Louisiana Economic Development is maximizing the positive impact of the New Orleans Saints' appearance in the Super Bowl by taking out full-page ads in major newspapers portraying the Saints as a metaphor for other good things happening in the state. "This is really a huge win for our state, not just for the Saints and fans that supported them for so long, but it is a big economic win for the state of Louis ...

A new study concludes that new renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in Utah could yield 7,000 net ongoing jobs, $310 million in net annual earnings, and a $300 million net annual increase in gross domestic product by state (GDPS) by 2020, according to alternative energy organization AWEA. The report, “Building the Clean Energy Economy: A Study on Jobs and Economic Development of Clean Energy i ...

International credit information firm Experian plans to increase the size of its Allen, TX operation by almost a third, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News. Experian signed a deal this week with the city of Allen to expand its operations by 300 people in exchange for increased economic incentives, the Allen Economic Development Corp. said. Experian plans additional business operations at its 30 ...

Entrepreneurial companies in the Bluegrass Region attracted $47.5 million in venture funding, including angel and venture capital investments, in 2009, according to the annual survey by the Lexington Venture Club. The 88 Central Kentucky early-stage companies that participated in the survey reported 386 people hired and 804 people employed with an average full-time salary of $69,900. “This is another sign t ...

Gov. Brad Henry is asking state lawmakers to develop a permanent funding source for a planned $1 billion endowment to help fund research projects in Oklahoma. Henry last week urged the Legislature to dedicate a revenue stream for the Economic Development Generating Excellence, or EDGE, fund. The Legislature voted to create the endowment in 2004, but only $150 million has been deposited so far. Interest from ...

State approval of the use of marijuana for reducing nausea in chemotherapy patients and other medical applications is spreading like, well, marijuana. Fourteen states now have approved the possession of up to six ounces of pot for medical purposes, the latest being New Jersey, which passed a medical marijuana bill early last month that was signed into law by outgoing Gov. Jon Corzine. Numerous other states ...

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 ...

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," ...

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 ...