Challenge Situated just north of Houston in Montgomery County, Texas, Conroe’s employment situation in the latter half of the 2010s mirrored national trends. The county’s unemployment levels reached historic levels—as low as 2.8 percent in May 2019—and job growth in the county was outpacing the growth of the local labor […]
Challenge With a thriving petrochemical industry, strong educational assets, and a vibrant local culture, Pasadena, Texas, is a significant contributor to the Houston metro area economy. The city’s central role in this dynamic region is reinforced by its geographic location (just 15 minutes from downtown Houston) and its status as
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
Challenge While issues related to racism and equity have been present for generations, several pivotal events in 2020 shone a bright light on the scale and pervasive nature of racial disparities. In the first quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic downturn drew attention to the importance
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 Located on the eastern side of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Rockwall, Texas, is an economic development leader. Its strong commercial and industrial tax base supports a high quality of life for residents, while maintaining a low property tax rate relative to the region. The establishment and growth of the
Challenge The City of Virginia Beach found itself at an economic development crossroads in late 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic raged. Home to approximately 450,000 residents, the city boasts 38 miles of beachfront, four of the world’s fastest subsea cables, exceptional transportation infrastructure, and access to the third-largest container port
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 Situated in the southern portion of the Austin metropolitan area, Buda has experienced tremendous growth. The city was recently ranked as the fastest growing US city among those with at least 5,000 residents as of 2010. This unparalleled growth brings tremendous opportunities, as well as significant challenges. How can
Challenge The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma saw unprecedented growth and business success leading up to 2018. However, low educational attainment, aging infrastructure, and slow job growth continued to threaten many of the tribe’s surrounding communities in southeast Oklahoma. To channel the regional momentum and address specific challenges, the Choctaw Business
