Business Facilities - March 2009 - (Page 25)

BUSINESS REPORT Texas By Donna Clapp The Lone Star State Shines Bright in a Dark Economy State-by-state comparisons still put Texas at the top of the list in employment and growth indicators. W hen you are looking at the state of the U.S. economy in terms of which states are thriving and which are not, Texas is one of locations that still rises to the top. In fact, as late as October 2008 the Financial Times ranked Texas as the number one state in the U.S. for its economy in a state-bystate comparison of employment rates, gross state product grown, personal income growth and foreclosure rates. In November 2008, MSNBC in a partnership with Bizjournals, ranked five Texas metros in the top 25 as being positioned best to weather the current economic downturn as part of the 100 largest metropolitan areas experiencing strong steady growth while entering the recessionary period. Six Texas metros rank in the top 15 for the nation’s biggest gains in private sector employment. Houston ranked number one followed by Dallas at number two, San Antonio at number four, McAllenEdinburg at numFrom left: Finn Strom Madsen, President, Vestas Technology R&D, Phil Wilson, former Texas Secretary of State Ditlev Engel, President, Vestas ber nine, Austin at Wind Systems A/S, The Honorable Mayor Bill White, mayor of Houston number 10, and El Paso at 13, according to January 2009 U.S. Bureau of times, companies across the country Labor Statistics. During the 12- are looking to Texas as the place to month period ending in December grow their business thanks to a rea2008, Texas gained 153,700 jobs. sonable regulatory environment, “In these uncertain economic educated workforce, and economic TEXAS FAST FACTS Population (2007): 23,904,380 Largest Cities (2007): Houston, 2,208,180; San Antonio, 1,328,984; Dallas, 1,240,499; Austin, 743,074; Fort Worth, 681,818 Targeted Industries: Aerospace, Aviation, Health Care, Education, Energy, Petroleum Refining Key Incentives: Emerging Technology Fund, Enterprise Fund, Enterprise Zone Program, Capital Fund Real Estate Development Program GDP (All Industry 2007): $1.1 trillion* *Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce BIG STATE GETS BIGGER • The economic impact of AllianceTexas continues to grow, totaling nearly $34 billion. One of the most successful public-private partnerships in the United States, AllianceTexas has been in a vital economic engine for 20 years. Approximately $100 million of combined initial investment from the city of Fort Worth, the state of Texas and the Federal Aviation Administration in AllianceTexas have yielded $6.5 billion in private investment, 29,000 jobs and more than $625.4 million in property taxes. AllianceTexas consists of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village. PHOTO CREDIT: VESTAS • Texas was the top-ranked state in automotive manufacturing growth in Business Facilities’ 2008 Rankings Report. BUSINESS FACILITIES 25

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Business Facilities - March 2009 Contents First Word Snapshots Corporate Moves: Tennessee Deciphering High-Tech Hubs Industry Focus: Biotech/Pharmaceuticals The Lone Star State Continues to Burn Brightly Pennsylvania is Holding Its Own Corporate Moves: Florida Metro Spotlight: Findlay, OH Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - March 2009

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