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By Greg Bishop | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he has some more announcements on the economic front soon as the state continues to have a more sluggish economy than the rest of the nation. At 5.3%, Illinois’ unemployment rate is the third worst in the U.S. and more

By Morgan Sweeney | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Virginia has again been recognized as the best state for business for the second time this year, this time by Business Facilities Magazine. The magazine, which describes itself as “the source for site selectors,” chose Virginia as its 2024 State of the Year based on

By Jon Styf | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Outdoor recreation brought $11.2 billion into Wisconsin’s economy in 2023, according to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. That’s 9.4% higher than the $9.8 billion reported in 2022. The sector contributed 2.6% of Wisconsin’s gross domestic product, 3.2% of the

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Twice named best state this decade, North Carolina was among a dozen top contenders in 2024 for Business Facilities State of the Year. “As site selection decision-makers adapt to changing market conditions, we found it important to highlight states where hard work is paying

By J.D. Davidson | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Amazon plans to invest $10 billion over the next five years to expand data centers across the state. Monday’s announcement is on top of a $7.8 billion plan announced last year and more than $6 billion already spent in Ohio through the end of

By Kevin Bessler | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Despite a recent lawsuit affecting real estate commissions, a new survey shows home sellers still prefer hiring a real estate agent for the transaction. In the settlement, the National Association of Realtors agreed to pay $418 million over four years and amend some of its

By Kevin Bessler | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is going after the hemp industry in Illinois. A hemp regulation measure stalled at the Illinois State House is being highlighted by the governor. House Bill 4293 would regulate intoxicating hemp products similar to how legal cannabis is regulated, and would impose

By Steve Wilson | The Center Square (The Center Square) – The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach metro area has the highest living costs in Florida, according to a new report. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis to try to find the real value of $100 in metropolitan areas The

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square (The Center Square) – In the last few days of the 2024 legislative session, Democrats have pushed through a number of bills which will affect small businesses throughout the state. Lawmakers have been in session sometimes as late as 3 a.m. as Democrats work to pass as many bills

By Morgan Sweeney | The Center Square (The Center Square) — If lawmakers want to slow the growth of the data centers in Virginia, they’ll likely have to change the tax incentive the state offers to the industry, according to a new report.   Staff from the legislative watchdog, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, presented

By Steve Wilson | The Center Square (The Center Square) — A report released this week by VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism agency, says out-of-state visitors spent a record $131 billion in the state last year, up 5% from 2022. That’s a nearly 52.2% increase from 2016, when visitor spending added up to $86.1 billion,

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is disappointed in an electric vehicle manufacture that’s been approved for state tax credits but is struggling. In July 2023, Pritzker joined other officials and Lion Electric in Joliet for the company’s ribbon cutting. The Canadian company produces electric school

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Newly released inflation data shows a rise in producer prices. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday released its Producer Price index, a key marker of inflation, which rose 0.4% in November. The November increase is part of a 3% increase in the

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park is a step closer to being developed, but residents have questions about the project’s impact on Lake Michigan. The Chicago City Council voted Wednesday in favor of a zoning designation that was needed for the quantum park to

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (The Center Square) – President-elect Donald Trump said he cannot guarantee that his tariff plans will not raise prices for U.S. consumers. In an interview with Kristen Welker of “Meet the Press,” Trump dismissed warnings from economists that tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China and others would raise prices

By The Center Square Illinois job growth lags nation Illinois’ growth since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has been consistently weaker than the national average. The Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability reports since October 2019, U.S. employment increased by 4.9%, while Illinois has grown by 0.5%. In the past year, Chicago’s metro

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Contrasting concerns around the impacts of U.S. immigration policy were on display Tuesday at the nation’s capital.  Separate hearings in Congress addressed issues around immigration policy with an incoming Trump administration.  Acknowledging there are 13 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., Illinois U.S. Sen.

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Even with the city facing a budget deficit of nearly $1 billion, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he still favors a new lakefront stadium for the Bears. Johnson said he remains committed to keeping the National Football League club in the city. “The $600

By Morgan Sweeney | The Center Square (The Center Square) — The Biden-Harris administration has awarded semiconductor design company Micron Technology up to $6.165 billion in direct funding through the CHIPS Incentives Program. The program is intended to help the U.S. “grow its share of advanced memory manufacturing” from about 2% to 10% by 2035, according

By J.D. Davidson | The Center Square (The Center Square) – A small business advocacy group wants Ohio lawmakers to capitalize on growing optimism as one session ends and another nears a beginning. For the first time in nearly three years, the National Federation of Independent Business Optimism Index rose above its 50-year average of

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Cook County is at No. 6 on the American Tort Reform Association’s Judicial Hellholes list. ATRA has been publishing the annual Judicial Hellholes list for more than 20 years. President Tiger Joyce said this year, Cook County is among the worst. “Cook County is

By Tim Clouser | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Spokane is slated to adopt its 2025-2026 budget on Monday, closing a roughly $25 million deficit while attempting to prioritize public safety and urban planning.  Mayor Lisa Brown proposed the biennial framework last month after a protracted effort to gather up funds, identify efficiencies and

By Chris Wade | The Center Square contributor (The Center Square) — New Hampshire is the freest state in the North American region, according to a new report, which cites the Granite State’s relationship between freedom and economic growth.  The latest edition of the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of North America index ranked New Hampshire

By Chris Wade | The Center Square contributor (The Center Square) — Millions of New Yorkers could be getting “inflation reduction” checks next year from the state as part of a new plan pitched by Gov. Kathy Hochul to offset the impact of higher prices for food, gas and other necessities.  In a highlight of