Challenge Arlington’s growth over the past three decades has been remarkable. With a population of 400,000, the city has affirmed its position as the pivot point in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. Home to the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA, which was designated a Texas Tier One research institution […]
Challenge Home to Columbia, South Carolina’s state capital, Richland County boasts an impressive array of assets, including postsecondary institutions, transportation infrastructure, and the US Army’s Fort Jackson. Richland County also offers unique neighborhoods; historical landmarks and homes; a thriving riverfront; cultural, arts, and entertainment offerings; and outdoor recreation. This attractive
Challenge With its wealth of economic assets and increasingly positive economic trends, Fort Wayne–Allen County is poised to solidify its position as one of the Midwest’s premier growth centers. However, certain obstacles stand in the way of achieving this goal including a shortage of developable and re-developable sites, talent shortages,
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 Created in the 1980s to manage the transformation of a former stadium into the Mall of America, the Port Authority of the City of Bloomington Minnesota (the Port Authority) has seen its role in the city’s economic development efforts expand greatly over time. First, the organization’s purpose was redefined
Challenge Long-standing efforts to create a more equitable workforce development system in Detroit and Southeast Michigan shifted drastically as national discussions about social justice and racial equity issues intensified in the late 2010s. The shift brought increased leadership, capacity, and support from the public and private sectors for transforming the
Challenge With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the labor market experienced a whirlwind of changes. Texas witnessed a record high unemployment rate, a higher rate of workers retiring due to health concerns, and some workers leaving the labor force altogether. To address these challenges and strengthen the regional talent
Challenge Center cities of many of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas are registering their highest levels of population growth in decades, with some leading job growth in their metro areas as well. This trend, labeled by some as “the Great Inversion,” represents a reversal of patterns that have dominated the
Challenge Renowned for its quality of life and creative industries, the Austin metropolitan area consistently lands on national “best of” lists and has become a magnet for both talent and companies. While the resulting economic boom has improved several prosperity measures for Travis County residents—resulting in declining poverty rates, rising
Challenge The Wired65 region, comprised of 26 counties surrounding the Louisville metropolitan area, presents a unique combination of assets and challenges. Home to Worldport, UPS’s international shipping hub, the area boasts a strong logistics and distribution cluster, as well as a significant automotive presence. In addition, the consolidation of the
