VIEW FROM THE TOP: How Do We Solve the Long-Term Unemployment Crisis? by Larry Gigerich

Larry Gigerich

Managing Director

Ginovus

As appeared on Inside Indiana Business

The United States continues to struggle with how to help people who have been unemployed (including ex-offenders) for a lengthy period of time. It is important to the future of our nation and economy that we implement innovative ways to address this vital issue. So, how do we do it?

There are not any easy answers to this problem. Employers are often concerned about hiring people who have been unemployed for a long period of time. Issues, such as educational achievement, dependability, work ethic and drive, factor in when companies look at candidates. While not necessarily fair, the stigma is real.

Many states are implementing creative ideas to try to solve this issue. The federal government can certainly provide financial support to help in this endeavor, but cities and states are best positioned to shape initiatives to help its residents. Several states are attempting to address the issue:

1. New Jersey: The state has implemented the Jobs4Jersey training program that not only helps with the training of its citizens, but also matches companies and candidates, links people to training resources and provides information regarding skills required for different types of positions.

2. Utah: The state has implemented an innovative training program to upgrade the skills of the unemployed to be positioned to fill job openings from growing businesses. Funding can be used directly by individuals for education, credentials or certifications.

3. Connecticut: The state has partnered with non-profit, The Workplace, to launch the Platform to Employment program statewide. The program works with regional Workforce Investment Boards throughout the state to help unemployed people who have exhausted their unemployment benefits to upgrade their skills.

In particular, the Platform to Employment program has gained significant momentum throughout the United States. Today, approximately 40 states are testing this program on a local, regional or state basis:

1. Pays the worker’s salary for the first two months of employment. This helps mitigate the risk a company takes in hiring someone who has been chronically unemployed. This component of the program reports a 90 percent success rate nationally.

2. Works with people who have been unemployed for a long period of time to boost confidence and help with job preparedness skills.

3. Accepts people into the program that have demonstrated work skills in the past. Sometimes, these candidates need skills upgrade, but most often, preparing a resume, social media training and confidence in using computers are the biggest impediments that they face.

4. Funds come from private donors, foundations and governmental entities (local, state and federal).

5. Works with candidates from all socioeconomic backgrounds, educational achievement levels and previous job experiences.

In a report by the Pew Research, a recent study sent thousands of mock resumes to employers with job openings and found that the longer a candidate had been unemployed, the less interested the employer was in interviewing the candidate. The drop-off was extremely sharp if someone had been out of work for six or more months.

Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there are approximately three million people who have been unemployed for more than six months. This represents approximately one-third of everyone who is currently unemployed. This is the highest in the history of our country; the previous high was 26 percent. This shows that the challenge that our country faces is even greater than one may think and a solution is critical.

In a Brookings Institute report, only 11 percent of chronically unemployed people who have found work are continuously employed, meaning that the remaining 89 percent are either employed on a part-time basis or are employed, laid off and then rehired on a sporadic basis. In addition, the most recent five-year economic downturn has been different than previous recessions. In the past, workers were rehired in similar positions. The most recent recession has resulted in employees accepting positions that they are overqualified for and/or at a much lower salary level.

Indiana is currently implementing some elements of the Platform to Employment program. In the next few years, Indiana should be able to evaluate how the state is faring with this new program. However, it is important for local and regional areas to embrace this effort. They are the ones closest to the problem and are best suited to help prescribe a solution.

In summary, we have an economic and moral obligation to collaborate to solve this issue. Every member of our society has value and we have a responsibility to implement solutions to help the chronically unemployed. The cities, regions and states that solve this problem first, will be the economic winners in the future.

About Larry Gigerich: Larry Gigerich serves as Managing Director of Ginovus, an Indianapolis-based economic development advisory services firm. Ginovus is a leading provider of national site selection, public policy development, community comparative analysis and economic development incentive procurement & management services to private sector, educational, governmental and not-for-profit organizations. Click here to visit the Ginovus website.

The Power of a Spectacular Team

They sure make us better

By: Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

                    

The other day, I was sitting at a bar in the Atlanta airport, waiting for my flight to begin boarding. Along with a couple fellow road warriors, we chatted about the life of a business traveler and thanked our lucky stars for our support teams. Although I had internet connection and my tablet, I was acutely aware of the vast amount of work taking place in my absence.

Our Team Makes Us Better:

For anyone not aware of what it takes to manage a constant flow of economic development branding and marketing projects, our team includes brand strategists, writers, designers, public relations experts, videographers, web programmers, and a top flight project management team. When some of us are traveling to client meetings, conferences, speaking engagements, and an occasional vacation, the work still has to get done. It’s a beautifully-orchestrated thing, pushing projects through the pipeline, on time and on budget. With a workload that includes the development of community logos, slogans, websites, videos, brochures, e-mail campaigns, social media marketing, and countless other tactics, we couldn’t make it all happen without this group of professional marketers.

Our Advisors:

We also understand that we don’t have all the answers. Our clients throw us new challenges almost every day, and when something comes up that’s a bit puzzling, we have an Advisory Board made up of industry leaders who almost always have an answer. This august group is made up of specialists in regionalism, workforce, business retention and expansion, site selection, and young professionals (YPs). Having such a great group of friends and advisors on our team helps us to better serve our clients and the economic development industry. Sometimes, we even bring these people directly into a client project, adding them to the paid professional team.

Our Allies:

I learned a long time ago that there is no way that Brand Acceleration can, or should, try to be all things to all people. Because my philosophy is to do one thing, economic development marketing, and be the best in that category, we still seek avenues to serve client needs through allied relationships. Being the perfectionists that we are, we won’t send clients to just anyone. The last thing we want is to hear that we referred a client to a company that provided inferior service. Getting on our referral list is no easy task. We know these people very well before we ever refer them.

So, when our clients and friends have needs for such services as competitive analysis, workforce and skills assessment, strategic planning, site location advisement, lead generation, fund raising, incentives evaluation, GIS services, and several others, we can steer them to trustworthy leaders.

When my flight finally boarded, I left with confidence that over our eight years in business, we have put together a team that allows me to recline my seat, close my eyes, and know that all is well in my world.

My best wishes to you for similar solitude,

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana

Office: 317.536.6255

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

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Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and website development firm with a focus on community and economic development.

Good Economic News - Over 8,000 New Jobs!

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, financial giant Wells Fargo will expand and add 83 workers.

In Boone County, Indiana, IT firm Smart IT will open and create 85 jobs. Congrats to economic developer and Brand Acceleration client Molly Whitehead on a job well done.

Food maker Archer Daniels Midland will open in Erlanger, Kentucky, creating 200 jobs.

In Sherman, Texas, Renew Blue Industries will open a recycling facility and hire 100 people.

In Laurens County, South Carolina, packaging products maker CCL Label DES will expand and create 98 jobs.

At three locations in Michigan, electric motor maker Brose New Boston, Inc. will expand and add 475 workers.

In Plantersville, Mississippi, furniture maker OptimComfort, Inc. will open and hire 70 people.

In Bluffton, Indiana, electric motor maker Bluffton Motor Works will expand and add 70 workers.

In Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Mid-Continent Nail Corporation will expand and create 91 jobs.

Transportation industry products maker Hubner Manufacturing Corporation will expand and hire 50 people in Charleston County, South Carolina.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Honeywell will expand and add 60 workers.

E-commerce provider Memory Ventures will open in Fishers, Indiana, creating 134 jobs. Congrats to economic developer Tim Gropp.

In Beloit, Wisconsin, Chicago Fittings will open and hire 20 people.

Tosaf USA, a maker of advanced polymers, will open in Gaston County, North Carolina, creating 75 jobs. Congrats to economic developer Donny Hicks.

In Venore, Tennessee, Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing USA, Inc. will expand and add 150 workers.

In Louden County, Virginia, medical device maker K2M Group Holdings, Inc. will expand and add 97 workers.

Limestone Quarrier Indiana Limestone Company will expand in Oolitic and Bloomington, Indiana, creating 75 jobs.

In Iowa, soybean processor Ag Processing, Inc. will expand and hire 20 workers.

In Calcasieu, Louisiana, Venture Global LNG will open a liquefied natural gas facility and hire 100 people.

In Putnam County, Indiana, Scorpion Protective Coatings, Inc. will expand and create 25 jobs. Congrats to economic developer Bill Dory.

Safety Training Services, Inc. a training firm, will expand in Lake County, Indiana, creating 16 jobs.

Packaging maker Sigma Packaging, LLC will expand in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, creating 43 jobs.

In Clinton, Tennessee, 3M Company will locate a facility and create 100 jobs.

In Columbus, Ohio, online retailer SupplyHouse.com, will open a fulfillment center and hire 40 people.

Plastics maker Suburban Plastics will expand in Grenada, Mississippi, creating 60 jobs.

In Augusta County, Virginia, heat exchanger maker Provides Metalmeccanica SrL will open and hire 45 people.

Industrial contractor Reinicke Athens, Inc. will open in Laurens County, South Carolina, creating 30 jobs.

In Coldwater, Michigan, pork processing firm Clemens Food Group will open and hire 800 people.

Healthcare company Cardinal Health will expand in Indianapolis, Indiana, creating 85 jobs.

In Oxford, Mississippi, mortgage technology provider FNC, Inc. will open and hire 310 employees.

Machining company UPS Midstream will open in Jena, Louisiana, creating 95 jobs.

In Schuykill County, Pennsylvania, consulting firm TruBridge will open and hire 100 workers.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, insurance provider Conner Insurance, Inc. will expand and create 23 jobs.

In Greenwood County, South Carolina, wood pellet maker Portucel, SA will open and create 70 jobs.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, electronic heath record provider iSALUS will expand and add 136 employees.

Lear Corporation, an auto component supplier, will expand in Portage, Indiana, creating 96 jobs.

In Jackson, Tennessee, Orchid Orthopedic Solutions Alabama, LLC will expand and hire 35 people.

Coatings maker Mankiewicz Coatings, LLC will expand in Charleston, South Carolina, creating 15 jobs.

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Iowa Brewing Company will open and hire 16 people.

Automotive supplier M-TEK will open in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, creating 100 jobs.

IT provider CloudBlue will expand in Indianapolis, Indiana, creating 50 jobs.

In Wake County, North Carolina, Overland Contracting, Inc., an engineering and construction firm, will open and hire 89 people.

At two locations in Michigan, robotic assembly line maker The Paslin Company will open in Harris County, Georgia, hiring 90 people.

In Fargo, North Dakota, business services provider Integreon will expand and hire 100 people.

Healthcare provider Edmedics LLC will expand in Louisville, Kentucky, creating 17 jobs.

In Spencer, Iowa, Simonsen Iron Works will open and hire 28 people.

Real estate firm Kite Realty Group will expand and hire 69 people in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Materials handling company Coperion Corporation will expand in Wythe County, Virginia, creating 22 jobs.

In Ponchtoula, Louisiana, Elmer Chocolate Manufacturing will expand and create 20 jobs.

Logistics services provider Hyundai Glovis Georgia will open in Harris County, Georgia, hiring 190 people.

Software provider Adminovate, Inc. will expand and create 81 jobs in Philadelphis, Pennsylvania.

In Bowling Green, Kentucky, brake maker Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake will open and hire 75 workers.

Mining equipment maker Deister Machine Company will expand in Indianapolis, Indiana, creating 110 jobs.

In Minden, Nebraska, Royal Engineered Composites will expand and hire 30 workers.

In Warsaw, Kentucky, pet food maker FreshChoice Complete Diet Products will open and hire 22 people.

Grain Processing Corporation, a maker of corn products, will expand in Washington, Indiana, creating 16 jobs.

In South Bend, Indiana, molded rubber products maker South Bend Modern Molding will expand and hire 80 people.

In Clark County, Indiana, NIBCO, Inc., a maker of valves and fittings, will expand and add 40 workers.

Retailer Target Corporation  will open a fulfillment center in Memphis, Tennessee, creating 400 jobs.

In Livonia, Michigan, insurance technology firm David Corporation will expand and hire 26 people.

Wood products maker Cox Industries, Inc. will expand and hire 60 people in Orangeburg County, South Carolina.

IT services provider Thomas Automation Management LLC will expand in Carroll County, Virginia, creating 15 jobs.

In Middlebury, Indiana, trailer maker Grand Design RV will expand and create 330 jobs.

Power distribution maker Universal Electric Corporation will expand in Washington County, Pennsylvania, creating 300 jobs.

Auto components maker Haring will open a facility in Hartwell, Georgia, creating 800 jobs.

Fresh produce distributor Castellini Group will open in Clayton County, Georgia, creating 300 jobs.

Kindred Healthcare will expand and hire 500 people in Louisville, Kentucky.

Total Jobs Announcements: 8,153

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana:

Office: 317.536.6255

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

FaceBook

BrandCoach Blog

  

Brand Acceleration is a full-service website development, marketing communications, branding, and public relations firm with a focus on economic and community development.

What Do You Do When Your Unemployment Rate is Very Low?

Workforce development may not be enough

By: Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

                    

It’s New Year ’s Day, and as I sit alone in the early morning darkness, I can’t help but think about my many blessings. I’m also reminded of our military personnel who are away from their families during the holidays. They risk everything and we have so much.

Our nation faces many challenges. Foes from faraway places would like nothing more than to see this great nation stumble and fall. Fortunately, the energy and resilience of the American people, with our many liberties, are more influential than any opponent. Through the rugged determination and down-right stubbornness of company leaders and workers across this great nation, our economy is once again rising and generating jobs and prosperity for our people.

Who would have thought, two years ago, that we would be facing a skilled workforce shortage in 2015? Some call it a crisis, but current and prospective employers are shifting their gaze more toward the availability of workforce than just about any location qualifier.

As the economic recovery gathers momentum, some communities face a new challenge, a serious shortage of the most demanded skills. Some argue that there may not really be a shortage, that the real barrier to a qualified workforce may be the willingness of employers to pay higher wages. That’s nothing new, though. Basic capitalistic principles dictate that supply and demand will force wage adjustments.

The threshold, it appears, is at the 5% unemployment rate. Considering the widely-held belief that 4% of the traditional workforce doesn’t want to work, the remaining 1% leaves many communities unable to meet basic employer needs. If your community unemployment rate is near 5%, you may be “at or near capacity.”

A race to educate

As I travel the country, meeting with economic developers, community leaders, and educators, I’ve seen a rapid expansion in workforce development and training programs. Beginning in middle schools and high schools, and continuing in higher education facilities, educators are racing to train welders, CNC operators, warehouse workers, healthcare professionals, and others. Sadly, a few schools are still focusing on low-demand skills that were taught in the past, doing a significant disservice to students and the community. The more successful community colleges and other higher education institutions are those focused on skills demanded by existing and targeted industries.

Workforce attraction may be required

There are times, amazingly, when communities must launch a strategic campaign to attract the skilled workers needed to meet employer needs. We’ve seen a huge jump in such requests at the Brand Acceleration offices. Our approach is to clearly identify needs, along with area growth trends, and then craft a campaign to locate and communicate with prospective employees and residents. Since this is an area where precious resources could be wasted, we often partner with professionals who are experts in workforce trends.

One challenge with a workforce attraction campaign is that it could create an air of desperation that could be off-putting to target audiences. Our message strategists manage the delicate balance between employment and lifestyle messaging, creating an attractive community buzz.

If your area unemployment rate is nearing 5%, then we should talk. It’s better to explore activities now than to wait for a crisis situation when you realize your community cannot meet the basic needs of attrition, an expansion, or attraction project.

Best wishes for an amazing 2015,

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana:

Office: 317.536.6255

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

FaceBook

BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and website development firm with a focus on community and economic development.

The Single Most Powerful Word in Marketing

It’s not that four-letter word

By: Scott Flood

Writer

  

                  

Are you familiar with the most powerful word in marketing? It's not the four-letter word typically associated with that claim. For years, you've probably heard that the most powerful word is "free." Other people will suggest that it's "sex" or something similarly salacious. But the fact remains that no word is as effective at grabbing attention, creating connections, and motivating actions as a simple three-letter pronoun.

It's you. Not you personally, but the word "you." And the reason it works so well is that we all do take it personally. When someone uses "you" in conversation, you subconsciously perk up in the same way you do when you hear your name. 

I'm sure you've been at a crowded party or restaurant in which the room buzzed with a steady drone of conversation. When you hear your name -- even if the speaker is addressing someone across the room who happens to share your name -- it cuts through the clutter as though they shouted at you. That's why effective salespeople and customer service professionals frequently use the names of people with whom they're conversing. "Now, Bill, have you considered an extended warranty?" Our brains are wired to sharpen awareness of our surroundings whenever they detect the sound of our names.

"You" has a similar effect. It tells our brains that someone is sending a message that's intended specifically for us. So our subconscious prods us to pay closer attention to the rest of the message.

"You" is even more effective because so many companies and organizations use it sparingly, if at all. If you read their websites and marketing materials, you'll see that they spend a lot of time talking about "we" and "us" and "our." Professionals and executives have a similar tendency to overuse "I," "me," and "my."

However, if your goal is to connect with and influence someone else, talking about yourself isn't going to get you as far as talking about them. It doesn't mean that you can't share what's important; it's just that we humans tend to pay closer attention when that important information appears to be about us.

Consider the following language that could have been lifted from the average business-to-business brochure: "Our model AW-1126 veeblefetzer reduces radish processing time and minimizes waste with our unique cradle system. It allows for faster positioning of the radish and provides faster coring." Now rewrite it with a focus on the reader: "You'll save time and reduce waste with the AW-1126 veeblefetzer, thanks to the cradle that lets you position and core radishes more quickly." Instead of simply describing the product and its benefits, focusing on "you" puts it into the user's hands. The reader's brain fills in the images, allowing the reader to "try" the product.

Some people are hesitant to use this powerful word in written communication because they remember their seventh-grade English teacher prohibiting it. It's true that when you're writing a formal essay or term paper, you're not supposed to use the second person. So instead of stating "You need to know about the amazing rainforest," we're taught to write things like "One needs to know about the amazing rainforest."

But many of the rules that govern academic writing don't apply to the world outside school. It's not only acceptable to use "you" in business writing and your day-to-day correspondence; it's actually far more communicative. In these contexts, "one needs to know" comes across as snooty, pompous, and somewhat impolite.

Here's an easy way to predict how well your website or marketing materials will connect with readers. Count the number of times you use "you" and "your" in the copy. Then count the number of times you use "we, “us," and "our." If the first number is larger, you've done a great job of reaching out to the reader. But if the proportions are reversed, rewrite it so that there's a bigger share of "yous." The revised version will probably sound more natural and comfortable, but more important, it will allow you to connect with your reader in a more personal way.  

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana

317.536.6255

Brand Acceleration Web Site

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BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and website development firm with a focus on community and economic development.

3 Ways You May Be Scaring Away Millennials

and Don't Even Know It

By: Colleen Walton

Brand Strategist

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

I recently saw a LinkedIn article titled “Don’t Leave Millennials Voicemails.”  During a conference, I heard a speaker say, “Millennials don’t like to drive.”  These sweeping generalizations are sending some communities into a tizzy over how to appeal to this mysterious generation.  “Millennial” is a buzzword used to describe anyone born between 1982 and 2004.  If we limit this to working-aged individuals, we’re looking at a group of people between the ages of 16 and 32.  This is such a broad range that making any assumptions about the generation as a whole is setting you up to fail.  I wish I could tell you the secret to attracting young people, but I can’t; however, I can tell you the most common mistakes I see in marketing to millennials.

Saying all the wrong things

A while back, I met with the landlord of an apartment complex in the suburb of a major metro.  When I asked her to describe the neighborhood, she told me it was “quite, safe, and perfect for young families.”  I didn’t hear anything she said after that because that’d already put me off.  As an unmarried, childless creative type, “safe, quiet, and family friendly” sounded boring.  None of that appealed to me, but it does to other people.  A high school friend of mine is a newlywed engineer with babies on the brain.  For her, a place described as family friendly is ideal.  Despite being young, highly-educated, and in a high-paying job, she doesn’t want to live in a place that focuses on marketing its bars and restaurants.  The problem might not be what you’re selling, but rather how you’re selling it. 

Just like how a home-buyer assumes that when a real estate agent uses the word “cozy” she really means “small,” people on the receiving end of your marketing efforts have the potential to misconstrue the things you say.  Take a step back and try to put yourself in your audience’s shoes.  Are they hearing the same things you think you’re saying? 

Trying too hard

Every sitcom has an episode in which the mom and/or dad try a little too hard to be cool and end up embarrassing themselves and their children.  Sometimes marketing efforts aimed at young people feel a bit like that.  It’s like someone Googled “What’s cool?” and ran with the first thing they saw.  It’s important that your millennial magnetism grows genuinely from what you already are because people can tell when it’s insincere.  We tell our clients all the time that their brand already exists.  You can fight tooth and nail to change it, or you can embrace it. 

Stop Googling millennials, take a walk around your community, and look at what you’ve got going for you.  If you already have a vibrant downtown, make it the best downtown you can.  If you’re already attracting young families, beef up your parks and playgrounds.  When you stop trying to be someone else, you can become a better version of yourself.

Looking in all the wrong places

This last bit may be hard to hear, but someone has to say it: Sometimes kids just want to leave.  It’s not you.  It’s them.  When they spend their whole lives living in one place, they lust for the adventure of leaving.  It doesn’t matter if you have everything they’re looking for, they’re going to leave because they feel like they have to go out and see the world.  No matter how hard you try, they’re still going to go.  The silver lining is that young people in towns all across the country are leaving their hometowns in search of something new and shiny. 

In my hometown of Indianapolis, a lot of kids grow up with dreams of living in Chicago.  Kids in Indiana’s second-tier cities dream of living in Indianapolis.  Kids in small towns dream of living in those second-tier cities.  If you’re a second-tier city, you might not be able to attract young people from the big city, but you can get them from the small towns.  You may not be new and shiny to your own kids, but you can be new and shiny to someone else’s.

In Conclusion

Marketing is all about identifying your strengths and using them to your advantage, but sometimes that requires a shift in thinking because your preconceived notions about millennials might be what's hurting you.  Like generations before, millennials are a diverse group.  Treating them like they have a hive mind will only repel them.  When you begin to recognize what you have and use that to drive what you want, you'll find much more success. 

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and website development firm with a focus on community and economic development.

Good Economic News - Over 13,000 Jobs Announced!

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

In Cary, North Carolina, HCL Technologies Ltd, an IT services provider, will expand and add 1,237 jobs.

JD Squared, Inc. will expand in Washington County, Tennessee, creating 50 jobs.

 

In Boone County, Indiana, auto parts maker Fukai Toyotetsu Indiana Corporation will open a facility and hire 195 workers. Congrats to Brand Acceleration client Boone County Economic Development Corporation. Great job!

Investment services firm Cortland Capital Market Services will expand in Indianapolis, Indiana, adding 153 employees.

Total Quality Logistics, a freight brokerage firm, will expand in Louisville, Kentucky, creating 50 jobs.

In Burlington, Iowa, Shearers Foods, LLC will expand and create 83 jobs. Congrats to Brand Acceleration clients, Jason Hutcheson and David Toyer, great guys and economic developers extraordinaire.

Aluminum wheel maker Dicastal North America, Inc. will open a facility in Greenville, Michigan, creating 300 jobs.

In Augusta County, Virginia, McKee Foods Corporation will expand and add 54 workers.

In Greenville County, South Carolina, Solar Atmospheres, a heat treating company, will expand and add 11 workers.

Mortgage services provider Carrington Mortgage Services LLC will expand in Westfield, Indiana, creating 360 jobs.

In Robertson County, Tennessee, AirTech International will open a new operation and create 100 jobs. Congrats to Brand Acceleration client, economic developer Margot Fosnes.

In Butler County, Ohio, GE Aviation will expand and add 53 workers.

Third-party logistics provider Comprehensive Logistics Co., Inc. will open an auto manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, creating 200 jobs.

In New Paris, Indiana, boat maker Smoker Craft, Inc. will expand and add 100 jobs.

Materials handling company Intelligrated, Inc. will expand in Danville, Kentucky, hiring 50 people.

Yarn maker CS Carolina, Inc. will expand in Alamance County, North Carolina, creating 22 jobs.

In Suffolk, Virginia, furniture maker Friant and Associates will open a facility and hire 166 people.

In Richmond and Sampson Counties, North Carolina, wood pellet maker Enviva will open two facilities and hire 160 workers.

In Kansas City, Missouri, Custom Truck & Equipment will expand and create 43 jobs.

Software maker AvidXchange will expand in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, creating 603 jobs.

In Abbeville County, South Carolina, cable maker Prysmian Group will expand and create 20 jobs.

Fulton Bellows, LLC, a maker of metal bellows, will expand in Knoxville, Tennessee, adding 27 workers.

In Louisville, Kentucky, customer experience management provider TPUSA will open a facility and hire 750 people.

In Walker, Michigan, auto components maker Plasan Carbon Composites, Inc. will expand and add 620 employees.

In Nappanee, Indiana, vehicle provider Ameritrans Bus, Inc. will expand and hire 73 people.

Glen Raven Inc., a fabric maker, will expand in Anderson County, South Carolina, creating 10 jobs.

In Berrien County, Georgia, boat maker Chaparral Boats will expand and hire 50 workers.

Clean Harbors, North America, a provider of environmental services, will open a facility in El Dorado, Arkansas, creating 120 jobs.

In Huntington, Indiana, Huntington Aluminum, Inc. will expand and create 41 jobs.

In Clark County, Indiana, vehicle parts supplier Tenneco, Inc. will open a new operation and hire 253 people.

In Buffalo, New York, the SolarCity GigaFactory will open, building solar panels, and employ 3,000 people.

Shoe Sensation, Inc., a distributor of footwear, will expand in Clark County, Indiana, hiring 32 workers.

Cleaning products maker Haso USA, Inc. will expand its Peachtree Corners, Georgia facility, creating 170 jobs.

Foam padding maker CE FoamSolutions, LLC will expand in Burke County, North Carolina, creating 20 jobs.

MacAllister Machinery Corporation, a Caterpillar equipment dealer, will expand in Indianapolis, Indiana, creating 70 jobs.

Auto parts maker Neaton Rome, Inc. will expand in Floyd County, Georgia, adding 50 employees.

Merchants Bonding Company, an insurance provider, will expand in West Des Moines, Iowa, adding 11 workers.

In Wilson County, Tennessee, apparel maker Under Armour, Inc. will open a distribution center and hire 1,500 workers.

Harman International Industries, a maker of audio systems, will expand in Novi, Michigan, creating 150 jobs.

In Marion County, Kentucky, Hendrickson Truck Commercial Hehicle Systems, a maker of suspecsion systems, will expand and create 60 jobs.

Smithers Rapra, a provider of testing services, will open a new facility in Summit County, Ohio, hiring 14 workers.

In Washington County, Indiana, seed coating provider Summit Seed Coatings Indiana LLC will open a new facility and hire 20 people.

Ritedose Corporatin, a pharmaceutical company, will expand in Richland County, South Carolina, creating 65 jobs.

In Cameron County, Texas, SpaceX will open a rocket launch facility, hiring 300 employees.

Haier America, a provider of home appliance products, will open a facility in Evansville, Indiana, creating 50 jobs.

In Louisville, Kentucky, Brown-Forman Corporation will build a distillery and hire 20 people.

Seating maker Magna International will expand in Maury County, Tennessee, adding 357 workers.

Auto brake maker Asama Coldwater Manufacturing, Inc. will expand in Warren County, Georgia, creating 40 jobs.

In Montgomery County, Ohio, heating and cooling systems provider Emerson Climate Technologies will build an innovation center and hire 35 people.

Breakfast food maker Echo Lake Foods, Inc. will open a plant in Huntington County, Indiana, creating 100 jobs.

In Forsythe County, North Carolina, furniture maker United Furniture will expand and add 200 workers.

In Henry County, Georgia, payment services provider TSYS will open a call center and hire 450 people.

Ivy Linen ServicesServices, a linen management firm, will open a facility in Fulton County, Georgia, creating 150 jobs.

In Davidson County, Tennessee, eyewear retailer Warby Parker will open an office and hire 250 people.

Nexthermmal Corporation, a provider of heating systems, will expand in Battle Creek, Michigan, adding 50 workers.

In Henry County, Indiana, meat and cheese provider Boars’s Head Brand will open a facitily and hire 200 workers. Congrats to Brand Acceleration client, economic developer Corey Murphy. Great job!

Burner maker Oilon will open a facility in Thomas County, Georgia, hiring 50 people.

In Oconee County, South Carolina, thermoplastics maker ACI Plastics will expand and create 25 jobs. Congrats to economic developer Richard Blackwell.

In Montgomery County, Ohio, battery maker Xerion ABC will open a facility and create 52 jobs.

Tactical Medical Solutions, a provider of trauma supplies, will expand in Anderson County, South Carolina, adding 15 workers.

In Monroe County, Michigan, window maker Sunrise Windows, Ltd. Will expand and create 100 jobs.

Total Jobs Announcements: 13,560

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana:

Office: 317.536.6255

Fax: 317.222.1425

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

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Twitter

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BrandCoach Blog

  

Brand Acceleration is a full-service website development, marketing communications, branding, and public relations firm with a focus on economic and community development.

Driving America, Experiencing Its People and Places

A valuable way to discover a community’s brand

By: Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

                    

On a warm morning, I sit alongside beautiful Lake Norman, just north of Charlotte, North Carolina. Being a serious early morning person, I find a great coffee shop and settle in for a few peaceful moments before I set off to the first of many meetings over the next few days.

One of the things I love about driving trips is that they provide an opportunity to truly experience an area, getting to know the people, lifestyle, and business advantages of each community.

In my job, I travel often and see much of the country that most people never get to experience. I'm often asked which regions I prefer, a loaded question that I honestly cannot answer. America has so much beauty and the people everywhere are amazing. I love it all.

As I make the rounds, visiting with my economic developer and site consultant friends and clients, I take great pride in what Brand Acceleration has become. After the long line of website developers and graphic designers, followed by the small wave of economic development "specialists," my company has truly hit its stride as a firm of economic development marketing professionals. Our team of experts strives to deeply understand the expectations of corporate executives, site consultants, and local employers who make location and expansion decisions. Our clients understand that anyone can build a website or design a brochure, but to craft and promote a strong community brand takes specialists who are in the heads of decision makers. It's not so much about design, technology, or technical jargon as it is about having strong relationships with people who can make investments that create jobs. In the economic development marketing business, relationships really matter.

The heart of a community’s brand

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; a community’s brand resides in the minds of its residents and those outside the area. It’s that feeling a person gets when he or she hears or sees the community name. One great advantage of a personal visit, which we always do, is the opportunity it provides our team to meet the people, getting a feel for what they love about their home. This is something that just cannot be done with a phone call or video chat. Our Brand Profiling research utilizes a combination of personal meetings, focus groups, and other strategies to discover that special emotional nugget known as brand.

At the end of this week, I’ll return home, completely exhausted, but with fond memories of the people and places. I will forever remember the beauty of the region, the restaurants, hotels, and bars that make for a great experience. I look forward to my next trip and another region of this beautiful country.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions. I’d love to hear from you.

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis: 317.536.6255

Fax: 317.222.1425

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and website development firm with a focus on community and economic development.