Viewpoint: One thing that can go horribly wrong for Amazon's HQ2 search

By J. Mac Holladay - Founder and CEO, Market Street Services, Atlanta

There has never been a public competition like the one going on for what is called the Amazon HQ2. Unlike most national location searches, even of large projects or headquarters moves, this one has become a national phenomenon. Cities and regions across the country have submitted “proposals” that run from bizarre to very creative. Included in many of them are massive incentives of all descriptions including large amounts of cash. As an economic development professional who has participated in many large projects as both a state economic development director and a local Chamber executive, let me offer perhaps a different view of what is happening. 

Amazon had record revenues in 2017 of $136 billion up 27% from a year ago. The firm’s net profit was $2.4 billion. $80 billion of its sales were in the United States. The company is holding $31 billion IN CASH with over $10 billion overseas. Amazon, unlike Apple, has not moved any funds back to this country...

To read the full article click https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/02/26/viewpoint-one-thing-that-can-go-horribly-wrong-for.html. If it has been removed, please email Alexia Eanes for a copy of the entire article.

Chamber: Past 12 months mark significant successes

By Richard Carter, For the Times Record News

“We are very happy where we have come over the past several years,” said Henry Florsheim, president of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Indeed, 2017 was a year of success, he said, and also a great year for setting up successes.

“We also have a lot of planning going on, and you really can’t do anything big, quickly,” Florsheim said.

The past year was good for economic development efforts...

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Spartanburg County leaders mark first anniversary of community’s 5-year vision plan

By Trevor Anderson

After one year, a unified vision for Spartanburg’s future economic and cultural prosperity is progressing.

Community leaders gathered Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the University of South Carolina Upstate to receive an update on the county’s five-year development strategy, aptly named OneSpartanburg.

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New NASA Mission coming to Norman

Submitted Content

Dr. Berrien Moore III from the University of Oklahoma will be at the Sooner Centurion Economic Summit to detail the new NASA Earth Venture Mission, GeoCarb.

In addition to Dr. Moore, the summit will feature economic development experts from Market Street Services as they reveal research on Norman and how it is competing for jobs and investment. Market Street will also be revealing next steps and expectations for Norman's economic development strategic plan.

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Tulsa gears up for the future

By Ben Goldstein

Tulsa’s Future, the multiphase, regional economic development plan for the Tulsa, Oklahoma region, was designed to infuse the area with investment dollars, create jobs in targeted industries and develop a skilled workforce to attract new businesses.

“In the early 2000s, there wasn’t a lot of money allotted to economic development, and the chamber and our partners wanted to change that,” said Brien Thorstenberg, senior vice president of economic development at the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “We developed the first iteration of Tulsa’s Future, with an original goal of adding more than 10,000 jobs with an average wage above $45,000.”

The plan thus far consists of three five-year phases...

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City strategic plan seeing significant advancement

By Claire Kowalick, Times Record News

As part of a lengthy planning workshop over the next two days, the Wichita Falls City Council received a report on progress of their strategic plan. The genesis of this plan, City Manager Darron Leiker said, was about a year ago when council and staff developed seven overarching goals and 24 objectives for the city.

Assistant City Manager Paul Menzies said the city has accomplished a great deal in the past year with the objectives being advanced and 23 of them seeking significant advancement.

Developing a plan, Menzies explained, is important because it identifies what the city wants to achieve, then they can work on how to achieve it. Creating the strategic plan can guide future city policy and influence decisions when...

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Editorial: Strengthening Topeka’s ‘entrepreneurial ecosystem’

By The Capital-Journal Editorial Board

In the Holistic Economic Development Strategy released by Market Street earlier this year, the first subheading under the section “Grow a Diverse Economy” urges our community to “Enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem.” This ecosystem is defined as the “individuals, organizations, institutions, and programs that support startup activity and small business growth” — core elements of any healthy economy.

Top Tank is a creative way to demonstrate that Topeka is willing to support entrepreneurship in the city. It’s a local contest modeled on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” which gives participants an opportunity to pitch their business ideas to investors...

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