Kelly Barraza talks to the CEO of a South African startup that takes global networking, problem solving and AI talent cultivation to a whole new level.
Global Location Strategies President and CEO Didi Caldwell, chair of the board of the Site Selectors Guild REDI Sites program, tells us how the first national site certification program has come to be.
Building out the AI infrastructure and workforce in Africa proves to be an ambitious and necessary undertaking, reports Kelly Barraza in a companion piece to today’s Online Insider.
What underlying factors are necessary to ensure long-term economic development success? It’s a question leaders in Pennsylvania, spearheaded by Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED), have been keen to address.
As the fastest growing major metro in the Midwest (U.S. Census) and with a cost of doing business that’s 14.6% below the national average (Moody’s Analytics), the business climate in Greater Des Moines, Iowa makes it a prime location for companies looking to grow.
Key industries like advanced manufacturing, ag innovation, logistics and technology lead here. In DSM, companies have access to an engaged and educated workforce — the labor force participation rate is 70% and nearly 40% of the workforce has a bachelor’s degree or higher (JobsEQ). Companies can streamline their site selection process with the DSM RFI Ready program and utilize the region’s economic development team at the Greater Des Moines Partnership for support and expertise.
Photo of Shanghai skyline by AerialPerspectiveWorks: Getty Images
Yesterday the US-China Business Council — an organization of around 270 American companies that do business in China — released the results of its annual Member Survey. Among the findings:
Around 40% of companies report negative effects from U.S. export control policies, “with many experiencing lost sales, severed customer relationships and reputational damage in China due to the intensifying perception that U.S. firms are unreliable suppliers.”
Thirty-two percent of companies reported losing market share in China over the last three years, while nearly 70% are concerned about losing market share in the next five years, reflecting concerns about China’s industrial policies shutting American firms out of the market.
Fewer than half plan to allocate new investments to China this year, down sharply from last year.
Over 80% of respondents say they invest in China to serve the domestic market, while nearly all report that they cannot remain globally competitive without their China operations.
Analysis of the operating environment in China has been a mainstay in Site Selection for decades, thanks in large part to the insights of Tractus, which contributed this piece in November 2019 the last time higher tariffs came into play.
Due to generations of investment and reinvestment, Michigan is home to no fewer than 937 automotive companies. The state’s mobility leadership extends to other realms too, from maritime to aviation.
The new budget reconciliation bill terminates the eligibility of wind and solar projects placed in service after December 31, 2027, for clean electricity investment credits, with an exception for wind and solar projects that begin construction within 12 months of enactment of the legislation, says analysis from Frost Brown Todd.
Photo by franckreporter: Getty Images
Analysis of the budget reconciliation bill continues to pour in from all quarters. In addition to what we shared last week, here are new perspectives from reputable sources:
Rhodium Group’s analysis estimates the legislation will increase national average household energy bills by $78 to $192 and increase total industrial energy expenditures by $7 billion to 11 billion in 2035. “OBBB will cut the build-out of new clean power generating capacity by 53-59% from 2025 through 2035,” the organization reports. “All told, the law puts more than half a trillion dollars of clean energy and transportation investment at risk of cancellation. It also puts new economic pressure on operating facilities that manufacture clean energy technology—tied to nearly $150 billion of investment—given greatly reduced domestic demand for these products.”
Gina Skibo, manufacturing, retail and distribution industry leader at advisory firm Wipfli, says, “The One Big Beautiful Bill offers manufacturers a mix of opportunity and complexity. Key tax provisions — such as the restored full expensing for both R&D and qualified assets — can reduce taxable income significantly, freeing up cash to invest in equipment, workforce and modernization.” She says mid-market manufacturers should:
Model catch-up opportunities: “Quantify and file for any eligible R&D catch-up deductions to improve near-term liquidity.”
Align innovation timing: ”Schedule major R&D projects and equipment purchases before the phased expiration to maximize tax relief.”
Integrate tax and strategy: “Ensure R&D classification meets IRS requirements and aligns with growth plans.”
Balance pace and compliance: “Accelerated benefits come with increased audit risk; maintain robust documentation and compliance processes.”
“By proactively optimizing R&D timing and investments,” Skibo says, “mid-market manufacturers can leverage the new rules to spur innovation, expand capacity and build a competitive edge.”
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor North America
You’re looking at the Arizona Proving Grounds in Wittmann, Arizona, 60 miles from Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert, where Toyota Motor North America early this month pledged to invest more than $50 million in new amenities for vehicle and automotive technology testing and development. The new construction on seven different projects includes a 5.5-mile oval track, an off-road park and new ride and handling surfaces. Formally named the Arizona Mobility Test Center at Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds (AMTC at TAPG), the facility, under Toyota ownership, has been available to industry as a vehicle testing resource since 2021, the company says.
The overall facility covers approximately 11,650 acres and has 77 miles of testing surfaces with 60 miles of paved roads, more than 50 miles of off-road and dirt tracks and a high-speed oval track with a second oval track nearing completion. Toyota established the Arizona Proving Grounds in 1993.
