Louisiana. Gov. John Bel Edwards launched a workforce development program of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative that will create a workforce skilled in professional resilience occupations (PRO), which are critically important in disaster recovery and mitigation efforts. The first phase of LWI’s PRO Louisiana program, which is coordinated in partnership with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and Louisiana Economic Development, will focus on heavy equipment operator training. PRO Louisiana provides federal funding for occupational training courses that are vital to the state’s flood recovery and resilience efforts. The initial courses will provide training for heavy equipment operators. PRO Louisiana will support additional courses in the future, such as flood risk analysis and resilient construction methods for builders, contractors and other professionals.[1]
Michigan. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced that boat manufacturer Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. plans to expand its Manitou Boats facility in Watertown Township. The expansion will create close to 200 jobs for Michigan workers. The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) assisted BRP in accessing potential programs to retain the company’s investment in the region. BRP received a support package of around $1.5 million, including workforce development credits and grants from Lansing Community College’s Business and Community Institute and Capital Area Michigan Works and job creation incentives from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $11.9 million.[2] Dana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dana Incorporated and global supplier of fully integrated drivetrain and electrified propulsion systems, plans to build an Electric Vehicle Tech Center and engineering facility in Novi. The project is being supported by a $1.5 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. In addition, the city of Novi offered a tax abatement to secure the project. The $9 million project is expected to create 150 jobs.[3] Computer Numerical Control machining provider Aerostar Manufacturing is expanding its operations in the city of Romulus. The expansion is being supported by a $200,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. In addition, The Detroit Region Aerotropolis has approved a 50-percent property tax abatement in support of the project. The $8.6 million project is expected to create up to 62 jobs.[4]
Pennsylvania. Australia-based Easy Signs, Inc., a manufacturer of high-quality digitally printed signage, will open its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Allentown. As an incentive, Easy Signs received a funding proposal from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $225,000 Pennsylvania First grant, a $75,000 workforce development grant to help train workers, and a $1 million loan through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA). The company was also encouraged to apply for the department’s Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program. The $2.8 million project is expected to create 130 jobs over the next three years in the Lehigh Valley.[5]
Virginia. Duie Pyle, a premier provider of asset and non-asset-based supply chain solutions, will establish three cross-dock service centers in Manassas, Richmond and Roanoke. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with the City of Manassas, the City of Richmond, the City of Roanoke, the Greater Richmond Partnership, and the Roanoke Regional Partnership to secure the project for Virginia. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, for the City of Richmond location. The projects combined are expected to create 75 new jobs.[1] Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will expand its bioanalytical laboratory operations into three new locations in greater Richmond. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with the Henrico Economic Development Authority, the City of Richmond, and the VA Bio+Tech Park to secure the projects for the Commonwealth. A $1 million performance-based grant was approved from the Virginia Investment Performance program, an incentive that encourages capital investment by existing Virginia companies. $2 million was also approved from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Henrico County, and $151,952 for the City of Richmond project. Thermo Fisher is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, as well as benefits from the Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit for new, full-time jobs created. Support is also being provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, a workforce initiative created by VEDP in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System and other higher education partners, with funding support from the Governor’s Administration and the Virginia General Assembly. The $97 million project is expected to create more than 500 new jobs.[2] The Winchester Economic Development Authority (EDA) recommended issuing nearly $2.5 million in financial incentives to Minnesota-based TFC Poultry LLC as a reward for the company choosing the city’s North End as the location for its first East Coast processing plant. The EDA also recommended that council approve an additional $843,600 in financial incentives from the state. Those funds would come from the commonwealth’s Enterprise Zone Real Property Investment Grant ($200,000), Enterprise Zone Job Creation Grant ($338,600) and Virginia Talent Accelerator Program ($305,000). Additionally, the EDA recommended the issuance of $735,000 in local incentives from the city of Winchester: $700,000 in rebates from real estate and machinery and tools tax payments for the next four years; a $10,000 grant for exterior improvements to the facility at 801 N. Kent St.; and a $25,000 grant for creating new jobs. The total amount of grants, incentives and rebates from the city and state totals $2,478,600.[3] Signco, a custom sign manufacturer, will invest $650,000 to establish manufacturing operations in Bluefield. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) will support Signco’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens. The company is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The project is expected to create 19 jobs.[1]
Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced a $3.5 million investment to accelerate local economic recovery initiatives. Through the launch of the Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Development (RISE) initiative, the State will offer competitive grants to help local governments and economic development organizations (EDOs) create new regional or local plans to promote economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. After the grants are awarded and plans are created, DCEO will offer grantees the opportunity to apply for funding for specific projects included in their plans. This program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). With the RISE Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), DCEO is seeking grant applications to accelerate Illinois’ economic recovery by developing new or updating local, regional, or community-centered economic plans. Grant awards will be up to $150,000. RISE empowers local governments and regional EDOs to create meaningful plans that align with the state’s overarching economic plan, with a focus on specific initiatives and investments that support recovery from the pandemic.[1]
Kentucky. Gov. Andy Beshear joined leadership from the city of Louisville and Consumer Cellular to officially break ground on the company’s new customer support center. Jobs created through the project include management and call center support positions, with company leaders expecting to add more than 400 of the new roles in 2022. To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved a performance-based incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments. In addition, Consumer Cellular can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives. The $15.5 million investment is Consumer Cellular’s first operation in Kentucky and will create 486 full-time jobs.[2]
Louisiana. Greenberry Industrial, a Washington-based fabricator and contractor serving a wide range of industrial markets, announced that it is in the process of converting a shipyard fabrication facility into a manufacturing plant. The project will create 100 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of $62,000 plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 144 indirect jobs, for a total of 244 new jobs in Louisiana’s Southwest Region. Greenberry is investing $500,000 to retrofit the facility with updated equipment. The company is expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs program.[3]
South Carolina. Ingram Micro, a leading provider of global technology and supply chain services, plans to establish a new facility in Roebuck. The expansion includes a regional fulfillment
center to serve customers in the Southeast. As an incentive, the Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to this project. The council has also awarded a $300,000 Set-Aside grant to Spartanburg County to assist with the cost of building improvements. The more than $37 million project is expected to create 203 jobs in Spartanburg County.
