Since 2017, manufacturing is responsible for more than $16.8 billion in
capital investment in the state, adding 32,000 new jobs and solidifying
over 153,000 jobs over those five years.
Site Selection’s annual compendium of state legislative updates,
economic and demographic indicators, workforce metrics, governor
comments, project snapshots and more will serve the needs of any
location decision-maker.
Fresh off winning re-election and the first Site Selection Governor’s
Cup award in state history, Gov. Laura Kelly outlines the steps she took
to propel the state to the No. 1 ranking in economic development.
Medellín, Colombia, is one microregion whose strong progress in living
standards is highlighted in new McKinsey research.
Archive photo of Comuna 13 in Medellín by
Adam Bruns
“Data at the country or subcontinental level often obscures precisely
where that progress has occurred and just how extensive it is, stated
McKinsey Global Institute last month in unveiling its “Pixels of Progress” analysis.
“Our granular dataset offers a dramatically different view of human
development around the world, uncovering the true depth and breadth of
progress in places previously obscured by country averages.”
That sort of data burrowing is a gold mine for corporate location
decision-makers. Among the examples McKinsey trots out: The
country-level life expectancy in Cambodia and Laos differs by two years,
but differences between microregions in those two countries can range up
to 10 years. Another example: A country lens on growth in GDP per
capita, McKinsey says, misclassifies the progress of some 1.4 billion
people.
Where McKinsey did not find official GDP data, the report’s technical
appendix informs us, “we used nighttime satellite imagery to estimate
subnational GDP,” based on a decade of peer-reviewed research showing
strong relationship between the two variables. Where are living
standards progressing most? “Among the 2 billion people in microregions
that newly achieved high living standards over the past 20 years, 1.1
billion lived in China,” the report states in Chapter 5, going on to
profile such communities as Yulin in Shaanxi Province and Anshan in the
Chinese Rust Belt, as well as other world microregions making notable
progress, such as Medellín, Colombia; Tehran, Iran; Istanbul, Turkey;
and — before last year’s unprovoked attack by Russia — Kyiv, Ukraine.
— Adam Bruns
Problem solving and communication, writes Lumina Foundation President
and CEO Jamie Merisotis, are among the ‘durable skills” in huge demand
as the global labor shortage grows.
The Single European Act was enacted in January 1992.
Photo courtesy of the European Communities Audio-Visual Service
Ursula von der
Leyen
Among many changes that went into effect with the new year was
the official accession of Croatia into the Schengen area and the
Eurozone. “Two immense achievements for the youngest Member
State of the European Union, and both reached on the very same
day,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
(pictured). “From now on, internal borders can be crossed
freely, without controls, like here at Bregana. And all the
other crossing points at land with Slovenia and Hungary, at sea
with Italy, and as of March, by air with all other Schengen
States. No more checks, no more passport control, no more
queues, just people crossing smoothly.”
Examine this EU release for more about the
Schengen area and Eurozone, and this document for further details
about the accomplishments and goals of the European Single
Market, which turns 30 this year.
PROJECT WATCH
Ohio
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and JobsOhio
President and CEO J.P. Nauseef announced December 15 that Abbott had
selected a site in Bowling Green for a new manufacturing facility that
will produce specialty and metabolic powder nutritional products.
“Abbott’s history in formula production goes all the way back to
Columbus in the early 1900s, and we’re glad Abbott is advancing its
future here in Ohio as they bring a cutting-edge facility to Bowling
Green that will support job growth and improve the supply chain for
critical formula products nationwide,” said Governor DeWine. “We’re
building this plant for additional capacity to produce these important
specialty and metabolic formulas that families rely on,” said Robert B.
Ford, chairman and CEO of Abbott. Other entities involved in the project
win include the Ohio Department of Development, Northwest Ohio’s
Regional Growth Partnership (RGP), Bowling Green Economic Development
and other state, local and county partners, said the governor’s release.
Contingent on incentives approval, a groundbreaking is expected to take
place in 2023, with construction expected to be completed in 2026.
On the same date as the Abbott announcement, packaging giant Amcor
announced the opening of the largest flexible packaging plant by
production capacity in China, located in Huizhou in Guangdong Province.
“The plant comes equipped with the first automated packaging production
line in China,” the company said. “This, along with high-speed printing
presses, laminators, and bag-making machines, can deliver double-digit
reductions in manufacturing cycle times.” Xin She, vice president and
general manager of Amcor Greater China, said, “This investment is
testament to our commitment to grow with our customers in China and
throughout Asia Pacific by bringing the best of Amcor’s global expertise
closer to them.” The plant includes three labs able to “fully leverage
the expertise from the recently opened Amcor Asia Pacific Innovation
Center in Jiangyin, China, helping to accelerate the development of
responsible packaging solutions,” the company said. In FY2022, 44,000
Amcor employees generated $15 billion in annual sales from operations
that span 220 locations in 43 countries.
Managing Editor Adam Bruns made this photo during his family’s visit to
Graceland and its affiliated “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” site over the
holidays. This exhibit, which debuted last May, salutes Elvis Presley’s
on-stage style from 1969-1977 “through more than 100 pieces of iconic
stagewear,” Graceland notes, many of them designed by the late Bill
Belew. If you’re so inclined, you can purchase in the gift shop for a
bit over $4,000 a replica of the famous Aloha from Hawaii concert
jumpsuit Elvis wore for the first-ever satellite-broadcast concert. A
new exhibit about the making of Baz Luhrmann’s award-nominated film
“Elvis” will be unveiled at Elvis Presley’s Memphis on Elvis’ birthday
this Sunday, January 8th, 2023.
