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 Between 2000 and 2017, Fort Worth was one of the fastest-growing large cities in the US. Furthermore, the city has cultivated a unique identity and brand, combining rich cultural heritage with an economy driven by industry-leading employers. Fort Worth achieved this success without a comprehensive, citywide approach for economic
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
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 Despite being part of one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, Kaufman, Texas, was falling behind its Dallas-area peers in 2016. An analysis of trends revealed little population growth, a declining supply of housing, and lagging incomes and home values. Commuting patterns suggested the city was neither a stand-out
Challenge Georgetown, Texas, has been one of the nation’s fastest-growing communities in recent years. Notably, Georgetown experienced more than 100 years of prosperity which was largely independent of the Austin metropolitan area’s expansion. Assets like Southwestern University, one of the state’s oldest higher education institutions, and a nationally recognized Beaux-Arts
Challenge Clovis, New Mexico, is fortunate to have an array of economic advantages that have helped the community weather the Great Recession (2007–2009) and the COVID-19-induced recession. These advantages include a robust agricultural sector, Cannon Air Force Base (Cannon AFB), strong manufacturing employers, and an abundance of cultural assets. While
Challenge Tampa Bay’s strong economic base, high-profile developments, diverse culture, and desirable amenities have made it one of the country’s fastest-growing regions. Guided by its 2017 strategic plan, the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council (TBEDC), formerly the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, has been instrumental in several regional transformations. Despite
Challenge Covering 14 counties, along with the Saginaw metropolitan area and the sovereign Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, the East Michigan Council of Governments (EMCOG) region is incredibly diverse in terms of its geography, demographics, and economic base. As a result, EMCOG’s comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) must account
Challenge Located in the Tampa Bay region, Pinellas County, Florida, is home to beautiful beaches, vibrant communities, excellent colleges and universities, and diverse and forward-looking companies, assets that have served it well through tumultuous times. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the county has been effective in working with
