News Center

 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is investing in 116 projects across the nation to expand access to a clean and reliable electric grid, safe drinking water, and good-paying jobs for people in rural and Tribal communities. Part of the funding announced...Continue Reading

Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted October as Manufacturing Month in Kentucky as the industry continues to be a key factor in Kentucky’s record economic growth and job creation, with more than 6,000 facilities statewide employing over 260,000 Kentuckians.“Kentucky plays an important and key role in the nation’s manufacturing sector thanks to...Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of $1.7 billion for purchase of locally and regionally produced foods and domestically produced foods for emergency food assistance. These investments, made possible by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), will help American producers by ensuring they have the certainty of access...Continue Reading

Editor's Note: This article is part of Area Development's Auto/Aero Special Report in the Q3 2024 issue. It was commissioned and edited by Dennis Cuneo who served as guest editor for this special coverage.The automotive industry is experiencing its most profound transformation since Henry Ford introduced the assembly line, and...Continue Reading

North America has plenty of rare earth minerals, including neodymium and praseodymium, which are critical to electric vehicle (EV) mobility. Australia-based American Rare Earths Inc. said in early 2024, for example, that it found 2.34 billion metric tons in southeastern Wyoming, 64% more than it thought was there in 2023.Huge...Continue Reading

Gov. Andy Beshear last week announced that Victory Hemp Foods, a hemp seed production facility in Carroll County, is planning an expansion that will involve a $2.5 million investment locally and create up 22 new jobs.“Kentucky’s manufacturing industry continues to grow, creating job opportunities for our people all across the...Continue Reading

Each year, via data gathered from an annual questionnaire in addition to our staff’s own research into utilities with active economic development departments, Site Selection recognizes the Top Utilities in economic development based on corporate end-user project activity in their regions.With a few exceptions, job creation totals are down this...Continue Reading

The airport in your community provides valuable services that are often overlooked. In addition to providing a runway, fuel, and a building, airports can be a hub of economic activity. It is an economic asset with the potential to produce revenue and services for the community.General Aviation FactsGenerates over $150...Continue Reading

Gov. Andy Beshear announced that he is taking an economic development trip to bring new jobs to the state by traveling late next week to Japan and the Republic of Korea, where he will meet with leaders at existing Kentucky companies as well as businesses considering future investment in the...Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking information from the public on procedures for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the effect of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with U.S.-grown biofuel feedstock crops. The input is being collected through a Request for Information to establish voluntary...Continue Reading

At the National Rural Grocer’s Summit today, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA and Reinvestment Fund are launching a new program under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to increase access to healthy foods in communities underserved by grocery stores. Funding for the new Food Access and Retail...Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced resource enhancements designed to simplify and streamline access to contracting information for businesses interested in selling their products and services to USDA. These substantial updates include the addition of new and targeted contracting information on USDA.gov, along with improved functionality that makes...Continue Reading

Tourism can be a powerful engine for economic development, driving revenue, creating jobs, and revitalizing communities. This article explores various strategies and provides real-life examples of successful tourism initiatives that have significantly impacted local economies.Case Studies in Community InvolvementStay-Cation Success in Los Angeles, CALos Angeles has embraced the trend of...Continue Reading

Ramping Up an FDI Attraction Strategy Attracting international investment can seem daunting, especially for economic development organizations (EDOs) new to the endeavor or with limited staffing resources. However, successfully attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to your locale typically provides generous returns. While FDI attraction presents a unique set of challenges, at...Continue Reading

Site selection seems like a straightforward process. But in reality, it is often complicated by a proliferation of individuals and firms branding themselves as site selectors without the requisite experience or expertise. This saturation has led to a buyer-beware market, where the ease of entry into the profession has diluted...Continue Reading

Economic development is intrinsically linked to the strength and adaptability of the local workforce. As economies evolve, it becomes crucial for economic developers to implement strategies that not only address current labor market needs but also anticipate future demands. Let’s dive into practical ways that economic development organizations can support...Continue Reading