cumming GA 30028

770-887-6461

770-842-1170

awarner@forwardforsyth.org www.forwardforsyth.org

Liberty County Development Authority

Ronald Tolley, CEO

425 W. Oglethorpe Highway Hinesville, GA 31313

912-977-4147

Ron.tolley@comegrow.global www.comegrow.global

Putnam Development Authority

Matt Poyner

Econmical Devleopment Director 117 Putnam Drive, Eaton, GA 31024

706-816-8099

mpoyner@putnamforward.dev www.putnamforward.dev .......................................................................

Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority

Andrea Schruijer, Executive Director P.O. Box 5185 Valdosta, GA 31603-1963 229-259-9972

aschruijer@buildlowndes.com www.buildlowndes.com

ILLINOIS

Champaign County Economic Development Corporation

Carly McCrory-McKay

Executive Director

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

217-359-6261

carly@champaigncountyedc.org www.champaigncountyedc.org

City of Highland Economic Development

Mallord Hubbard

1115 Broadway, P.O. Box 218 Highland, IL 62249-0218

618-654-9891

618-654-4768 (f) mhubbard@highlandil.gov www.highlandil.gov

City of Litchfield Ecnomic Development

Austin Edmondson

120 E. Ryder Street Litchfield, IL 62056

217-324-8151

cityadm@cityoflitchfieldil.com www.litchfieldil-development.com

Village of Arlington Heights Business & Economic Development

Michael Mertes, Business Development Manager 33 S. Arlington Heights Arlington Heights, IL 60005

847-368-5220

mmertes@vah.com www.vah.com/business

INDIANA

Adams County EDC

Colton Bickel

313 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 237 Decatur, IN 46733

260-724-2588

cbickel@adamscountyedc.com www.adamscountyedc.com

Carroll County EDC

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

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

christy.george@intersectillinois.org www.intersectillinois.org

Go Topeka

Molly Howey, CEcD President 719 S Kansas Ave. Suite 100

Topeka, KS 66603 785.231.4707

Molly.Howey@topekapartnership.com www.gotopeka.com

Russell County Eco Devo & CVB

Mike Parsons, Director 331 E. Witchita, Russell, KS 67665

785-483-4000 rced2@russellks.net www.russellcountyks.org

Jake Adams, Exec Director P.O. Box 83 Delphi, IN 46923

765-564-2060

jadams@carrollcountyedc.com www.carrollcountyedc.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

Salina Economic Development Organization

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

Shawnee Economic Development

Ann Smith-Tate, President CEO 15100 W. 67th Street Suite 202 Shawnee, KS 66217-9344 913-631-6545

asmithtate@shawneekschamber.com www.shawnee-edc.com

Wyandotte Economic Development Council

Greg Kindle

President

727 Minnesota Avenue Kansas City, KS 66101 913-371-3198

gkindle@wyedc.org www.wyedc.org

KENTUCKY

City of Pikeville

Jill Fraley Dotson, Executive Economic Development Director 773 Hambley Boulevard Pikeville, KY 41501

606-437-5128

info@whypikeville.com www.whypikeville.com

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

Bangor Community & Economic Development

Anne Krieg

262 Harlow Street Bangor, ME 04401

207-992-4280

anne.krieg@bangormaine.gov www.bangormaine.gov

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

Sandra Edwards Director

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

Dorchester County Economic Development

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

sbanks@choosedorchester.org www.choosedorchester.org

Kent County Department of Economic & Tourism Development

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

Montgomery County Economic Development

Laurie Babb 1801 Rockville Pike, Ste. 320 Rockville, MD 20852 240-641-6704

laurie@thinkmoco.com www.thinkmoco.com

Talbot County Economic Development

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

MICHIGAN

Michigan Economic Development Corporation 300 N. Washington Sq. Lansing, Michigan 48913 888-522-0103 www.michiganbusiness.org

Economic Development Alliance (EDA) of St. Clair County

Dan Casey, CEO 100 McMorran Boulevard 4th Floor, Suite B Port Huron, Michigan 48060 810-982.9511 www.edascc.com stclairhotjobs.com

The Right Place, Inc

Andria Romkema

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

MINNESOTA

City of Lakeville Community & Economic Development

Tina Goodroad, Director 20195 Holyoke Avenue Lakeville, MN 55044 952-985-4421 tgoodroad@lakevillemn.gov www.lakevillemn.gov

MISSISSIPPI

Greenwood Leflore Carroll EDF

Thomas Gregory P.O. Box 26 Greenwood, MS 38930 662-453-5321 Thomas@greenwoodedf.com www.greenwoodedf.com

Hinds County EDA P.O. Box 248 Jackson, MS 39205-0248 601-353-6056 www.selecthinds.com

MISSOURI

Sikeston Regional Chamber & Economic Development Corp.

Marcie Lawson

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

marcie.lawson@sikeston.net www.sikeston.net

NEBRASKA

Phelps County Development Corp.

Phelps County Development Corp.

Ron Tillery Executive Director

502 East Avenue, Suite 201 Holdrege, NE 68949

308-995-4148 pcdc@phelpscountyne.com www.phelpscountyne.com

NEW JERSEY

Choose New Jersey

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

Gloucester County Department of Economic Development

Tom Bianco, Director 1480 Tanyard Rd., Sewell, NJ 08080 856-384-6930

tbianco@co.gloucester.nj.us www.gloucestercountynj.gov

New Jersey EDA

Pat J. Rose

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

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance

Danielle Casey, CEcD President 201 Third Street NW, #1900 Albuquerque, NM 87102 505-705-3785

dcasey@abq.org www.abq.org

EDC of Lea County

Jennifer Grassham, CEO

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

Roswell-Chaves County EDC

Michael Espiritu 220 North Main Roswell, NM 88201 575-622-1975 mespiritu@chavescounty.net www.chavescounty.net

NEW YORK

Allegany County Industrial Development Agency

Craig Clark, Executive Director CrossRoads Center 6087 State Route 19N, Suite 100 Belmont, NY 14813

585-268-7472 800-893-9484 clarkcr@alfredstate.edu www.acida.org

Mohawk Valley Edge

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

Saratoga EDC

Tori J.E. Riley, VP 517 Broadway #203 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-587-0945 toririley@saratogaedc.com www.saratogaedc.com

NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC

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

Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation

Keith Lund, Pres/CEO 120 N 4th St., Grand Forks, ND 58203 701-746-2722

keithl@grandforks.org www.grandforks.org

OKLAHOMA

Ardmore Development Authority

Andrea Anderson 410 West Main Ardmore, OK 73402 580-223-6162 aanderson@ardmore.org www.ardmoredevelopment.com

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

Broken Arrow Economic Development Corp.

Amber Miller 210 North Main, Suite C Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-893-2103 amber.miller@bachamber.com www.brokenarrowedc.com

Piedmont Triad Airport Authority

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

Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition

Lawrence McKinney, CEcD, CCE, IOM President and CEO 425 West Main Street Norman, Oklahoma 73069

P: 405-573-1900 C: 405-881-0456

Lawrence@SelectClevelandCounty.com www.SelectClevelandCounty.com

PENNSYLVANIA

Erie County Redevelopment Authority

Tina M. Mengine 1314 Griswold Plaza Erie, PA 16501 814-480-0337 x 101 Tmengine@ecrda.net www.ecrda.net

Horsham Township Economic Development

Larry Burns 1025 Horsham Road Horsham, PA 19044 215-643-3131 x 234 lburns@horsham.org www.horsham.org

Penn’s Northeastt

John L. Augustine III 1151 Oak Street Pittston, PA 18640 570-883-0504 jaugustine@pennsnortheast.com www.pennsnortheast.com

RHODE ISLAND

Quonset Development Corporation

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

SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston Regional Development Alliance

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

Lexington County Economic Development

Sarah J. Johnson

Department Director 212 South Lake Drive Lexington, SC 29072 803-785-6818

sjjohnson@lex-co.com www.LexingtonCountyUSA.com

South Carolina I-77 Alliance

Christopher Finn

3200 Commerce Drive, Suite D Richburg, SC 29729

803-789-3467

chris.finn@i77alliance.com www.i77alliance.com

SouthernCarolina Regional Alliance

Kay Maxwell 1750 Jackson Street, Suite 100 Barnwell, SC 29812

803-541-0023

kmaxwell@southerncarolina.org www.southerncarolina.org

TENNESSEE

Blount Partnership

Bryan Daniels CEcD, CCE, IOM President and CEO

201 S. Washington Street St. Maryville, TN 37804

865-983-2247

865-984-1386

bdaniels@blountpartnership.com www.blountchamber.com

Bristol Tennessee Essential Services

April Eads

Business Development Manager 2470 Volunteer Parkway Bristol, TN 37620

423-793-5532

423-793-5545 (f) aeads@btes.net www.btes.net/index.php/economic-development City of Lebanon

Sarah Haston

Economic Development Director

200 North Castle Heights Ave. Lebanon, TN 37087

615-443-2839 EXT. 2120

Sarah.Haston@lebanontn.org www.lebanontn.org

NETWORKS – Sullivan Partnership

Clay Walker PO Box 747, Blountville, TN 37617

423-279-7681

cwalker@networkstn.com www.networkstn.com

TEXAS

City of Fort Worth

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

Robert.Sturns@fortworthtexas.gov

City of Leander

Big Spring Economic Development Corporation

Mark Willis 215 W. 3rd Street

Big Spring, TX 79720

432-264-6032

markwillis@bigspringtx.com www.bigspringtx.com

Bowie Economic Development Corporation

Janis Crawley

101 E. Pecan, Bowie, TX 76230

940-872-4193

940-531-8201(c)

BEDC@BowieTexasEDC.com www.BowieTexasEDC.com

Cameron Industrial Foundation

Ginger Watkins, Executive Director

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

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

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

Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation

Brenda Tarpley, Executive Director

302 S. Main Street

Jacksboro, TX 76458 940-567-3151

btarpley@jacksboroedc.com www.jacksboroedc.com

Laredo Economic Development

Gene Lindgren, President & CEO

302 S. Main Street

Laredo, TX 78044 956-722-0563 glindgren@laredoedc.org www.laredoedc.org

LCRA

Conroe Economic Development Council

Danielle Scheiner, Executive Director

300 W Davis St, Ste 510 Conroe, TX 77301 USA 936-522-3529 scheiner@conroeedc.org www.conroeedc.org

DeSoto Economic Development

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

Gainesville Economic Development Corp.

William Myers, Executive Director 311 S. Weaver Street Gainesville, TX 76240 940-665-5241 info@gainesvilletxedc.com www.gainesvilletxedc.com

Hamilton Economic Development Corp.

Kayla Schraub 108 North Bell Street Hamilton, TX 76531 254-386-5954 edc@hamiltontexas.com www.hamiltontexas.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

Marble Falls EDC

Christian Fletcher 801 Fourth Street

Marble Falls, TX 78654 830-798-7079

cfletcher@marblefallseconomy.com www.marblefallseconomy.com

McKinney Economic Development Corporation

Michael Kowski, President/CEO 7300 SH 121 SB, Ste 200 McKinney, TX 75070 972-547-7687 mkowski@mckinneyedc.com www.uniquemckinney.com

Mineola Economic Development Corp

Mercy Rushing, Executive Director

300 Greenville Highway Mineola, TX 75773

903-569-6183

903-245-8505

mrushing@mineola.com www.mineola.com

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

TexAmericas Center

Eric Voyles, Executive Vice President Chief Economic Development Officer

107 Chapel Lane

New Boston, TX USA 75570

903-223-9841 (0) 903-306-8923 Cell 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

Odessa Economic Development Corporation

Tom Manskey

700 N. Grant Ave. Odessa, TX 79761 432-333-7880

tom@odessaecodev.com www.odessatx.com

Palestine Economic Development Corp.

Christophe Trahan, Director 100 Willow Creek Parkway, Suite A Palestine, TX 75801 903-731-8412

edcdirector@palestine-tx.org www.palestinetexas.net

Pflugerville Community Development

Terri Toledo, Interim Executive Director 3801 Helios Way Suite 130 Pflugerville, TX 78660 512-990-3725 territ@pfdevelopment.com www.pfdevelopment.com

Plainview Economic Development Corporation

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

Eagle Mountain Economic Development

Evan Berrett, Economic Development Director

1650 E. Stagecoach Run

Eagle Mountain, UT 84005

801-789-6645

eberrett@emcity.org www.eaglemountaincity.com

VIRGINA

Arlington 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

Bedford County Office of Economic Development

Pam Bailey, Director of Economic Development Bedford County 122 East Main Street, Suite 202 Bedford, Virginia 24523 540-587-5670

pbailey@bedfordcountyva.gov www.bedfordeconomicdevelopment.com

County of Gloucester

Sherry A. Spring

Director of Economic Development 6489 Main Street Gloucester, VA 23061

804-693-1414

sspring@gloucesterva.info www.gloucesterva.info

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

WEST VIRGINIA

Mingo County Redevelopment Authority

Leasha Johnson, Executive Director 1657 East Fourth Avenue Williamson, WV 25661 304-235-0042

304-235--0043 (f) ljohnson@developmingo.com www.developmingo.com

WISCONSIN

City of Franklin Economic Development

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

Madison Region Economic Partnership

Kathy Collins, VP Economic Development 8517 Excelsior Drive, Suite 107 Madison, WI 53717 608-571-0407

kcollins@madisonregion.org www.madisonregion.org

New North, Inc

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

Portage County Business Council, Inc. PCB

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

WYOMING

Advance Casper, Wyoming

Justin Farley, CEO 139 W. 2nd St., #1D Casper, WY 82601 307-577-7011 justin@advancecasper.com www.advancecasper.com

Cheyenne LEADS

Betsey Hale, Chief Executive Officer One Depot Square 121 W. 15th St. Suite 304 Cheyenne, WY 82001

307-638-6000

betseyh@cheyenneleads.org cheyenneleads.org

The Laramie Chamber Business Alliance

Josh Boudreau, VP Economic Development 528 South Adams Street Laramie, WY 82070 307-745-7339

jboudreau@laramie.org www.laramie.org

CANADA

ALBERTA

Calgary Economic Development

500 Centre Street S, 32nd Floor

Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2G 1A6

403-221-7831

info@calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com

Town of Vegreville

Jamieson Brown

4829-50 Street

P.O. Box 640

Vegreville, Alberta T9C 1R7 587-790-0919 jbrown@vegreville.com www.choosevegreville.com

MANITOBA

City of Brandon

Gerald Cathcart

NEW BRUNSWICK

Ignite Fredericton

Paula Lehr

40 Crowther Lane, Ste. 100 Fredericton, NB E3C 0J1

506-282-0624

paula.lehr@ignitefredericton.com www.ignitefredericton.com

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

Elgin County

Director Main Floor, 410 9th Street Brandon, Manitoba, Canada R7A 6A2 204-729-2131

g.cathcart@brandon.ca www.economicdevelomentbrandon.com

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

City of Guelph

Christine Chapman 1 Carden Street

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

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

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

Invest Mississauga, Economic Development

Christina Kakaflikas, Ec. D. Economic Development Division

Mississauga City Hall

300 City Centre Drive, 3rd Floor Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1 Canada 905-615-3200 x 5014

christina.kakaflikas@mississauga.ca www.investmississauga.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