Challenge California’s Central Coast holds many advantages including a broad industry base, dynamic employers, diverse populations, and scenic landscapes. Its growing tech and innovation ecosystem is supported by two leading universities—California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara)—along with […]
Challenge Centrally located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, the City of North Miami enjoys the benefits of both cities, including international airports, major seaports, and vibrant downtowns. Aside from its enviable location in one of the most dynamic regions in the US, North Miami boasts several distinct features. These include
Challenge Originally adopted in 2000, the Jefferson EDGE strategy has served as a roadmap for economic development in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Throughout its various iterations, the EDGE planning efforts have set the course for many of the Parish’s most successful initiatives, including the development of the 480-acre Churchill Technology &
Challenge McAllen has long been an economic development leader in the Rio Grande Valley. The community has leveraged the combined strengths of northern Mexico and south Texas, driving both population and economic growth. The McAllen Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) effective and sustained domestic and international marketing efforts have resulted in
Challenge In early 2020, Central Texas had enjoyed years of record-setting expansion and a labor market with historically low unemployment. However, even under these favorable conditions, worrisome trends loomed. The aging of the workforce and retirement exposure, the educational attainment of the working-age population, youth disconnection, and the digitalization of
Challenge At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas unemployment rate skyrocketed from its historical low of 3.4 percent in January 2020 to its historical high of 12.6 percent in April 2020. Like the rest of the country, a wide range of stakeholders, including public officials and economic development
Challenge Once considered a sleepy college town on the outskirts of the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex, Denton has experienced extensive growth since the city’s last comprehensive economic development plan in 2003. Since then, City leaders have made investments in the downtown district and an industrial park that put Denton squarely
Challenge One of a handful of US cities recognized around the world for its vivid history and cultural richness, San Antonio combines relatively affordable housing with a variety of amenities and entertainment options, an array of postsecondary institutions, and diverse career opportunities. Yet despite its many advantages, San Antonio’s track
Challenge As the economic engine of the country’s fourth-largest metropolitan area, Dallas is a city of opportunity. Billions of dollars in investments have poured into the city in recent years as companies of all sizes have chosen to make major commitments to Dallas. However, the city’s prosperity has not been
Challenge Led by a resurgence in energy and petrochemicals, the greater Houston region experienced an extended period of unprecedented growth. With almost $20 billion in investment in new plants and facilities announced along the Gulf Coast, the region was in an enviable position. Employers, however, were concerned that the region
