General Business News

Toyota Expected To Announce In Mississippi

Several news organizations reported on February 26 that a site located outside of Tupelo, Miss. was expected to be home to Toyota's eighth assembly plant in North America. Governor Haley Barbour was expected to announce the $830 million project on Tuesday morning. The plant will build 150,000 vehicles annually, reported to be the Highlander. The plant is expected to open in 2009. For more details, visit www.mississippi.org.

Ernst & Young Releases Tax Study

Businesses paid $554 billion in state and local taxes in fiscal year 2006, representing 45 percent of total taxes collected by all state and local governments, according to the annual study prepared by Ernst & Young LLP in conjunction with the Council On State Taxation (COST).

The study used detailed information from public sources to estimate the business share of each of 26 taxes at the state and local levels of government. Generally, business taxes include taxes that are the legal liabilities of business, including taxes paid with respect to corporations; non-corporate businesses, including partnerships and sole proprietorships; non-profit entities; and rental properties owned by individuals. Sales and commodity excise taxes paid by households are not considered to be business taxes, even though the taxes may be the legal liability of retailers and wholesalers. The individual income taxes paid by owners of pass-through business entities on distributed income are included. A copy of the study is available at www.ey.com/us/quest.

Second Generation Of WIRED Grants Awarded

In January, the U.S. Department of Labor announced an award of $65 million to 13 regions in the country that comprise the second generation of the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative. Each region will receive an initial award of $500,000, with the ability to access a $4.5 million balance contingent upon completion of a regional implementation blueprint. The 13 regions receiving funding are: eastern and central Puerto Rico; southwestern Connecticut; northern New Jersey; the Delaware Valley tri-state area (Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware); Appalachian Ohio; southeast Michigan; northern Alabama and southern Tennessee; southwestern Indiana; southeast Wisconsin; the Arkansas Delta (Arkansas and Mississippi); the Rio Grande Valley, Texas; Wasatch Range, Utah; and northern California. The first generation of the WIRED grants were awarded in February 2006 to 13 regions, which shared a $195 million award. The awards integrate economic and workforce development activities and show that talent development can drive economic transformation in regional economies. To learn more, visit www.dol.gov.

Renewable Energy Sources Goal Proposed For 2025

In January, a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives re-introduced the 25x’25 House and Senate Concurrent Resolutions, calling for a national renewable energy goal: 25 percent of the nation’s energy supply from renewable resources by 2025. The Senate Resolution has more than 20 co-sponsors and the House resolution has more than 35 co-sponsors. The resolutions sprung from the 25x’25 organization, which includes nearly 400 ag industry, environmental groups, and more than 20 current and former governors and several state legislatures. For complete details about the initiative and its resolutions, visit www.25x25.org.

Report Card On States Released

The Corporation for Enterprise Development has released its 20^th “Development Report Card for the States,” which looked at 67 measures to provide a relative, state-by-state assessment of economic development, assigning grades in three areas. The areas include performance (economic climate for a wage-earner); business vitality (economic climate for a business); and development capacity (how a state is positioned for the future). The top performers for 2007 are Connecticut and Delaware, the only states to earn straight As. Five other states — Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah and Wisconsin — earned all As and Bs. For complete details on the report, visit www.cfed.org/go/drc.

The Conference Board Projects Growth Of The Economy

The Conference Board, a global research and business membership organization, says stronger growth of the U.S. economy is expected for this year, even though the economy is rolling through a soft patch. The analysis was published in StraightTalk, Vol. 7, No. 10. New growth forces include a decline in gas prices that should add a percentage point to consumer spending growth during the next several months, a drop in energy prices from their peaks, and low, long-term interest rates that are stimulating another round of consumer refinancing. The organization’s analysis also finds that U.S. manufacturing is stabilizing, with gains in new export orders, rapid inventory cuts and new product introductions in the auto sector. A recent study the Institute for Supply Management found that price increases were picking up. The Conference Board also found that broad-based global growth continues, as well as other global factors. For complete details about the findings, visit www.conference-board.org.

Companies Fall Short In Emerging Markets

Despite the size and remarkable growth of emerging markets, a surprising number of companies are falling short of achieving their business goals. In fact, just 47 percent of the more than 440 senior executives surveyed by Deloitte’s Global Manufacturing Industry Group say their companies have been extremely or very successful in meeting their revenue goals in emerging markets. The reason? “Most likely it’s because the complexity of their business continues to increase and it’s a daunting task to integrate and manage their emerging market operations,” stated Gary Coleman, global managing director for manufacturing, and a partner of Deloitte & Touché USA LLP, while presenting at a CEO lunch at Davos, Switzerland in January. What was once seen as low-cost locations for routine operations, companies are moving up the value chain in emerging markets The “Innovation in Emerging Markets 2007 Annual Study” examines what companies are doing in the areas of talent, risk and structuring their operations to be successful in emerging markets. For complete details, visit www.deloitte.com/manufacturing.

Rail Companies Expand Intermodal Service

Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway announced they planned to launch a new intermodal train service in February that will add train capacity and expand intermodal rail service between Los Angeles and the Southeast. The addition will complement an existing service. In conjunction with this new service, the rail companies will increase train capacity and improve service between Union Pacific’s Los Angeles terminals and Norfolk Southern-served terminals in Atlanta, Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C., Jacksonville, Fla., Savannah, Ga., Charleston, S.C. and Miami. For complete details on the expansion of these services, visit www.up.com and www.nscorp.com.

3PDelivery and GTS Merge

3PDelivery and General Transportation Services Inc. merged in December, and will continue to operate under their respective names. The merger creates one of the supply chain industry’s largest last-mile logistics and delivery providers, especially for home delivery of heavy goods. Combined, the firms feature a fleet of 1,100 trucks and 1,200 drivers operating in 45 states. To learn more about the merger, visit www.generaltransportation.com and www.3pdelivery.com.

States

Arizona

News From Southern Gila County

The Southern Gila County Economic Development Corp. (SGCEDC) has launched a new Web site, www.sgilacountyed.com, which features information on quality of life, demographics, utilities and more, links to economic development organizations and government, about southern Gila County. In other activity, the town of Hayden announced in January that it would support the SGCEDC with funds of $10,000 for this year. The citizens of Hayden support the organization’s efforts to bring the region together to ensure a bright future for the area’s young people. Hayden faces a number of issues such as adequate housing, infrastructure and job creation and wants to work with the SGCEDC in addressing the issues to enhance the region. For complete details about southern Gila County visit, www.sgilacountyed.com.

Computer Designs Selects Tucson

Computer Designs, Inc., a custom thermoforming manufacturer headquartered in Whitehall, Pa., was expected to open a facility in February in Tucson, hiring 25 people in the next three years. The company plans to invest $1 million in equipment and building improvements for an existing 85,000-square-foot building to create molded packaging for medical/surgical instruments and electronic components. Company officials state the Western U.S. location allows the company proximity to Californian and Mexican markets and customers. For complete details, visit www.treoaz.org or www.computer-designs.com.

California

Riverside Rides Wi-Fi Wave

With Phase I of a three-phase rollout in place the city of Riverside will blanket its entire 86 square miles with a free wireless Internet network, creating an identity as one of the most “unwired” municipalities in the state. “We are willing to take the necessary steps so that companies, investors and workers identify us as a progressive municipality that fully supports the growth and success of firms that do business here,” stated Steve Reneker, chief information officer for the city, at the time of the announcement of the project. Access points will be placed at the rate of 30 to 35 per square mile, with each having a range of nearly 1,000 feet. The city will install more than 1,000 cell points on street lights, traffic signals, and city facilities. AT&T is building the network. This effort supports the city’s recognition as being one of the country’s most digital cities for 2006, awarded by the Center for Digital Government. For complete details on Riverside’s wireless efforts, visit www.riversideca.gov.

San Bernardino County Contracts With Space Authority

The San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board was recently awarded a $40,000 contract by the California Space Authority to develop workers to support the growing technology companies in the area. The board will use the award to identify workforce needs and connect with educational institutions to develop training programs that address skill gaps. To learn more about the training efforts, visit www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us.

Idaho

Lewiston Firm To Benefit From $90 Million Contract

Much of the new federal contract work secured by ATK Ammunitions Systems Group, based in Anoka, Minn., will take place at the company’s rapidly expanding Lewiston facility. The company announced in January it had secured contracts potentially worth more than $90 million during five years, and will provide small-caliber ammunition to the Department of Homeland Security. The number of employees in Lewiston has grown from 130 people to 830 people since 2001. For more details about the project, visit www.lewistonchamber.org.

Illinois

World Business Chicago Re-Launches Web site

In January, World Business Chicago re-launched www.worldbusinesschicago.com, which serves as an extensive resource for business decision-makers, site selection professionals, the real estate community and media worldwide. The site now features mapping capabilities that illustrate Chicago’s global, national and regional market access. The maps feature the city’s international telecom networks, freight and commuter railroads, highways, airports, and non-stop flights and flight times. A new Info Center includes vast resources outlining why businesses should select Chicago, including statistics and data on each major industry in the city and comparisons of Chicago’s economy, education, transportation system and other factors. Also featured are Chicago’s thriving art, cultural and entertainment scenes, as well as quality of life amenities.

Chicago Job Board Network Launched

The Illinois technology community recently launched the Chicago Job Board Network to help companies target hard to reach business and technology talent. MidwestBusiness.com, the Illinois IT Association, Gapers Block and the Chicagoist have all added job boards to their Web sites and linked them together. Recruiters can post to any of these sites and instantly reach the combined audience of nearly 2 million page views per month, and 600,000 visitors per month. The job boards are found at http://jobs.midwestbusiness.com, http://jobs.gapersblock.com, http://jobs.illinoistech.org and http://jobs.chicagoist.com.

Louisiana

Home Building Supplier To Open In Hammond

Stock Building Supply Co., the largest supplier of home building materials in the United States, recently announced plans to open a manufacturing plant in Hammond. The company will locate its roof truss manufacturing facility to the city. The supply company was awarded $1 million from a Community Development Block Grant, which will be used to improve infrastructure for the company’s site by expanding rail and highways. The company will create 120 new jobs. For complete details, visit www.louisianaforward.com.

Nebraska

Mixed-Use Development Announced For Omaha

A mixed-use development slated for Omaha will combine a new public school, 1 million square feet of retail space, 350 multi-family units, and a church, together with ACI Worldwide headquarters on a new 400-acre master-planned project site. The Coventry project will feature an infrastructure price of $22 million, and at least $410 million in private capital investment. Coventry was the latest in a series of mixed-use projects announced for the area in 2006. Others include north downtown, midtown, the Mutual of Omaha neighborhood, Aksarben Village and west Omaha, along the West Dodge corridor. For more details on the mixed-use developments underway in Omaha, visit www.accessomaha.com.

North Carolina

E85, Inc. Selects Fayetteville

E85, Inc. recently announced it has taken options on lands in Cumberland County, N.C. to develop a 100-million gallon per year ethanol plant. The Seattle-based company will invest $200 million in the project and expects to employ 40 people to 50 people. “The state of North Carolina is a great location due to its strategic location to poultry and swine producers and its proximity to major fuel-ethanol markets,” said Mark Dassel, senior vice president and director, E85, at the time of the announcement. The company plans to build 10 ethanol plants in the United States, with two to be located in North Carolina. The company will work with local cooperatives and farmers to build long-term strategic relationships. For complete details on the project and the partners that worked to bring E85 to the region, visit www.ccbusinesscouncil.org.

Thomas Buses To Renovate Plant In High Point

Thomas Built Buses, a subsidiary of Freightliner LLC, recently announced a $10.3 million renovation to its existing facility, which began in January and will conclude in January 2008. The plant aims to produce bus bodies for the Saf-T-Liner Type D transit-style bus and Thomas’ Minotour Type A bus. A company official says the investment will allow the firm to improve logistics and worker ergonomics, and optimize production line layouts for the buses. For more information on this project, visit www.piedmonttriadnc.com.

Ohio

Wayne County Receives FTZ Approval

Wayne County has gained Foreign Trade Zone status, which was awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The zone includes 141 acres in industrial and warehousing sites along East Lincoln Way. The zones minimize operating costs for manufacturers by eliminating, reducing or deferring tariffs on parts imported into the zones. The Wayne County zone is part of northeast Ohio’s FTZ 181. For more information about conducting business in Wayne County, visit www.waynedevelopment.org.

Texas

Port of Houston Opens Container Terminal

The Port of Houston Authority anticipated opening the first phase of the Bayport container terminal in January. The terminal will be the most modern container terminal along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Expected to be operational in January were the first berth and nearly 65 acres of the 1,043-acre facility. The CMA CGM is the first customer at Bayport. Construction of a cruise terminal at the Bayport terminal will be completed in 2008. To learn more about this new terminal, visit www.portofhouston.com.

Virginia

Federal-Mogul To Expand In Montgomery County

Federal-Mogul, a global auto components manufacturer, recently announced it will invest $12.7 million and create 71 additional jobs to expand its existing plant in Blacksburg. This facility produces high-volume, anti-friction engine bearings made for a unique bonding process of steel and aluminum. The Blacksburg facility was selected for expansion based on enhanced operating cost efficiencies. The company qualifies for $150,000 in Governor’s Opportunity Funds. In addition, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors approved a performance-based incentive package that could amount to $250,000 during a three-year period. For complete details, visit www.yesmontgomeryva.org.

Washington

Governor Unveils Next Washington

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has unveiled a 10-year economic vision to build on the economic success in the state and seize opportunities for Washington-grown companies. The Next Washington plan acknowledges the unique regional economic needs of the state and lays out specific initiatives to improve workers’ skills, connect research universities more directly with private sector and economic development enterprises, boost telecommunications and energy infrastructure, and make it easier to do business with government. For more details about the economic vision, visit www.governor.wa.gov.

Wisconsin

Engineering Underway For First U. S. Pulp Mill Biorefinery

Flambeau River Biorefinery, LLC of Wisconsin, and American Process, Inc. of Atlanta, have entered into a memorandum of understanding where American Process will provide project management and engineering services for Flambeau’s cellulosic ethanol project in Park Falls. The project will be located adjacent to Flambeau River Papers LLC, which makes 400 tons per day of book printing and copy grades on three paper machines. The mill is planning to replace its natural gas boilers with a biomass boiler or gasifier. The project will make the paper company the first energy independent integrated mill in North America. The biorefinery will be designed to produce 20 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year from spent pulping liquor. For complete details on this announcement, visit www.americanprocess.com.