Perhaps the biggest eyebrow-raiser in Business Facilities' 2010 Global Rankings is China’s astonishing rise to the top of the list of Alternative Energy Investment Leaders. It seemed like only yesterday that everyone on the Western side of the globe was tut-tutting about the PRC surpassing the United States as the world’s leading source of greenhouse gas emissions. We all assumed that with double-digit grow ...

For the second year in a row, Texas has taken the top prize in Business Facilities' coveted Best Business Climate ranking. There are more than 20 input factors that helped determine the final outcome in Business Facilities' assessment of this flagship category, including its rankings for Cost of Labor, Business Tax Climate, Quality of Life, Transportation Infrastructure, Educated Workforce and Economic Grow ...

Louisiana has come out on top of Business Facilities’ new ranking of state workforce traning programs, released today. The Bayou State grabbed the top slot in this new rankings category with its FastStart program. “Louisiana has established the gold standard for workforce training solutions with its innovative FastStart program,” said Business Facilities Editor-in-Chief Jack Rogers. “The availability of cus ...

Arizona, Iowa and Michigan took the top three positions in Business Facilities' new ranking for Alternative Energy Industry Leaders, released today. The alternative energy leadership ranking is a new category in the magazine’s annual Rankings Report, assessing to top alternative energy manufacturers and leaders in renewable power generation in solar, wind, biofuels and advanced battery development. Accordin ...

Kansas and Texas flexed their biotech muscles in Business Facilities’ annual Rankings Report, released today. Kansas has been ranked the #5 state in the nation in Biotechnology Strength. The 2010 ranking is a major leap forward for the Sunflower State, which ranked ninth in the biotech category last year and tied for 10th in 2008.  Texas surged from sixth place to second place in the Biotechnology Strength ...

Ohio’s Controlling Board recently approved nearly $1.2 million in economic development grants, which will help a number of manufacturers expand or upgrade their operations. The grants, which leverage more than $110 million in investment by the companies and agencies that will receive them, are expected to create 703 jobs and retain 1,783 positions, according to the state. In addition to several cities that ...

Raytheon Missile Systems has announced it will build a new $75-million missile factory in Huntsville, AL. The plant will be used for final assembly and testing of Standard Missile-3 Block IB, a sea-based missile interceptor, and the Standard Missile-6, an advanced ship-defense weapon, the Tucson, AZ-based company said. The Alabama site will employ an estimated 300 workers at an annual average wage of $60,00 ...

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expected to make public a plan today that could bring Atlantic City’s casino district under state control, according to a report in pressofAtlanticCity.com . Sources said a key a key recommendation would turn over the tourism district of Atlantic City to state oversight, primarily in order to give the state an active role over the gambling mecca’s tourism and to make sure c ...

  “Oh what joy for every girl and boy Knowing they're happy and they're safe.” -    Ringo Starr   Paul the Octopus is in great demand these days. Following his uncanny star turn picking the winner of soccer’s World Cup, it seems that everyone wants a piece of the eight-tentacled sea creature. This week, a Russian “bookmaking company” offered the Sea Life Center in Oberhausen, Germany – Paul’s curr ...

Concord-based Clean Power Development LLC has signed a partnership agreement with Gestamp Biomass -- a division of Gestamp Renewables of Madrid, Spain -- to develop, finance and operate biomass energy projects across the Northeast, including a project in Berlin that is expected to generate some 29 megawatts and several hundred jobs, according to a report in the New Hampshire Business Review. "The Berlin pro ...