Challenge Federal spending on defense procurement had generally maintained a downward trajectory since 2008, the result of effects from the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the Great Recession. With the state of Massachusetts predicting impacts in excess of $20 billion dollars from further spending cuts anticipated to its defense […]
Challenge Five years after the official end of the Great Recession, Delaware continued to struggle with the lasting effects of the downturn. Faced with budget challenges; a restructuring of the state’s traditional industry clusters; and intense regional and national competition for jobs, investment, and talent, aggressive action was called for.
Challenge West Virginia’s Kanawha Valley region, anchored by the Charleston metropolitan area, faces long-standing economic challenges including troubling population loss, below-average employment growth, lagging unemployment rates, and low levels of workforce participation. At the same time, new leadership and promising opportunities sparked a renewed sense of agency, urgency, and optimism
Challenge Situated in northern Illinois, Grundy County’s rural charm, robust transportation network, and proximity to Chicago have spurred industrial development and attracted individuals and families seeking less densely populated areas. However, steady population gains and continued industrial expansion have highlighted the need to better balance growth with preservation of the
Challenge Interstate 68 (I-68) is a 113-mile, east-west highway that travels through mountainous and rural areas to connect I-70 in Hancock, Maryland, to I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia. In 2016, the counties and cities that share I-68 as a common asset formed the I-68 Regional Economic Partnership (REP). While the
Challenge Shelbyville is advantageously located in central Tennessee between the booming metropolitan hubs of Nashville and Huntsville. The community boasts a robust manufacturing base, rich cultural traditions like the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, and valuable natural assets along the Duck River. However, accelerating regional growth has triggered infrastructure constraints
Challenge The Greater Brownsville economy is undergoing a generational transformation, moving from low wages and a net outflow of talent to becoming a formidable competitor in the national economy. The region has boasted large capital investments from mega-projects like SpaceX, Rio Grande LNG, and Saronic. Yet economic successes of this
Challenge Strategically situated in Washington’s Puget Sound region with direct access to major freight corridors and the Port of Tacoma, the City of Fife (City) boasts a strong legacy as an industrial and commercial anchor. However, as the City evolves, it faces pressures around constrained developable acreage, high development costs,
Challenge Located along Florida’s Treasure Coast, midway between Orlando and Miami on the I-95 corridor, Indian River County has carefully cultivated a distinct identity. Maintaining its quality of place has been largely the result of a cautious approach to development and the presence of single historically successful industry sector. For
Challenge Northeast Florida offers residents a high quality of life with a wide range of amenities, including access to ocean beaches, inland waterways, and other outdoor recreational opportunities as well as options for rural and urban living. Over the past decade, population has increased significantly across the region as skilled
