Challenge The COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic upheaval had a negative impact on business supply chains, workers, and communities in Texas and around the globe. This upheaval exacerbated existing business challenges, particularly for small- and minority-owned businesses. Along with its challenges, the downturn presented opportunities to build on trends that […]
Challenge The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is a federal-state partnership serving a 252-county/parish area encompassing portions of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Led by a Federal Co-Chairman and the governors of each participating state, the DRA is charged with improving the standard of living for the
Challenge The City of Clearwater faced two formative demographic trends: an aging population and above-average share of low-income households. Compounding these trends is the City’s over-reliance on residential real estate taxes, with housing accounting for approximately two-thirds of its property tax base. In addition, Clearwater lacks available greenfield development sites
Challenge The Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan boasts remarkable assets. Despite its distance from major urban centers, its natural beauty, higher education institutions, and emerging technology assets stand out both within Michigan and nationally. Facilities such as the Innovate Marquette SmartZone, Sawyer International Airport, and Northern Michigan University’s indoor agriculture
Challenge Perhaps more than any other region in the country, Southern Nevada was devastated by the Great Recession. The region went from having some of the lowest rates of unemployment to the highest. Tens of thousands of families lost their homes as jobs dried up, credit tightened, and the regional
Challenge Economic growth in the United States Virgin Islands (“USVI” and “Territory”) suffered due to the 2012 closure of the HOVENSA oil refinery, US Treasury regulations contained in the 2004 Jobs Act, and the ongoing sluggishness in the global economy following the Great Recession. In addition, the Territory faced ongoing
Challenge Known for its family-friendly environment, excellent schools, abundance of greenspace, and vibrant neighborhoods, the Town of Flower Mound, Texas, has carved out a distinct identity within the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. In recent years, Flower Mound has garnered attention for its balanced growth, from new business developments to strategic
Challenge McCormick County, South Carolina, is rich in both natural resources and history. Immense tracks of forested public land, over 1,000 miles of lake front property, and numerous historical sites provide the county significant economic opportunities. These resources, coupled with its proximity to a rapidly growing Augusta metropolitan area, positioned
Challenge Arlington is a city with enviable assets. It lies at the center of two major urban areas—Dallas and Fort Worth—providing access to excellent transportation infrastructure, a rising research university, and world-class tourist attractions. However, the community faces challenges associated with an aging building stock, limited greenfield sites, and competition
Challenge Since 1980, Texas has suffered more billion-dollar natural disasters than any other state in the nation. Many quantitative analyses estimate the state’s overall economic loss due to natural disasters. Weather-related damage to homes, roads, buildings, and infrastructure clearly exact both a financial and personal toll on individuals, neighborhoods, businesses,
