With the presidential election approaching, the debate over job creation is heating up. Candidates have grand plans for sustaining and creating jobs, but how do they tap into what’s really driving growth across the country?

Categories: Job Creation
Tagged: 2012 presidential election, Agriculture, Akron OH, Charlotte NC, economic recovery, energy, jobs, manufacturing, Oh-Penn region, Reshoring, Rust Belt,

Which U.S. cities are the top players in the global market, and what traits set them apart?

Categories: Site Selection
Tagged: Austin TX, Charlotte NC, entrepreneurs, Exports, global trade, Greenville SC,

Some new statistics out put the number of small businesses in the United States in new focus. An eye-opening 98 percent of all companies in the country employ fewer than 500 people and only a fraction of those companies employ more than 100 people. In all, 96 percent of all U.S. companies have fewer than 100 workers.

Categories: Job Creation, Research
Tagged: Albuquerque NM, Charlotte NC, Entrepreneurship, Kentucky small business, RUPRI, small business, Wichita KS,

As more Americans from the Baby Boom generation retire and look for the perfect place to spend their golden years, what cities are catching their attention? A high percentage of boomers are choosing to lower cost, less crowded regions over urban areas.

Categories: Quality of Life, Research
Tagged: Baby Boomers, Charlotte NC, Livability, Maury County TN, Phoenix AZ, population trends, Retirees, Retirement, seniors, Texas,

Quality of life is one of those elastic phrases that can be stretched to fit definitions broad and narrow, and any ranking, no matter how objective, leaves room for ample debate and interpretation.

Categories: Quality of Life, Research
Tagged: Arts and culture, Charlotte NC, Fort Worth TX, quality of life, Recreation, Wichita KS,