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Special Economic Zones should cater to the needs of businesses. A lack of systematic driven analysis on economic zones' performance has been observed. Comments from analysts are also included.

Georgia has become a popular location among businesses from around the world. The state's workforce is seen as a major reason for its attraction of investments. Comments from executives are also provided.

Recipients of government business incentives in Pennsylvania have been outlined in a report by Keystone Research Center. Business subsidies in the state have focused on older communities from 2003 to 2008. Smaller cities, on the other hand, have recieved 44 percent more funds per capita during the same period.

Newly-completed infrastructure projects around the world are discussed. The world's largest-stand alone Building Integrated Photovoltaic power project has commenced operation in Shanghai, China. Meanwhile, construction of the Access to the Region's Core Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel project is currently on track.

Canada has become a popular industrial location among foreign businesses. General Motors, GE and Agfa Healthcare have all opened facilities in Ontario. Meanwhile, Samsung C and T and Korea Electric Power Corp. are planning to invest $7 billion in Ontario.

Foreign companies have been choosing the southern United States as business locations. CT and T is planning to construct an electric car plant in South Carolina. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand will build a corporate facility in Jacksonville.

Members of the United States food industry have been incorporating sustainability in the design of their facilities. Hormel Foods Corp.'s is targeting LEED certification for its Progressive Processing LLC facility. Carolina Ingredients' newly-renovated plant, on the other hand, has received LEED-Silver certification.

California has topped Site Selection magazine's 2010 Sustainability Rankings. The state led in criteria such as energy efficiency, local green incentives and leveraged funding. The entry of environment-friendly firms to the state is seen as a reason for the development.

South-Central United States is seeing a surge in the energy sector as CRI/Criterion Inc. plans for a new hydroprocessing catalyst plant in Louisiana and Integra Wind Service expects to hire 205 people in Oklahoma. Details on energy sector activities in Arkansas, Texas and other states in the region are presented.

North Carolina's higher learning institutions are seen as the reason for the states popularity as a business location. The University of North Carolina-Charlotte is focusing on developing new engineers for the power business. Top state business climate rankings are also supplied.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania continues to attract private-sector facility locations and expansions. PNC Financial Services Group has three construction projects in the area. Comments from executives are also provided.

Major road projects across Europe are currently underway. The Egnatia Motorway in Greece has opened its final section in May 2009. Meanwhile, Denmark and Germany has signed a treaty for the construction of a fixed line across the Fehmarnbelt.

Electric utilities have been active in promoting economic development in the United States. Industry members have launched a campaign to strengthen codes to reduce energy use in home and in commercial buildings. Comments from executives are also presented.

The Canadian government has been working with businesses to make the country attractive to investors. National and local officials are getting involved in the creation of business incentive programs. Comments from officials are also provided.

Transportation infrastructure is becoming increasingly important in the fortunes of growing companies in the Southeastern United States and a multimodal logistics network is now the norm for potential corporate facility locations. The transportation facilities in the Southeastern United States are discussed to give the profile of the region as an industrial location.

EMCORE is one of the companies that hatched from the Sandia Science & Technology Park and the company owes more than half of their current revenue to successful technology transfers and commercialization. Applied Technology Associates is also expanding their facility at the park and they will add 24,000 sq feet to their premises.

The expertise of the different colleges and universities in Missouri are discussed to provide a picture of the state's labor market. The different companies that are also located in the state are also discussed to give a profile of the state as an industrial location.

Preclinical services firm MPI Research's expansion plan in Kalamazoo, Michigan will make use of two Pfizer buildings and create about 400 jobs by 2013. The $30M investment will receive 15 years of real and personal property tax abatements. Growth of the pharmaceutical industry's research and development projects are also discussed.

Site Selection's top ten corporate facility deals of 2008 were chosen by level of capital investment, regional economic impact, degree of high-value jobs, creativity in negotiations and incentives, and competition for the project and speed to market. Details of the top ten facility deals are discussed.

Goods movement, alternative energy and innovation are driving Northern Ohio's economy. Among the region's biggest investments is transportation firm CSX Intermodal's planned transshipment facility in North Baltimore. CSX chose North Baltimore because of its proximity to the CSX mainline, less residential areas and proximity to highway systems, among others.

State officials in Maryland unveiled their list of five BRAC Zones and 16 BRAC grants to higher education institutions in December 2008. The measures aim to help communities prepare for an influx of new residents and jobs as part of the federal Base Realignment and Closure plan of 2005. BRAC is expected to bring around 25,000 new jobs to the state.

Cargill announced in July 2008 that it would invest $22 million in a new manufacturing facility in Chicago's South Side. The company's plant will produce BiOH brand polyols, a soybean-based foam used in polyurethane furniture cushioning. Information about the challenging aspects of the city's business climate is also provided.

Reports show that cash flow at PPD is healthy, with $250 million expected from operations in 2009. The company anticipates revenue growth of 10% in 2009, and plans to spend the lion's share on facility expansions and improvements. Information about the company's acquisition activities is also provided.

The six states in the Central Plains region have held their retail power prices below the U.S. average and this is drawing energy hungry data centers. One of these is Yahoo! Inc. which will build a data center in Nebraska and a customer care center in Omaha. Kansas is waiting for the announcement that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will build a facility there.

Adobe Systems Inc.'s green buildings are held up as models for other companies on how to go green. Adobe has pursued more than 70 environmental projects at their San Jose, California campus including their server virtualization project and their use of double-sided printing.

There are hubs worldwide such as Aktau in Kazakhstan and Manzanillo in Panama that are emerging as companies remake their supply chain setup. These emerging hubs typically have international links, unhampered movement by rail, river, seaport, or international airport and these logistics locations appear to be building optimum corporate project momentum.

A summary of newly passed or pending legislation in the fifty states of the United States is presented. The laws discussed have an impact on economic development, business climate, and corporate project execution.

The economic development that a city experiences after playing host to the Olympics is an often cited reason for a city's bid to host the games. The economic effects that are already being seen in Vancouver, British Columbia prior to their hosting of the games in 2010 are discussed.