General Business News

Executives Make Global Expansion A Priority

Middle market executives reported seeing non-U.S. revenues increase during the past two years, and they expect to increase non-U.S. revenues, facilities and employees during the next five years, despite the economy. The KPMG Global Enterprise Institute surveyed 1,000 executives from middle market companies across the country in July and August to gauge success overseas, to assess plans for future expansion and to understand challenges and risks. Among the survey's findings, released in December, was that while the global credit crisis has affected the implementation of plans to expand into international markets, 60 percent of the respondents say their companies plan to further expand global operations during the next five years. To learn the complete details, visit www.kpmgglobalenterpriseinstitute.com.

ACTE Signs MOU With U.S. Army

The Association for Career and Technical Education has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Army to increase collaboration efforts to improve the educational experiences, postsecondary readiness and career and technical pathways for the nation's high school students, no matter what path they choose, be it education, industry, military service or combinations of options. The MOU identifies ways of sharing education and expert resources of the Army with the education community; to improve postsecondary readiness and success, to increase educator understanding of the education opportunities available to soldiers; and to support ACTE in meeting its commitment to education policy development. To learn more, visit www.acteonline.org.

Regional High Speed Rail Group Forms

Five regional groups have formed the Western High Speed Rail Alliance, which will work to support the creation of a high-speed rail system in the Western United States.
The group will request $50 million from the reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act that Congress is expected to consider.
The groups include the Denver Regional Council of Governments; the Maricopa Association of Governments (the greater Phoenix area); Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada; the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (Reno); and the Utah Transit Authority (Salt Lake City). To learn more, visit s include the Denver Regional Council of Governments; the Maricopa Association of Governments (the greater Phoenix Area); Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada; the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (Reno); and the Utah Transit Authority (Salt Lake City).s include the Denver Regional Council of Governments; the Maricopa Association of Governments (the greater Phoenix Area); Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada; the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (Reno); and the Utah Transit Authority (Salt Lake City).www.whsra.com.

Business Parks And Real Estate

California Launches First-Ever Site Certification Program

The California Site Certification Program allows local governments to register commercial or industrial sites that are designated “project ready,” and market them as locations of new business investment and expansion. The certification process is conducted by the California Department of Real Estate, which will ensure a site meets specific criteria such as land use conformance and potential site development costs. The upfront site preparation takes the guess work out of the site location process by reducing expansion costs for businesses. For complete details, including viewing a list of certified sites in California, visit www.dre.ca.gov/ind_certified_sites.html.

Kentucky

Hitachi Automotive Products Expands In Harrodsburg

Hitachi Automotive Products is adding a new advanced fuel system production line to its Harrodsburg plant. The line will allow the company to develop pressure fuel pumps for use in the automotive industry's advanced direct injection fuel systems. The expansion could also result in an additional product line for hybrid electric products in the near future. The company occupies a 400,000-square-foot facility where it employs more than 600 people. The expansion will add more than 100 new jobs to the plant. For complete details, visit www.thinkkentucky.com.

Financial Services Firm Expands In Paducah

Credit Bureau Systems (CBS), a supplier of revenue cycle management solutions, as well as a range of consumer credit products, has announced an expansion that will feature an 11,000- square-foot addition to its existing 34,000-square-foot building at the Information Age Park in Paducah. The estimated cost of construction is $1.5 million, with an additional $300,000 in office furnishings, computer equipment, and information technology infrastructure planned. The company expects to occupy the new addition by the third quarter of 2010 and increase its workforce at the Paducah facility from 140 employees to 175 employees by the end of the year. To learn more, visit www.gpedc.com. and information technology infrastructure is planned.

The company expects to occupy the new addition by the 3rd quarter of 2010 and increase its workforce at the Paducah facility from 140 to 175 full time employees by the end of next year.


Started in 1952, CBS provides revenue cycle management solutions primarily to hospitals and physicians and a wide range of consumer credit products to consumers and credit granters through its association with the Trans Union Credit Information Company.

Missouri

State Secures Funding For Green Jobs Training

The Missouri Department of Economic Development and several state partners have received a $1.2 million grant to conduct jobs training from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grant will allow officials to analyze labor market data to assess economic activity in green industries and identify occupations and skill requirements. Research compiled will be used to guide worker training and retraining efforts. For complete details about the research and its projected outcomes, visit www.ded.mo.gov.

Washington

Smart Grid Community Forms In Pullman

A partnership has been announced between Avista Corp., Itron Inc., and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc. to invest $38 million to create a smart-grid community in Pullman. A proven technology will allow the electric system to adjust to changes in supply and demand, including the use of self-healing circuits that allow the distribution system to reconfigure itself during a power outage. An automated utility-meter technology lets individuals and business customers manage their energy use while giving utilities near real-time load tracking. The Pullman smart grid is part of a larger $178 million five-state smart grid demonstration project in the Northwest that is competing in a national competition for federal stimulus grants. For complete details, visit www.inlandnorthwestregion.com. 

International

Europe

European Commission

This spring, the European Commission will publish its first European Innovation Act. At the center of the act will be creative clusters, which are seen as the main driver of innovation and job creation. Officials are exploring a platform where European regions can share expertise in the development of creative clusters. Another key component of the European Innovation Act is partnerships and business support services, such as technology transfer. To learn more, visit www.ec.europa.eu.

Green City Index Released

According to the “European Green City Index,” Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo were found to be the top three leading green cities out of 30 major European cities studied. The index was conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, and sponsored by Siemens AG. The index measured cities' environmental performances, and their commitments to minimize environmental impacts. For complete details, visit w1.siemens.com.

The Netherlands

Streamlined Procedures Mean Fast Startups

A new Statistics Netherlands report says entrepreneurs can start a new business in as little as 10 days in the Netherlands. The quick start-up time is due in part to a streamlined paperwork and procedure process, which has remained constant since 2003, and is on average compared to other countries in the study. The country ranks eighth on a list of 20 countries included in the study. Australia topped the list, with a two-day start-up time. To learn more, visit www.cbs.nl.

United Kingdom

Wales Offers High-Tech Firms Ease Of Access

North American technology companies with high-growth potential looking to expand into the United Kingdom can test the market in a program that offers free office space in one of 15 Welsh innovation centers. The centers specialize in industries such as digital media, performance engineering, sustainable technologies, opto-electronics, biosciences, IT and software. The program, Access Wales, also offers other benefits, such as assistance in marketing, skills development for employees, sourcing suppliers and financial guidance. Companies are also eligible for specialized business support from professional consulting partners worth nearly $16,000. For complete details on Access Wales, visit www.ibwales.com/accesswales.