State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network

State Economic Development Bulletin – Issue 87, November 2025

Written by

aulaky@crec.net

in

Issue 87, November 2025

A Summary of Cutting-Edge Articles Affecting States

HEADLINES

SEDE News 🗞️

Economy and Trade💰

Workforce ⚒️

Business Expansions and Incentives 📊

SEDE News 🗞️

SEDE Steering Committee Member Spotlight: Tom Burns, Executive Director, Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development

Tom Burns was appointed as Executive Director of Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) in 2023. Burns started his career by attaining his Certified Public Accountant designation with Deloitte and was subsequently the Assistant Corporate Controller at United Gaming, the predecessor of Light & Wonder. For more than 30 years he was an insurance executive in Southern Nevada, specializing in commercial insurance surety.

Burns has served on numerous professional boards, including charitable organizations and government-appointed committees. He served on the Government Affairs Committees and Board of Trustees for numerous civic and trade group organizations including: the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce where he also served as chair for two years beginning in 2020. He was named to the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance Board in 2023. A University of Nevada, Reno graduate, Burns enjoys spending time with his wife of 38 years, Shelly and his two children, JT and Megan.

SEDE Members on the Move: Nebraska Department of Economic Development

We’re pleased to share recent leadership changes within the SEDE Network. Join us in celebrating these transitions and welcoming new leaders to our community!

Outgoing Leader: K.C. Belitz, Director

Belitz served as director of Nebraska DED for two years. Belitz oversaw the review and awarding of hundreds of millions of dollars in grants through state and local programs. His focus was on how to attract people and businesses to the state, and the launch of the “6 Regions, One Nebraska” initiative, an effort that encouraged communities within each region to work together to identify and address key shared economic development needs.

Incoming Leader: Maureen Larsen, Director

Larsen was named Director in November after serving as interim director since July 2025. During that time, Larsen has focused on career opportunities for Nebraska youth, expanding international trade and strengthening public-private partnerships. Prior to her role at DED, Larsen was general counsel to the governor and deputy director of the governor’s Policy Research Office.

The Government is Back Open. Here’s What that Means for Economic Data (CNN) The US government has reopened following its longest-ever shutdown, setting the stage for the eventual release of federal data. The backlog of data will start flowing, and the long-awaited September jobs report will have been published. The leading statistical agencies are in the process of updating their schedules for economic releases. Each economic data series will be affected differently by the shutdown, depending on how, when, and from where the data is collected. The lack of a complete monthly employment snapshot for October isn’t ideal, but an estimate can still be assembled. The shutdown lasted through nearly half of November, but it is expected that all major reports will be released.

New Funding for Workforce Pilots in the Great Lakes/Midwest Region (DoD; M-EWD) The Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program’s Manufacturing Education and Workforce Development (M-EWD) Program is excited to announce a call for Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs) to submit proposals for a FY 2026 $1 million regional pilot program to foster collaboration and innovation in addressing critical workforce gaps in advanced manufacturing across the Great Lakes/Midwest region. M-EWD invites MIIs to submit proposals that leverage partnerships between multiple MIIs, academia, and industry to develop impactful and scalable solutions. Please contact one of the eight DoD MIIs to discuss developing a collaborative MII proposal.

Webinar Series: Nuclear Energy in the Midwest (Midwestern Governors Association) Many Midwest states are investigating nuclear energy as a possible option to meet the growth in demand load in the Midwest and beyond. The Midwestern Governors Association is presenting a webinar series on nuclear energy to provide the information needed to support these efforts and provide policy makers with the tools to make decisions related to nuclear energy in their states:

DOE Announces $355M to Expand Domestic Production of Critical Minerals and Materials (DOE) The US Department of Energy announced $355 million in funding opportunities through two notices issued by DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy. Both opportunities are focused on the expansion of domestic production of critical materials essential for advancing US energy production, manufacturing, transportation, and national defense. The first funding opportunity provides up to $275 million for American industrial facilities capable of producing valuable minerals from existing industrial and coal byproducts. The second provides up to $80 million to establish Mine of the Future proving grounds for real-world testing of next-generation mining technologies. The application deadline for both NOFOs is December 15, 2025, by 5:00PM ET.

The Case for Manufactured Housing (The Pew Charitable Trusts) The Pew Charitable Trusts’ housing policy initiative works to help policymakers reimagine their approach to housing by illuminating how regulations and statutes drive the housing shortage and rising costs. In this podcast, Pew staff explains the advantages of buying a manufactured home and debunks old stereotypes that inform the zoning and laws that limit access to these types of houses.

Economy and Trade 💰

Tariff Dashboard: Tracking the Evolution of US Tariffs (UN Trade & Development) Starting in February 2025, the United States introduced a range of “reciprocal” (country-specific) and sectoral tariffs. The tariff dashboard tracks the direction and magnitude of tariff changes by country and product group and highlights the growing differences in the tariffs faced by countries in the US market. Users can filter the dashboard by type of product (manufacturing, agriculture, or fuels & mining) and by country.

Data Tool: The American Affordability Tracker (Urban Institute) To solve the affordability crisis, policymakers need clear, actionable data and policy solutions. They need to know how people in their communities are actually faring when it comes to resources, everyday costs, and financial distress. According to Urban Institute research finds that 52% of people in American families don’t have the resources to cover what it really costs to live securely. This tracker monitors the most recent available data on earnings, housing, healthcare, childcare, gas, groceries and various types of loan delinquency to help show data over time at the national, state, and congressional district levels.

Unlocking Local Leadership: Why Rural People Step Forward to Help Their Communities (Gallup) Members of a community are often best positioned to come up with ideas and plans for improving where they live because local people best understand the unique strengths and limitations of their communities. This report highlights the potential within rural America for community members to initiate and lead local action when they have a strong sense of connection to the community; findings show that 68% say they frequently help others in their communities and 46% have a desire to be more involved. These insights can help inform decisions, policies, and public and private funding so that people are more likely to take on and tackle local challenges and opportunities and build on the strength of rural communities.

Addressing the Impacts of Changing U.S. Trade Policy (State of Colorado) Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), Department of Agriculture (CDA), and Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), consulted with key stakeholders, businesses, and parties regarding the impact of U.S. tariff policies. In order to support businesses and consumers in navigating tariff issues, agencies have developed response plans focused on direct financial support such as loans or unemployment benefits, industry and global partnerships to bolster Colorado as a prime location to do business, and continued monitoring of tariff impacts and engagement with impacted stakeholders.

Workforce ⚒️

How Universities Are Driving Regional Economic Growth (University Economic Development Association) The University Economic Development Association (UEDA) has released results from its 2025 Engines of Growth member survey. Findings show how universities are redefining economic development through partnerships that advance workforce talent, commercialize research, and strengthen regional collaboration. According to the survey, more than 82% of UEDA member institutions directly engage in economic development initiatives to support regional economies, and nearly three-quarters focus on industry partnerships and workforce development. The results underscore higher education’s critical role in connecting research and talent to local and regional economic priorities.

Eastern Kentucky Workforce Program Outperforms Major Cities in Job Placement (Mountain News) EKCEP has achieved significant workforce outcomes despite Eastern Kentucky’s natural disasters and economic challenges. According to the analysis, EKCEP served 12,820 residents, secured 3,332 job placements, and earned 959 credentials in one year, outperforming major metro workforce boards on a per-capita basis. EKCEP leadership makes an effort to provide a culture of learning and build community partnerships to achieve these results.

Business Expansions and Incentives 📊

Which States Stand to Benefit the Most from the New Opportunity Zone Criteria? (SSTI) Opportunity Zones (OZs) are a designation for census tracts and a tool providing tax incentives for investments to spur economic growth and job creation in distressed areas. Recent legislation renewed the OZ program which was initially created in 2017. The Urban Institute’s OZ Designation Tool includes a list of over 25,000 tracts likely to be eligible under the updated legislation. However, of these tracts, 68% are “less likely to attract OZ investment,” according to the tool. This varies by state: Utah (39%), Hawaii (46%) and Idaho (49%) have the lowest percentage of these tracts. That is not to say that states with a lower likelihood of receiving investment will not receive any, but rather that the OZ designation may be less impactful.

$1.4B Deal Signed With Two Rare Earth Startups (Associated Press) The federal government and private investors are partnering with two rare earth startups in a $1.4 billion deal to scale up the nation’s access to materials and technology that is crucial for producing an array of high-tech goods and military equipment. Vulcan Elements is a North Carolina startup that manufactures rare earth magnets, while ReElement in Indiana processes rare earth mineral ores and recycles old batteries and other products made with rare earths. Rare earths are used in fighter jets, guided missiles, drones, and nuclear submarines, as well as smartphones and wind turbines. The deal includes a $620 million loan from the Department of Defense, $50 million of federal incentives from the Department of Commerce and $550 million in private capital.

Minnesota DEED Announces $2.4M for Growing Careers Program (DEED) The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded $2.4 million to seven local partners to develop and implement agriculture-focused workforce training programs for the Growing Careers initiative. Growing Careers grant recipients are eligible for up to $500,000 to develop training programs to help more Minnesotans enter agricultural careers, specifically dislocated workers, including those with low-income or who need assistance with basic skill development. Programs will increase the number of new and emerging farmers and farm businesses, creating a pipeline of well-trained workers to meet the needs of employers and increase the number of new entrants into agricultural sector pathways. The Growing Careers Program will fund on-the-job training, career navigation and worker support services, and paid work experience, and is funded by a grant from the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership.

Anthropic and Microsoft Announce New AI Data Center Projects (Associated Press) Artificial intelligence company Anthropic, maker of the chatbot Claude, announced a $50 billion investment in computing infrastructure that will include data centers in Texas and New York. Anthropic said its projects will create about 800 permanent jobs and 2,400 construction jobs. Microsoft also announced a new data center under construction in Atlanta, Georgia, describing it as connected to another in Wisconsin to form a “massive supercomputer.” These latest deals show that the tech industry is moving forward with huge spending to build AI infrastructure.

Ohio Releases Guidelines for New Workforce Housing Program (The Business Journal) The Ohio Department of Development released guidelines for a new program designed to support workforce housing near major economic development projects. The Residential Economic Development District Program, passed earlier this year, allocates a total of $25 million in grant funding to help communities expand housing opportunities close to where jobs are growing. The program will provide approximately $10 million in grant funding in fiscal year 2026, followed by roughly $15 million in fiscal year 2027. Local governments located within 20 miles of a major project will be able to apply for funding to expand housing-related infrastructure, strengthen public safety and community services, or provide capital to support new housing development.

 

The State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network engages in regular events throughout the year. State Economic Development.org lists these activities and offers an interactive forum for discussion among peers. The SEDE Steering Committee includes: Sandra Watson (AZ), Chair; Clint O’Neal (AR); Quentin Messer (MI), Kevin McKinnon (MN); Michelle Hataway (MO); Thomas Burns (NV) Hope Knight (NY); Christopher Chung (NC); Andrew Deye (OH); Sophorn Cheang (OR); Ashely Teasdel (SC), Adriana Cruz (TX).

Allison Ulaky of the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) led the development of this Bulletin; for questions on the content in this Bulletin or for information on the SEDE Network contact Bob Isaacson, CREC Senior Vice President.

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