Orcon Products Expands to Coffee County The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has announced that Orcon Products, based in Union City, CA, is expanding to Douglas, GA in Coffee County. With this expansion, Orcon plans to create at least 50 direct jobs within the plant’s first 12 months of operation. “Manufacturing companies like Orcon Products represent a vital part of Georgia’s diverse econ ...

Integrating geographic information system tools into your site selection process is now a basic step in streamlining the investigation of complex location inquiries. ...

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry has a proposed a $1-billion endowment for the Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) program. Dr. Paul Risser explains how the fund will create research projects that attract jobs. BF: EDGE has focused investments in aerospace, agriculture, biotechnology, energy and weather science. Will the new funding include other initiatives? PR: In 2009 the EDGE program was expanded ...

From the Desk of the Editor in Chief ...

The U.S. economy grew by its fastest pace in six years in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the latest government statistics. The government estimates that the nation’s gross national product surged by a 5.7 percent annual rate. The economy expanded by an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the third quarter of 2009, the first positive jump since the recession took hold at the end of 2007. At its nadir, th ...

The Columbus Partnership, an organization made up of 35 top business executives from the Central Ohio region, is recommending the creation of new group—called Columbus2020—to spearhead efforts to retain businesses and establish the area as a technology center. According to a report in Business First of Columbus, Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer laid out a plan for the newly proposed organization this w ...

We were cruising down to work on the Garden State Parkway this morning in our 2009 Toyota Corolla when a disturbing bulletin was broadcast over the car radio. The announcer informed us that Toyota has halted U.S. production and sales of eight of its most popular models, including Camry and Corolla. The world’s largest carmaker is trying to determine why the gas pedals on its cars keep getting stuck in the a ...

Gov. Bob McDonnell want to invest $50 million to attract businesses to Virginia, bulk up tourism advertising and entice movie makers to the state, according to a report in the Daily Press of Newport News. McDonnell, who took office this month, predicts that the investment can create more than 29,000 jobs and bring in $311 million in tax revenue over the next five years. "I'd say that's a pretty good deal," ...

The growth of wind power capacity in the U.S. is expanding rapidly, according to the annual report of the American Wind Energy Association. Wind power capacity grew by 39 percent in 2009, adding about 9,900 megawatts capable of generating 2 percent of electricity used in the U.S. The wind power capacity expansion was the largest annual jump on record to date, outpacing the 2008 total by more than 18 percent ...

General Motors is investing $246 million in electric motors and electric drive manufacturing facilities in the U.S. According to Tom Stephens, GM’s vice president for global vehicle operations, the automaker’s electric motor initiative will create at least 200 new jobs. “In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are right now,” Stephens said in a statement issued this week. “ ...