BF-Jan/Feb-2016

When it comes to business, rolling the dice on an unpredictable location can be disastrous for the bottom line. If you’re looking for consistent excellence, Utah is a sure bet.

Known as the Sunflower State, Kansas boasts a highly skilled workforce, outstanding infrastructure, low operating costs and a location in the heart of America.

The U.S. auto industry recorded its best year ever in 2015, selling 17.5 million cars and light trucks in the U.S., nearly $570 billion in revenue and a 5.7 percent increase over last year.

Georgia’s largest port moved nearly 4 million containers in 2015, an increase of 11.7 percent over the previous year.

Under California’s Renovate America program, the state partners with locations to finance new energy-efficiency projects, creating new jobs in the golden state.

A joint venture will build a new $1.9-billion ethane cracker and a $1.1-billion glycol plant on a Lake Charles site in Calcasieu Parish.

Financial assistance and incentives are approved for four companies that will invest $254 million and create 241 new jobs.

The recent consolidation of food industry giants via mega-mergers is not slowing the exponential growth of major food processing hubs.

On a statewide bus tour, Gov. Rick Scott hails Florida’s success creating new jobs, calling for $1 billion in tax cuts and the creation of a $250-million Florida Enterprise Fund.

Louisiana is strengthening initiatives to help existing employers grow through its LED Business Expansion & Retention Group, while stepping up efforts to site emerging business opportunities from key investors in the Americas and across the globe.

Business Facilities 2015 Economic Development Deal of the Year contest attracted a record number of project submissions from across the country, seven of which were singled out for a tip of the hat by our judges.

The Bronze Award winner in BF’s 2015 Economic Development Deal of the Year competition will generate an estimated $17.7 billion in economic impact for the region over the next 10 years.

The Palmetto State, long-time home of BMW’s production hub, moves into the top tier of automotive manufacturing states by snaring Volvo’s first U.S. plant.

The State of the Year and Deal of the Year awards are the focus of Business Facilities January/February 2016 issue, plus an Automotive Industry Focus.

Greater Houston Partnership snares a coveted 4.1-million-square-foot campus with a unique proposal utilizing an online site-selection app and intense data crunching.

The Crimson Tide is rolling, big time, and now it’s brought in our top honor: Alabama is BF’s 2015 State of the Year.