The Innovation Gene

n January, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the Secretary of State's 2011 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) to Sahlman Seafoods, Inc., in Nicaragua in the small- or medium-sized company category; and to Procter & Gamble in Nigeria and in Pakistan in the multinational category. The ACE is an annual award that recognizes U.S.-owned businesses that exhibit good corporate citizenship, promote innovation, and advance democratic principles around the world.

In Nigeria, P&G improves the local communities' water supply through education and purification technology, supports the health and well-being of new and expectant mothers and children through mobile clinics, provides a safe and healthy work environment, and conducts novel educational programs for teenage girls, said the State Dept. citation.

In Pakistan, P&G's "exemplary humanitarian assistance efforts include providing clean drinking water, food, hygiene products, medical care, and laundry services after unprecedented flooding in the region; cultivating sustainable partnerships to establish schools, early education programs, support for orphanages; reduction of carbon dioxide emissions at its facilities; and collaboration with universities to develop young business leaders."

The winners were chosen from 13 finalists. Others were: Amway in China, ANOVA Food, LLC in Indonesia, Archer Daniels Midland Company in Paraguay, Cargill in India, General Motors in Uzbekistan, Grenada Chocolate Company in Grenada, Intel in Vietnam, Johnson & Johnson in Russia, Joy Global in South Africa, and Tiger Machinery in Russia.

"In an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, corporations are key actors in international affairs," said Sec. Clinton, noting that the negative too often outweighs the positive in the public eye. "In fact, for many people around the world, the most direct contact they will ever have with the United States is through American businesses."

P&G first entered both countries' markets in 1991. The company has invested more than $70 million in Nigeria since 1999, and has seen business there triple in the past five years. In Pakistan, business has increased fivefold in the past decade. Chairman, President and CEO Bob McDonald noted that both countries "play a key role in our developing growth strategy."

The World Business and Development Awards in February launched a call for nominations for successful business initiatives that are in line with the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. Organizations of all sizes are invited to apply online by March 25 at www.worldbusinessawards.net/nominate.

nion Pacific, originally formed by the July 1, 1862, signing of the Pacific Railway Act by President Abraham Lincoln, plans to invest a record $3.6 billion in 2012, adding to the more than $31 billion it spent from 2000 to 2011. The railroad expects to hire 4,000 to 4,500 employees in 2012, depending on the economy.

"We are investing in America's transportation infrastructure so taxpayers don't have to," said UP Chairman and CEO Jim Young.

Its investment in its home state of Nebraska will reach $1 billion over the next several years, including a $70-million expansion of its North Platte rail yard; a $220-million investment in its main line through the state; and $206 million invested in such projects as new crew change buildings, a bridge, and new technology and track on the route between Fremont and Missouri Valley.

About 8,000 of Union Pacific's 45,000 employees are in Nebraska, creating a payroll of nearly $1 billion. Union Pacific operates 1,068 miles (1,718 km.) of track in the state.

"Today's announcement of our $1 billion infrastructure investment in the state renews our commitment to helping stimulate business and job growth in Nebraska," said Young on Jan. 20. "Governor [Dave] Heineman, working with the Unicameral, is committed to providing a business environment that encourages investments in the state, making Nebraska more competitive on national and global scales."

Earlier in January, CSX announced that customers committed to 124 new or expanded facilities on CSX and its short line railroad partners in 2011, driving job growth and other economic benefits in 17 states. The new or expanded facilities represent nearly $1.4 billion in customer investment, and ultimately will contribute more than $230 million in annual revenue to CSX, said Clark Robertson, assistant vice president - regional development.

West Virginia led the 17 states with $515 million in facility investments. Second-place North Carolina, with more than $385 million in facility investments, led in project job creation, with 348.

oneywell has announced it will invest $27.5 million to add to its Advanced Fibers and Composites (AF&C) operation in Chesterfield County, Va. AF&C manufactures the lightest, strongest polyethylene fiber available anywhere in the world, which is used for ballistic protection with the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies and in certain industrial applications. The project will create 50 new jobs.  A state press release said Virginia successfully competed for the project against North Carolina and South Carolina.

"As home to 17 facilities employing approximately 1,800 Virginians, the Commonwealth values Honeywell as a major corporate partner," said Gov. Bob McDonnell. "Honeywell began operations in Virginia as early as 1928, and it is gratifying that the company continues to thrive more than 80 years later," said Jim Cheng, Virginia's secretary of commerce and trade, noting that the 50 new jobs will add to the approximately 300 people employed by Honeywell in the county.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County, the Greater Richmond Partnership and Virginia's Gateway Region to secure the project. McDonnell approved a $300,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership (VIP) program, an incentive available to existing Virginia companies. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Dept. of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company's recruitment and training activities.

imberly-Clark announced Jan. 18 it will locate a distribution facility in Southaven, Miss., in DeSoto County near Memphis. The center will employ more than 100 workers and represents a capital investment of approximately $2 million. The facility, located in more than 500,000 sq. ft. (46,450 sq. m.) of existing space in the Southaven-Airways Distribution Center, will be used to distribute medical devices and products. The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) provided Kimberly-Clark with guidance on available tax incentives, in addition to work-force training assistance in support of the project.

ASF Corp., represented by Binswanger, is sellingits 284,080-sq.-ft. (26,391-sq.-m.) office/lab/industrial complex of 23 buildings on 26 acres in Ambler (Lower Gwynedd Twp.), Pa. Formerly known as the Cognis site, key features include 42,080 sq. ft. of available office space; 44,100 sq. ft. of available 'Open Lab Concept' space in a single building which features a single pass air system, utilities running throughout, a waste/process water treatment system, compressed air and specialty gas systems; and approximately 400 surface parking spaces. "A significant portion of the complex is under lease to multiple tenants providing substantial income to potential buyers," says Binswanger