USA – Great Plains
Latest: Missouri Launches PPE Marketplace - Missouri's PPE Marketplace matches companies that manufacture and sell personal protective equipment (PPE) with companies that need to purchase it.
Missouri Launches PPE Marketplace
Missouri's PPE Marketplace matches companies that manufacture and sell personal protective equipment (PPE) with companies that need to purchase it.
Topeka Launches HOST Relief Program In Response To COVID-19
Through private donations and matching public funds via GO Topeka, Helps Others Support Topeka provides capital to Topeka and Shawnee County, KS businesses.
State Associations Release Roadmap To COVID-19 Recovery
A bipartisan response to COVID-19, the roadmap outlines 10 key steps for governors to protect the public’s health while preparing to reopen the economy.
Food Processing: The Good And The Bad Of It
Two current upward trends show us how consumers are responding to both the power of plants and the power of panic with the demand for food.
Manufacturing 4.0 Has Arrived
Locations that have diversified their high-tech growth sectors are well-positioned to thrive in a new age of manufacturing efficiency. The factory of the future has arrived, a.k.a. manufacturing 4.0.
March / April 2020 Issue (Volume 53, Number 2)
The March / April 2020 Issue features the manufacturing and automotive industries. Plus, a look at biotech, food processing, and sustainable development.
Rally Reno Program Provides Local Economic Relief
Rally Reno County supports local businesses and employees in the retail, service and hospitality industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dollar General To Invest $35M, Hire 50,000 Employees
The national retailer is increasing its hiring efforts to support community and customer needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
$5M In HIRE Fund Loans Awarded To Kansas Hospitality Businesses
Kansas’ new Hospitality Industry Relief Emergency (HIRE) Fund will help the state’s hospitality industry recover from the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
How Is Your Organization Helping During The COVID-19 Crisis?
If your organization is going above and beyond to help its employees and/or the community at large during the COVID-19 crisis, let us know.
Governors Request $150B In Federal Aid To Combat COVID-19
In response to COVID-19, governors are requesting $150 billion in immediate direct aid to states, and an increase in the federal share of Medicaid funding for states.
PwC Survey Reveals Expected Business, Economic Impact Of COVID-19
The first in a bi-monthly series shows how CFOs and finance leaders plan to react to COVID-19, and what impacts they expect to see.
Kansas: More Than “Just A Great Place To Run Out Of Gas”
From massively talked about talent initiatives, to major business expansions and attractions, Topeka is turning the corner on economic development.
20 Communities To Address Climate Change, Resilience, Social Equity
The U.S. Green Building Council is expanding its LEED for Cities and Communities program with a new $500,000 grant from Bank of America.
January / February 2020 Issue (Volume 53, Number 1)
The January / February 2020 Issue features our State of the Year and Deal of the Year winners. Plus, a look at energy, aerospace, exports and data centers.
BF Location Video: Innovation – Topeka, Kansas
GO Topeka creates opportunities for economic growth that provide a thriving business climate and fulfilling lifestyle for Topeka and Shawnee County. Learn more.
Michigan’s Fiat Chrysler Expansion Is BF’s Deal Of The Year
Michigan Economic Development Corp. has been awarded BF’s 2019 Deal of the Year Gold Award for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' (FCA) expansion
Minimum Wage Will Increase In Majority Of U.S. States In 2020
California, New York City, and the District of Columbia will experience the biggest impact of minimum wage increases next year.
GM Investing $1.5B In Missouri Expansion
The auto company's investment will retain 4,000 jobs at its Wentzville, MO plant, where it will build its next generation mid-size trucks.
Kansas Picked For $200M Walmart Distribution Center
The retail giant will create 300 full-time jobs at its new distribution center at the Kanza Fire Commerce Park in Topeka, KS.
Survey Says U.S. Employees Are The Happiest Employees
A new global survey by Mindspace confirms that employees of large U.S. companies are happiest, but small to medium enterprises (SMEs) lag far behind.
Three Companies Expanding, Investing $4.9M In Kansas City, MO
Homebase, Simplifyy and Mark II Transfer Station are expected to bring a total of 388 new jobs to the Kansas City, MO region.
Casey’s General Stores Investing $50M In Missouri
The new state-of-the-art warehousing, logistics and distribution facility in Joplin, MO will create up to 125 new jobs.
Agribusiness: Harvesting Growth In Stormy Weather
Despite a trade war with China that’s clobbering U.S. farmers, locations that have established strong agribusiness and food processing sectors continue to thrive as production moves closer to markets.
EPA Grants 26 Organizations $5.1M In Environmental Job Training Grants
The environmental workforce and job training grants will help transform economically disadvantaged communities across the U.S.
New Report Ranks Cities By Ease Of Doing Business
The inaugural Doing Business North America report measures business regulations across 115 cities in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Opportunity Zones: Window Of Opportunity
The new federal qualified opportunity zone (QOZ) tax credits are expected to unleash up to $6 trillion in capital investment in more than 8,700 economically distressed areas in the U.S.
Clean Energy: New York Joins Top 5, Maryland Is Most Improved
Across the U.S, states are promoting clean energy with energy-saving rules for buildings, appliances, and more, according to the 2019 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.
Faith Technologies, Excellerate Manufacturing Expanding In Kansas
The new 450,000-square-foot facility in Olathe, KS is expected to add more than 780 positions over the next few years.
Shovel-Ready Sites: Ready To Hit The Ground Running
Precertified sites—also known as shovel-ready sites—speed up the development cycle for projects by cutting the red tape and lining up key approvals in advance of the site selection process.
TX Tops Cybersecurity Leaderboard, KS Surges In Wind Power
Texas has topped the leaderboard in Cybersecurity Growth Potential and Kansas is the top-ranked state for the percentage of electricity generated from Wind Power in Business Facilities' 15th Annual Rankings Report
Business Facilities’ 2019 Metro Rankings Report
Business Facilities' 2019 Metro Rankings Report takes a look at the hot topics in economic development on the city level, including job growth, economic growth potential, tech opportunities and more.
Niagara Bottling Investing $68M In Kansas City Region
The California-based beverage manufacturer's new 420,000-square-foot facility will create nearly 50 jobs in Kansas City, MO.
Bioscience: A Cash Crop In Iowa
Iowa has always been an agricultural powerhouse, so it’s no surprise the Cornhusker State is a leader in bioscience with 1,266 firms in the sector, from startups to global leaders in R&D.
Logistics & Distribution: Delivering The Goods In A Real-Time Economy
Efficiency, optimization and speed have always been top priorities in logistics and transportation. Today, as digital transformations are ushering in the next revolution of industry, known as Industry 4.0, these priorities are even more crucial.
USDA Relocating Two Key Agencies To Kansas City Region
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food & Agriculture will relocate operations from DC to KC; the project is expected to bring 568 new jobs to the area.
May / June 2019 Issue (Volume 52, Number 3)
The May / June 2019 Issue looks at locations that are making foreign direct investment an economic development priority. Plus, our editor's picks for tech hubs, and an exclusive interview with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.
Two Local Companies Expanding In St. Joseph, MO
LifeLine Foods and Boehringer Ingelheim will each make significant investments at their St. Joseph, MO facilities, totaling more than $34 million.
Fairmont, Minnesota: Growing Side By Side
Agribusiness, manufacturing and distribution are thriving shoulder-to-shoulder in Fairmont, a rural gem in south central Minnesota.
Data Centers: 5-G Day
The introduction of 5G small cell technology means changes in data center infrastructure as well as significant increases in their processing speeds and volumes.
Featured Location Spotlight
Location Spotlight: Consumers Energy
If you’re expanding or relocating, consider Michigan and Consumers Energy – let’s work together to accelerate your business.
Featured Location Videos
Location Video: Valdosta-Lowndes County, Georgia – The Perfect Place
Valdosta-Lowndes County, Georgia is a vibrant and premier location for business development opportunities. Located midway between Atlanta and Orlando in the heart of South Georgia, Valdosta-Lowndes County is strategically positioned for businesses to access and serve the global economy.