Economic development

10/15/2009 -- (HELENA) - The Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Department of Labor and the Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) have partnered to make the BEAR (Business Expansion and Retention) Program available statewide.

The Montana BEAR project provides economic development teams with the tools to help local business owners and operators access resources to improve and/or expand their businesses. The State’s purchasing the rights to the BEAR program has made it far more affordable for Montana communities.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Montana’s economy,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “I’m proud to be able to offer this development tool to help our communities prosper.”    » read more »

Signs Executive Order opening federal program to 209 communities across Massachusetts

BOSTON – Friday, October 16, 2009 - As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed an Executive Order that will open the state’s Recovery Zone Bond Program. The Recovery Zone Bonds, authorized through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, support both public and private development efforts by offering favorable borrowing rates for projects within areas designated as “Recovery Zones”.    » read more »

Section 3 designed to stimulate employment and economic development in local communities

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today launched a new campaign to increase hiring of low-income individuals and public housing residents by state and local governments that receive HUD funds.

HUD is contacting more than 3,000 state and local agencies, including public housing authorities, to document their efforts to hire low-income individuals and to contract with companies who hire them. Agencies that fail to comply may be debarred, suspended, or denied participation in HUD programs.    » read more »

More than 160 businesses moved to or expanded in New Jersey

September 16, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced that under his Administration, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) has finalized over $2.4 billion in financing assistance, business incentives and tax credits, and supported nearly 1,330 projects across the state of New Jersey.

More than 160 businesses have taken advantage of EDA programs to move to or expand in New Jersey during the same period of time. The assistance is expected to leverage more than $6 billion in total public/private investment and lead to the creation of an estimated 37,500 permanent jobs and 42,500 construction jobs in the state.    » read more »

Grants Awarded To 39 Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities and Rural Economic Area Partnerships

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of recipients for $6.45 million in grants to spur economic development and revitalization in rural communities.

"The funding announced today will be used for a broad range of economic development and revitalization projects in some of America's neediest communities," Vilsack said. "These investments underscore the Obama Administration's commitment to foster a healthy business climate by helping small and emerging rural enterprises create jobs and economic opportunities."    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today signed legislation to expand the Pine Tree Zone program, a signature economic development tool that provides incentives for businesses to expand in Maine or move to the State. The bill the Governor signed expands Pine Tree Zones statewide, using a two-tiered system so that more economically challenged areas have a longer benefit period.

“The Pine Tree Zone program that we established in 2003 – with its inclusion and enhancement of all Maine’s tax incentive tools for business development - is a proven economic development tool for the State,” said the Governor. “The program has resulted in more opportunities for Maine workers and businesses.”    » read more »

Governor Corzine and Officials Break Ground for $150 Million Gateway Transit Village; Shovel-ready project brings thousands of jobs and private investment to area

June 10, 2009 -- NEW BRUNSWICK - Noting the significance of public-private partnerships to New Jersey's continued economic revitalization, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today joined state and local officials to break ground for New Brunswick's $150 million Gateway Transit Village project. The mixed-use development will create an estimated 3,000 construction jobs before its completion in 2012.    » read more »

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Rural Economic Development Loan And Grant Recipients

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 17 utilities in 12 states have been selected to receive $9.2 million through USDA Rural Development's Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program.

"These loans and grants help rural communities keep existing businesses, attract new ones and stimulate local economies," Vilsack said. "USDA is partnering with local utilities to provide needed capital for economic development."

The projects are expected to create or save more than 799 jobs in Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.    » read more »

May 14, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed an Executive Order creating the Atlantic City Regional Implementation Group for Housing and Transportation (AC RIGHT). The purpose of the new group is to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of transportation infrastructure and workforce housing projects necessitated by casino resort development in Atlantic City.    » read more »

May 13, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Senate needs to pass an economic incentives bill before the end of the session to help Alabama compete for projects that could result in more than 7,000 new jobs, Neal Wade, Director of the Alabama Development Office, said.

The bill, which Governor Riley announced in his State of the State Address at the start of the session, passed the House 99-0 last week. It is in position to gain Senate approval before the end of the 2009 legislation session, which ends Friday.

“We’re actively competing today for 7,000 jobs connected to projects,” said Wade. “It would be a big boost to our efforts if the Senate will pass this bill. It could make the difference in winning or losing these jobs.”    » read more »

May 12, 2009 -- The record of the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein compares favorably to that of many other U.S. efforts at post-conflict reconstruction, particularly in the areas of economic development, rule of law, education, health and democratization, according to a study released today by the RAND Corporation.

However, these achievements were undermined and overshadowed by the failure of American civilian and military authorities to protect the Iraqi population from the criminals and extremists among them who pulled Iraq into civil war.    » read more »

Michigan will receive the largest amount of new grant money which will create jobs, revitalize communities

Lansing, MI – May 7, 2009 -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced today the availability of an estimated $10.3 million in grants bolstered by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help communities in Michigan clean up sites known as "brownfields" which may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants.    » read more »

May 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today unveiled the Department's fiscal year 2010 budget, which focuses on responsibility, effectiveness and transparency. The proposed 2010 budget exercises strong fiscal discipline, consolidating or eliminating 27 programs and activities, and investing in initiatives to increase transparency and accountability.    » read more »

May 8, 2009 -- GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota Governor John Hoeven signed Senate Bill 2018 today, the North Dakota Commerce Department budget bill that continues the state’s strategic investments in economic, community and workforce development that have helped make North Dakota one of the strongest and most stable economies in the nation. The budget provides $185 million to further grow and diversify North Dakota’s economy. Hoeven was joined for the signing by area legislators and university officials at UND Aerospace in Grand Forks.    » read more »

March 09, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), has launched a website to create a web-based clearinghouse of environmental information that will support American Indian and Alaska Native traditional and renewable energy resource development.    » read more »