< Previous144 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NEcon. Dev. Partnership of North Carolina15000 Weston ParkwayCary, NC 27513Christopher ChungCEO919-447-7777Legislative Update• Overriding a veto from Governor Roy Cooper, North Carolina Republicans approved a $23.9 billion state budget for 2018-19. Among its provisions: The personal income tax rate would fall to 5.25 percent in 2019 from the current 5.499 percent, and the corporate income tax rate would fall from 3 percent to 2.5 percent, beginning in 2019. Under the new rates, North Carolina will have the lowest rate of any state imposing a corporate income tax rate. • The budget also lowers the threshold for transformative grants for Job Development Investment Grants (JDIG) from $4 billion to $1 billion and the minimum requirement of promised jobs from 5,000 to 3,000. And it creates the Growing Rural Economies for Access to Technology Program (GREAT), which grants taxpayer dollars to broadband providers to set up broadband in underserved areas.Edpnc.com“Advance is expanding its technology, data analytics and e-commerce capabilities in North Carolina because we have the talent, training opportunities, education system and industry expertise to make this venture a success.”— Gov. Roy Cooper, Nov. 28, 2018, announcing that Advance Auto Parts would designate Raleigh as its corporate HQ and add 435 jobs over the next five yearsGDP11th2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$484,308.30.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.520172016201520142013Did You Know?When Apple in December picked Austin, Texas, instead of nalist North Carolina for a $1-billion corporate campus, Gov. Cooper and legislative leaders issued a statement saying in part, “We’re on pace to add thousands of good-paying jobs this year with more expected next year. There’s no better place to nd a top-tier IT workforce and legislative leaders have worked closely with the administration to attract large employers and technology companies like Apple. We’ll keep doing everything we can to bring more good jobs to North Carolina.”In a literal case of one-upmanship, eight days after Advance Auto Parts announced a 435-job expansion in Raleigh and Wake County, online loan company LendingTree in December announced a 436-job expansion at its HQ in Charlotte.North Carolina tourism generated record visitor spending in 2017 with a total of $23.9 billion, a 4.2-percent increase from 2016. It also supported 225,000 jobs (another record), according to a report from the U.S. Travel Association in May 2018.Selected Corporate Facility Projects 2018 NEW/ INVESTMENTCOMPANY CITY COUNTY TYPE EXPANDED PRODUCT (US$ M) EMPPublix Super Markets Greensboro Guilford DW N Food & Beverage 400 Amazon.Com Charlotte Mecklenburg DW N Electronics 200 1,500GE Aviation Systems Asheville Buncombe MF E Aerospace 105 131Mineco Andrews Cherokee DT N IT & Comm. 100 40Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Monroe Union MF N Life Sciences 100 Coty US Sanford Lee MF E Chemicals & Plastics 96 22Amada America High Point Guilford MF N Machinery, Equip. & Const. 87 201United Parcel Service Charlotte Mecklenburg DW N Transport & Logistics 72 120Lakeside Produce Mills River Henderson MF/DW N Food & Beverage 69 150Novo Nordisk A/S Clayton Johnston MF E Life Sciences 65 18Corning Hickory Catawba MF N IT & Comm. 60 110Avexis Durham Durham MF N Life Sciences 55 200Albaad USA Reidsville Rockingham MF E Chemicals & Plastics 45 302DT = Data Center | MF = Manufacturing | OF = Of ce | HQ = Headquarters | RD = Research & Development | DW = Distribution/WarehouseHigher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $3,081,568Number of NCRCs: 438,921 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 13.1%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: -1Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 6.79Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.84North CarolinaPop. (2018): 10,455,604 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 1.13%Median household income: $51,844 Median age: 39Credit Rating: AAA/Stable Right-to-work state: Yes146 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NJobsOhio41 S. High St.,Suite 1500Columbus, OH 43215John MinorPRESIDENT & CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER614-224-6446Legislative Update• Outgoing Gov. John Kasich in May announced the creation by executive order of the Of ce of Opportunities for New Americans. “As we have become one of the nation’s top job creators, our businesses increasingly need a robust pipeline of hard-working people,” he said. “The Buckeye State is a great, welcoming place to work and raise a family, and whether you are from Indiana or India, New England or Old England, we want you in Ohio.”• Kasich in March announced a three-year extension of an agreement initiated in 2015 with West Virginia and Pennsylvania to continue efforts to maximize growth in the shale gas region.• The capital budget signed by Kasich in March included $6.1 million to the Ohio Super Computer Center and $10.2 million for OARnet, the state’s technology network that gives businesses and researchers a competitive advantage in advancing high-tech discoveries.jobs-ohio.com“There’s a facility there, owned by General Motors, that we think could be used by other people, other businesses who can employ a lot of people in the Mahoning Valley, and I’ll just … let it go at that.”— Gov.-elect Mike DeWine, in a December interview with NBC affiliate WLWT in Cincinnati, speaking to GM’s plan to shut down production at its longtime plant in LordstownHigher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $2,299,112Number of NCRCs: 170,939 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 10.6%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: -1Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 6.56Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.4GDP7th2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$590,692.00.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.020172016201520142013OhioPop. (2018): 11,772,676 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 0.25%Median household income: $53,378 Median age: 40Credit Rating: AA+/Stable Right-to-work state: NoDid You Know?A report from Team NEO says Northeast Ohio is projected to add 20,700 jobs over the next ve years, including 8,500 new healthcare openings. Additionally, more than 1 million replacement workers will be needed over the next ve years, including 160,000 in of ce and administrative occupations, and more than 100,000 in production sectors.The tri-state Cincinnati metro area, with 97 projects, led all metros along the Ohio River corridor in total corporate facility projects tallied over an 18-month period ending in June 2018, according to Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database.Ohio has an agreement with the State of Michigan and Province of Ontario to achieve a 40-percent reduction in the amount of phosphorus entering Lake Erie’s western basin by 2025.Selected Corporate Facility Projects 2018 NEW/ INVESTMENTCOMPANY CITY COUNTY TYPE EXPANDED PRODUCT (US$ M) EMPFirst Solar Walbridge Wood MF N Electronics 900 1,000Cliffs Natural Resources Toledo Lucas MF N Metals 700 120First Solar Lake Township Stark MF N Electronics 400 500Covermymeds Columbus Franklin OF N Life Sciences 225 1,000Homegoods Warren Trumbull DW N Consumer Products 160 1,000Dollar Tree Morrow DW N Transport & Logistics 132 400American Electric Power Co. Groveport Franklin DT N IT & Comm. 130 17Walgreen Co. Perrysburg Wood DW N Life Sciences 80 350Kroger Co. Monroe Butler DW N Food & Beverage 55 410O’Reilly Auto Enterprises Twinsburg Summit DW N Automotive 45 350Airstream Jackson Center Shelby MF E Automotive 40 280Festo Ag & Co. Kg Mason Warren MF E Machinery, Equip. & Const. 40 350Bed Bath & Beyond Monroe Butler DW N Consumer Products 40 900Certainteed Corp. Milan Erie MF E Machinery, Equip. & Const. 37 10DT = Data Center | MF = Manufacturing | OF = Of ce | HQ = Headquarters | RD = Research & Development | DW = Distribution/Warehouse148 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NBusiness Oregon775 Summer St., NE, #200Salem, OR 97301Chris HarderDIRECTOR503-229-5009Legislative Update• In addition to a new rst-time homebuyer savings account program, housing legislation increased the state’s document-recording fee from $20 to $60 in order to help pay for preserving and developing more affordable rental housing, provide services to veterans and boost programs for the homeless.• Following the federal tax cut, a measure was passed that prevents businesses reporting overseas pro ts from receiving an additional state income tax cut as a result.• A cap-and-trade proposal to curtail carbon emissions and charge the state’s largest polluters failed to pass, but is expected to come up again in 2019.Oregon4biz.com“This budget makes a historic $400 million dollar investment in housing, makes strides towards affordable healthcare and child care, and matches higher education with the skills employers need.”— Gov. Kate Brown, Nov. 2018, announcing her recommended budget for the next bienniumGDP25th2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$207,712.0012345620172016201520142013Did You Know?In a recent Gallup-Sharecare report on well-being, Oregon was one of only two states reporting a drop-in obesity percentage between 2008-2009 and 2016-2017 (-0.7 percent).A 2017 report from the Oregon Of ce of Economic Analysis found that median household income in Portland was up 8.7 percent over the previous decade, pushing the area from 32nd highest in the nation to 19th.The University of Oregon contributes $2.3 billion to the state economy, and brought in nearly $122 million in competitive research awards in FY2017-18.In a speech marking Genentech’s 10th anniversary at its facility in Hillsboro that employs more than 400, Gov. Brown said she’d been working with the company for months on a potential expansion and hoped “we all will be able to share very good news soon.” A week later, the company announced a new 300-job of ce in Portland’s Lloyd district.The value of exports from Oregon — one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation — to foreign countries was $21.9 billion in 2017. The state’s largest trading partners are China, Canada, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.Selected Corporate Facility Projects 2018 NEW/ INVESTMENTCOMPANY CITY COUNTY TYPE EXPANDED PRODUCT (US$ M) EMPDe Beers UK/Element Six UK Gresham Multnomah MF N Minerals 94 Qts Realty Trust Hillsboro Washington DT N IT & Comm. 26 Paci c Sea Food Co. Warrenton Clatsop MF N Food & Beverage 20 Medline Industries Redmond Deschutes MF N Life Sciences 12 Oregon Fruit Products Salem Marion MF E Food & Beverage 5 Genentech Portland Multnomah OF N Life Sciences 300Edwards Vacuum Hillsboro Washington MF N Machinery, Equip. & Const. 100Hazelnut Growers Of Oregon Donald Marion MF N Food & Beverage 55DT = Data Center | MF = Manufacturing | OF = Of ce | HQ = Headquarters | RD = Research & Development | DW = Distribution/WarehouseFiscal Condition Index RankHigher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $781,305Number of NCRCs: 70,724 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 8.2%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: +3Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 8.892018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.15OregonPop. (2018): 4,185,014 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 1.19%Median household income: $57,902 Median age: 40Credit Rating: AA+/Stable Right-to-work state: No150 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NPennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development400 N. St. 4th FloorHarrisburg, PA 17120Dennis M. DavinSECRETARY1-866-466-3972Legislative Update• As he has done every year since he was rst elected, Gov. Wolf repeated his call for a severance tax on natural gas. The measure passed the House but stalled in the Senate of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, ultimately not becoming part of the state’s $32.7-billion budget he signed in June.• A new law allows up to 10 new mini-casinos, sports betting, slot machine-style games at truck stops, and online casino-style gambling.• Funded by a total of $6 million in funds from the state’s jet fuel tax, multimodal fund and local matching funds, 26 airports will make infrastructure and equipment upgrades to maintain safety and expand aviation-related operational and economic opportunities.• Gov. Wolf in October announced 11 new approvals through the Industrial Sites Reuse Program (ISRP) that will clean up former industrial sites in Allegheny, Berks, Blair, Cumberland, Erie, and Montgomery counties to prepare them for occupation by businesses and residential properties.Newpa.com“Pennsylvania is blowing most other states out of the water when it comes to production. And by joining every other gas-producing state and passing a severance tax, we could also join them by bringing billions into our own coffers.”— Gov. Tom Wolf, February 2018Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $4,179,810Number of NCRCs: 35,307 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 10.1%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: +2Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 6.60Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.85GDP6th2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$700,782.90.00.51.01.52.02.520172016201520142013PennsylvaniaPop. (2018): 12,992,598 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 0.23%Median household income: $57,362 Median age: 41Credit Rating: A+/Stable Right-to-work state: NoDid You Know?Pennsylvania’s Industrial Resource Centers (part of the national Manufacturing Extension Partnershp network) assisted over 830 manufacturers during the scal year ending in 2018, enabling $58 million in operating cost savings; $733 million in new and retained sales; $161 million invested in expansion and modernization; and the retention or creation of 5,156 jobs.The state’s Department of Labor and Industry’s Apprenticeship and Training Of ce (ATO), created in 2016, has registered 119 new sponsors and 166 new apprenticeship programs or occupations. As of December, Pennsylvania had 16,286 registered apprentices statewide.In 2018, the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) approved $82 million in low-interest loans that have resulted in $118 million in private investment and supported 4,296 created and retained full-time jobs at locations such as the Lawrenceville Chocolate Factory, part of Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Lawrenceville Technology Center.Selected Corporate Facility Projects 2018 NEW/ INVESTMENTCOMPANY CITY COUNTY TYPE EXPANDED PRODUCT (US$ M) EMPDe Beers UK/Element Six UK Gresham Multnomah MF N Minerals 94 Qts Realty Trust Hillsboro Washington DT N IT & Comm. 26 Paci c Sea Food Co. Warrenton Clatsop MF N Food & Beverage 20 Medline Industries Redmond Deschutes MF N Life Sciences 12 Oregon Fruit Products Salem Marion MF E Food & Beverage 5 Genentech Portland Multnomah OF N Life Sciences 300Edwards Vacuum Hillsboro Washington MF N Machinery, Equip. & Const. 100Hazelnut Growers Of Oregon Donald Marion MF N Food & Beverage 55DT = Data Center | MF = Manufacturing | OF = Of ce | HQ = Headquarters | RD = Research & Development | DW = Distribution/Warehouse152 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NRhode Island Commerce Corp.315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101Providence, RI 02908Darin EarlyPRESIDENT401-278-9100Legislative Update• The $9.6-billion budget Gov. Raimondo signed in June includes $11 million to make the Real Jobs RI training program permanent. Since it was created in 2015, Real Jobs has helped connect more than 3,000 Rhode Islanders with job and skills training. The budget also continued the Wavemaker Fellowship program that has helped more than 425 STEM graduates stay in Rhode Island after graduation, and preserved the Quali ed Jobs Incentive tax credit program.• The budget also supports a $47.3-million Green Economy and Clean Water Bond that will expand Rhode Island’s growing green economy.• Voters in November approved a measure to borrow $250 million to repair schools, part of a broader state plan to invest $1 billion in school infrastructure over the next 10 years.commerceri.com“I’m excited to announce that we have eliminated over 8,000 pages of regulations — over 30 percent of all regulations on the books. Finally we have a regulatory code that saves businesses time and money and eliminates unnecessary red tape.”— Governor Gina Raimondo, Oct. 15, 2018, saluting the work led by the state’s Office of Regulatory ReformHigher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $331,467Number of NCRCs: 1,057 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 1.8%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: +1Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 15.17Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 2.19GDP44th2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$53,454.00.00.51.01.52.020172016201520142013Rhode IslandPop. (2018): 1,067,528 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 0.21%Median household income: $58,972 Median age: 41Credit Rating: AA/Stable Right-to-work state: NoDid You Know?Twenty-nine companies have relocated to Rhode Island or expanded their existing operations using the Quali ed Jobs Tax Credit Program. The state’s real estate investment programs are investing in over 30 development projects that are creating approximately 10,000 direct and indirect construction jobs and injecting more than $2 billion of investment.More than 200 companies employ more than 12,000 people at Quonset Business Park, the 3,200-acre park that was once the Quonset Point Naval Air Station.In addition to its commitment to hire 500 American workers in Rhode Island over the next ve years at its new hub in the state, India-based BPO rm Infosys is partnering with the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to train 1,000 designers across the globe in exploring “new ways of solving complex challenges at the intersection of design, technology and industry.”Selected Corporate Facility Projects 2018 NEW/ INVESTMENTCOMPANY CITY COUNTY TYPE EXPANDED PRODUCT (US$ M) EMPDe Beers UK/Element Six UK Gresham Multnomah MF N Minerals 94 Qts Realty Trust Hillsboro Washington DT N IT & Comm. 26 Paci c Sea Food Co. Warrenton Clatsop MF N Food & Beverage 20 Medline Industries Redmond Deschutes MF N Life Sciences 12 Oregon Fruit Products Salem Marion MF E Food & Beverage 5 Genentech Portland Multnomah OF N Life Sciences 300Edwards Vacuum Hillsboro Washington MF N Machinery, Equip. & Const. 100Hazelnut Growers Of Oregon Donald Marion MF N Food & Beverage 55DT = Data Center | MF = Manufacturing | OF = Of ce | HQ = Headquarters | RD = Research & Development | DW = Distribution/WarehouseNext >