News and Media

The skilled trades are at a pivotal moment in time. More than a decade of understaffing issues remain unresolved as the Great Retirement looms, and current economic uncertainty is shifting budget priorities away from workforce development at many organizations. As for the next decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor (BLS)...Continue Reading

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent report released on March 10, 2023, the unemployment rate for March was 3.5 percent. The unemployment rate has hovered at this level over the last 12 months, ranging between 3.5 percent and 3.7 percent, except for in January 2023 where it...Continue Reading

The development land market across the United States is inherently diverse and complex, shaping our cities and communities while playing a vital role in job creation, investment opportunities, and the country’s overall economy. Just as topography varies across the country, so do market trends and land values. Largely a...Continue Reading

If there’s one thing that has been consistent with our Shovel Awards from year to year, it’s the fact that nothing gets in the way of progress and good news. Even amid challenging times such as the COVID pandemic, lots of positive developments move forward. The uncertainty we all felt...Continue Reading

Duckshin Housing, a construction materials manufacturer, will create 100 new jobs and invest more than $15 million in Athens-Clarke County through its first U.S. facility. “Since 2019, we have announced more than 3,400 new jobs and $903 million in investments in Athens-Clarke County, thanks to the dedication of our...Continue Reading

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced the Space Valley Coalition as a finalist of its first-ever Regional Innovation Engines Competition. The NSF Engines program is anticipated to be transformational for the nation, ensuring the U.S. remains globally competitive in key technology areas for decades to come. Each NSF Engine could...Continue Reading

Tecnoform USA Inc, a new subsidiary of Tecnoform S.p.A, a manufacturer of high-quality furnishings and fixtures for the RV, marine, and residential industries, hosted a grand opening earlier this month to celebrate its new 172,000-square-foot production facility in Grand Rapids, MI. The expansion of Tecnoform USA Inc. in North...Continue Reading

The beginning of a new school year can often mean teachers reaching into their own pockets for essential classroom supplies, but Four Peaks Brewery is helping to ease the financial burden with Four Peaks for Teachers, its annual back-to-school event.   Four Peaks launched the Four Peaks for Teachers...Continue Reading

My latest dispatch comes from South Carolina and the annual gathering of the Council of State Manufacturers Associations. I wanted to share with you three things I’ve heard from my colleagues that affect the manufacturing community and the broader economy that are top of mind for us in Arizona: infrastructure,...Continue Reading

The Maricopa Community College system is helping the state’s fast growing semiconductor sector ensure the talent pipeline remains full to meet employers’ demands. Three colleges in the system are offering courses as part of the Semiconductor Quick Start program, which can prepare students for entry-level employment in the semiconductor...Continue Reading

If you want to gain a competitive edge in the race to hire talent, you may want to consider doing what many American workers have already done: Move out of the big city. What many thought was just a blip during the COVID-19 pandemic — people fleeing big cities...Continue Reading

A new survey conducted by the Site Selectors Guild indicates that the next wave of location strategy is here. Amid the heightened frequency of corporations’ multi-billion-dollar facility investments known as “megaprojects,” there is a clear domino effect of “transformational projects,” or capital expenditures in secondary markets that stimulate outsized job...Continue Reading