Challenge Despite a long-term decline in manufacturing employment at the national level, Buncombe County has captured top tier advanced manufacturing companies. The region is also home to the National Centers for Environmental Information and a dynamic community of entrepreneurs and innovative startups. Building on this success is a challenge for […]
Challenge Lake County, Illinois, is a picturesque region along the shores of Lake Michigan. It is one of the largest counties in the Chicago metropolitan area, with over 714,000 residents as of the 2020 US Census. Proximity to downtown Chicago and O’Hare International Airport, combined with distinctive communities and easy
Challenge The Community Development Foundation (CDF), which serves as the chamber of commerce and economic development organization for Tupelo/Lee County, Mississippi, has long recognized the transformative power of a vision and a plan. Beginning with the 1946 “Tupelo Plan,” the CDF has implemented a series of plans that have enabled
Challenge Montgomery County is one of the most prosperous and successful communities in the United States. It boasts numerous strengths, including world-class research institutions, globally recognizable brands, a highly educated and diverse populace, and attractive neighborhoods. And yet, Montgomery County (and the entire Washington DC region) faced a profoundly changed
Challenge East Kern County’s economy is driven primarily by two military installations (Naval Air Weapons Station-China Lake and Edwards Air Force Base), the Mojave Air and Space Port, and Rio Tinto Minerals. Spanning more than 8,000 square miles and encompassing a diverse group of communities—including incorporated cities (California City, Ridgecrest,
Challenge Jackson County, Mississippi—one of the leading industrial centers along the Gulf Coast—has shown remarkable resiliency in the face of numerous challenges to its economic stability, including major storm events and economic upheavals associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The leadership’s commitment to economic growth has paid dividends, as evidenced by
Challenge Oakland County has been an economic leader in Michigan, often outpacing state and national averages in educational attainment, median household income, and labor force participation. Thanks in large part to its concentration of jobs in the professional services and healthcare sectors, the county managed to rebound from the job
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 As the central county of one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas (Houston, Texas), Harris County provides an extensive array of services to a population the size of which rivals many states. Despite its numerous responsibilities, broad network, and substantial budget, the County lacked a clear role in economic
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
