Economic Development
Covering topics such as development incentives, business preservation, job creation and training and unemployment.
More industries are showing interest in this age-old pathway to well-paying, high-demand jobs. States have a role to play in accelerating its expansion.
In much of the country, downtowns remain relatively empty. The implications for property values, mortgage debt and property tax collections have not yet fully played out, says a Columbia University economist.
Other states look to Texas as the state psychology board pushes against the new national licensing requirements.
The Bayfair Center mall in San Leandro, Calif., was once a major shopping hub. But after the mall officially closed last month, developers will reimagine the 400,000-square-foot space into a research and development space for tech companies.
The state has grown by about 2.4 million people since 2003 and yet the DMV says it’s only been authorized to open three new driver’s license offices. The Legislature sets the number of staff for the DMV, which is capped at 568.
The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Tourism Business Enhancement Program lasts 15 to 16 weeks and includes workshops on marketing, legal and financial help.
The last time the federal minimum wage was increased, to its current rate of $7.25 an hour, was 2007. Since then, cumulative inflation has increased 46.6 percent. Nevada’s state minimum wage reached $12 hourly on July 1.
The U.S. is currently building dense housing at the highest rate since the mid-1980s. Former President Barack Obama noted in his convention speech that “we need to build more units and clear away some of the outdated laws and regulations.”
The Los Angeles Superior Court system has more than 125 court reporter vacancies, which raises due process concerns for people in child custody disputes, divorces, conservatorships and other proceedings.
The record-breaking 2023-24 investment in small diverse businesses and veteran businesses increased by $129 million from the year prior.
No Republican in Congress voted for an environmental law called the Inflation Reduction Act. Now that its tax credits are spurring manufacturing in their districts, they warn against rolling it back.
It's the power to convene players across a region, as Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has demonstrated. He's put together an effective coalition to tackle economic and workforce development.
It can help in a range of ways, from identifying competitive advantages to training the workforce that will be needed for success. But it can’t replace human judgment.
Kansas and Missouri are spending millions of dollars in a bidding war to win over major sports teams. The fallout could be detrimental for the losing metro area.
The average West Loop lease for a Class A building before COVID-19 was 30,000 square feet. For 2023 and 2024, the average is just 18,000. Companies are also looking for newer buildings with top-end amenities.
Something positive does seem to be happening in many of the places that have been losing jobs and people for a long time. The gains may be modest, but they’re worth paying attention to.
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