Challenge The US military and defense sector represents a key driver in Alaska, accounting for tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in federal spending. Yet, despite its outsized role, there were significant gaps in understanding among public sector decision makers at all levels of the impact of […]
Challenge Established in 1951, duty-free and specialty retailer International Shoppes (iShoppes) offers luxury goods such as beauty products, designer fashions and fragrances, gourmet foods, and wines and spirits to airline passengers. The company’s operations had been concentrated in airport terminals across the northeast including JFK International Airport (New York), Logan
Challenge Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, The Williams Companies, Inc. (Williams) is an energy infrastructure company with assets across the natural gas value chain, including exploration, processing, and transport. These assets include the ownership and operation of more than 30,000 miles of pipelines, including the 10,000-mile Transco pipeline which extends from
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 Trump era. The shift brought increased leadership, capacity, and support from the public and private sectors for transforming the
Challenge Cross-border trade plays an essential role in the economy of the ten states that fall along both sides of the US-Mexico border. As growing anti-trade sentiment in the US threatened long-standing global trade agreements, including NAFTA, The Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together (MATT) Foundation commissioned a study in 2017
Challenge Boasting scenic landscapes and vibrant urban and rural communities, Montana had experienced a decade of unprecedented inbound migration and steady economic growth. During this time, the state performed well in several key economic indicators, including innovation funding and overall gross domestic product growth. However, heightened regional competition for private
Challenge In mid-2010 the Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) received a grant from the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to determine the feasibility of developing wet-lab space for life-sciences companies in Austin. The ATI study was intended to estimate the demand for wet-lab space in Austin, determine best
Challenge Perceptions of a disconnect between the skill and experience needs of regional employers and the skills and experience of those seeking employment have long been a topic of discussion among Detroit area business leaders. While this disconnect is often raised as a national issue, resulting from technological disruptions and
