ITIF Releases “2012 State New Economy Index”

According to Robert D. Atkinson and Luke A. Stewart, more than three years on from the end of the Great Recession, only six states have regained employment levels enjoyed prior to the recession, and 17 states are still more than 5 percent below their pre-recession employment levels.

In the…

Broadband Key Driver of State Economic, Social Growth

TechNet recently released the “2012 State Broadband Index: Where States Rank as They Look to High Speed Connectivity to Grow Strong Economies and Vibrant Communities.”

The report found that states actively investing in and utilizing broadband networks are seeing stronger economic growth, better connected communities and enhanced quality of life…

Rail Resolution in Charleston, S.C., Creates a Win-Win

A settlement among the South Carolina Department of Commerce, its Division of Public Railways and the city of North Charleston was recently approved by the North Charleston City Council. This is a first step towards ending all pending litigation among the parties, as well as the State Ports Authority, creating…

UCLA’s Anderson Forecast Points to Modest Growth in 2013

UCLA Anderson Forecast Senior Economist David Shulman looks beyond the fiscal cliff and assumes that the executive and legislative branches of government will reach an agreement before the year’s end.  The fiscal cliff describes the expiration of previously enacted tax cuts combined with some automatic spending cuts totaling about…

Sasol Ltd. Plans to Invest $16 Billion to $21 Billion in Louisiana

Sasol has announced it will invest between $16 billion and $21 billion in an integrated gas-to-liquids (GTL) and ethane cracker complex in Westlake, La., which is expected to create 1,253 direct jobs. The project  by Sasol, a South African company, will be one of the largest foreign…