Merry Christmas

May the spirit of peace fill your heart on this special day.

On the Eve of Christmas

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. "

--Hamilton Wright Mabi

University of Kentucky Inks Tech Deal

The University of Kentucky is expanding its collaborative program with Large Scale Biology Corporation to for develop pharmaceuticals from tobacco.

Go here to read more.

Call Center Expands in New England

At a time when call centers are moving overseas, Comcast Corp. is going against the flow and returning hundreds of customer-service jobs to New England.

During the first quarter of 2005, Comcast expects to add 300 jobs in New England, many of them related to its move to have Comcast employees handle more calls about high-speed Internet service.

More here.

SW Florida Aims at High Pay Jobs

Click here to read an interesting editorial about the need for local and regional ED efforts to do more to develop high pay jobs in the area.

Sound familiar? (Free registration required at the website.)

Some Job Growth in Canton, Ohio

Central cities find it tough to add new jobs. When they do, it's worthy of note. That is the case in Canton, Ohio, which was known for decades as the place premier companies like Timken, Diebold, and Hoover grew up. Canton added 441 jobs in the past year. That's good news!

Also, Canton has a new economic and community development director, Margy Poorman. Congratulations Margy and best of luck!

More here. (Free registration required.)

U.S. Trade Situation Update

The Nation’s international deficit in goods and services increased to $55.5 billion in October, from $50.9 billion (revised) in September, as imports increased more than exports. More here.

U.S. Population Grew Last Year...In Some Places

The U.S. population grew by 1.0 percent (added 2.9 million new people) between July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004, to 293.7 million, according to new estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.

With an annual population growth rate of 4.1 percent, Nevada ranked first among states for the 18th consecutive year. Four nearby states joined Nevada on the list of the nation’s 10 fastest-growing: Arizona (second), Idaho (fourth), Utah (seventh) and New Mexico (10th). The remaining top 10 fastest-growing states are all coastal states: Florida (third), Georgia (fifth), Texas (sixth), Delaware (eighth) and North Carolina (ninth).

Download the press release and data here.

Base Retention Gets More Attention in California

The military has a major presence in California. That has been the case for sometime. Concerns about base cutbacks and closings have been ongoing. Expect even greater attention in the future. That is what a recent San Diego newspaper story has to say. Here for more information.

Does $31.1 Billion Mean Anything to You?

That is the value of retail sales by the nation’s department stores in December 2003. This represented a 48 percent jump from the previous month (when retail sales, many Christmas-related, registered $21.0 billion). No other month-to-month increase in department store sales last year was as large.

The Census Bureau has put up a special page on its website called 'Christmas Facts.' Interesting stuff. Click here to access it.

Michigan GIves Tax Advantages to Its Tool and Die Makers

The state has crafted eight tax-free zones to help provide support to Michigan's tool and die industry that has lost 16,000 jobs since 1997.

State officials announced Tuesday that it selected 33 tool and die companies to receive tax-free status under its 8-year-old Renaissance Zone program, which provides tax relief for businesses and residences in a given geographic area. Most of the tool and die firms that are expected to receive relief are located in mid- and western Michigan.

More here.

Allentown Assesses Downtown Redevelopment Prospects

The Urban Land Institute just completed a study of redevelopment options for downtown Allentown. It offers some good ideas. Funding them will be an issue, and so will attracting a market to fill the buildings. More here.

University of Toledo Hopes to Spark Local Science Corridor

Add this one to Toledo's Christmas shopping list: one fully funded science corridor.

More here.

Boise, Idaho Call Center Adds Jobs

While many call centers continue to shed jobs, one in Boise is adding them. The reason: the Federal Govt. is the customer served by the call center.

A Boise call center will hire up to 400 new help desk agents over the next year, injecting nearly $10 million a year in new wages into the Treasure Valley economy.

The EDS Corp. announced Monday that its Boise call center will expand to help support the United States Navy Marine Corps Intranet, a secured Web site designed to consolidate more than 1,000 independent Navy and Marine Corps computer networks at bases throughout the United States and some overseas locations under a single, overarching network for voice, video and data. The Boise center will provide technical support for Navy and Marine personnel using the site.

More here.

Oregon Happy With Its CfED Ratings

Oregon likes its latest ratings. A new CfED report says Oregon is a great place to do business, even if its consistently high unemployment rates say otherwise.

Oregon ranks among the top seven states in three broad economic development indicators, according to the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CfED), based in Washington, D.C.
The study measured 68 criteria in three categories: performance, business vitality and development capacity. Oregon received B grades in performance and business vitality and an A grade in development capacity.

More here.

Bioscience Drives Frederick, MD Growth

Many communities would like to be in this position. Job growth in Frederick County outpaced the rest of Maryland between 1999 and 2003, owing largely to a bioscience industry that is driven by the Army's biological defense and research facility at Fort Detrick.

Frederick County added 10,170 jobs during the five-year period, an employment growth rate of 13.4 percent that was tops in the state, according to a Capital News Service analysis of employment data from Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

More here.

What is Barry Broome Really In For In Phoenix?

I was amused by a recent Arizona Republic article, which used some pretty pointed tongue in cheek humor to point to the major challenges facing former-Kalamazoo area ED chief, Barry Broome, in taking over the reins of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) in February.

Top Cheapest Places to Live

This one may interest you. It's a ranking of the top cheapest places to live; many of which offer a high quality of life at an affordable price. Not a bad thing, eh? Click here to read the story.

The Business of Football

The National Football League (NFL) is the most valuable and profitable team sport in the world. This year the average team is worth $733 million, a 17% increase over last year. In other words, even crappy teams, like the Cleveland Browns, are making money! Operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for the 32 teams came in at $851 million on revenue of $5.3 billion, an operating margin of 16%.

This almost makes you wonder how much all the public subsidies given to NFL teams have contributed to their handsome profits.

Read more here.

Top Muslim Businesses

Here is one you may not have thought about. The largest Muslim business list, based on 2003 or latest revenues, is predictably dominated by oil and gas extractors in the Arab region. But the rest are an interesting mix of banks, telecom companies, construction firms and other businesses, stretching from Nigeria to Indonesia. Many have large markets outside the Islamic world. Read more here.

Economic Developers Huddle About Ohio Legislation

Many states are concerned that the court ruling to outlaw corporate tax credits to companies in Ohio may impact them. I have posted several earlier articles on the topic here at ED Futures. Here is the latest.

Zanesville, Ohio's Art Economy

With numerous artists of all genres moving to the area, many people are excited about the prospects of not only a boost in arts appreciation, but a boost to the economy. Read more here.

Illinois Corporate Accountability for Tax Expenditures Act

A law signed last year by illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich provides more details on how public funds are spent to lure new businesses or to keep them in the state.

The Corporate Accountability for Tax Expenditures Act is expected to hold companies more responsible when promises can't be fulfilled, said Jack Lavin, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

More here.

Silicon Valley of the North

The University of Alaska, Fairbanks is working to increase its role in economic development through helping technology-based industries to grow. Some refer to the effort as the 'Silicon Valley of the North.' Take a peek at this article for more information.