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ECONOMIC FORECAST U.S. companies (especially those with fewer than 500 workers which account for 46 percent of total workers) and the federal government will continue to eliminate jobs and reduce the rate of hiring. Unless the U.S. Supreme Court sustains the challenges to President Trump’s unprecedented use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose wide‑ranging tariffs, the effects of the President’s tariff policy will increase in 2026. A decision upholding the imposition of tariffs could be followed by a recession that will particularly hurt our lower-income citizens. Even if a recession is avoided, a potential reduction in employment growth, coupled with ...

The ground is moving. Economic developers who built careers on stable plans and steady policy cycles now find themselves on shifting terrain. A sea change has been occurring. Political swings, supply chain shocks, tariff fights, and fast technology shifts have changed the game. The work environment feels less like solid ground and more like moving water. This is not a short-term problem. This is the new normal. The Old Model Has Shifted For decades, economic development followed a simple logic. Build ties with a few key partners. Write a strategic plan every three to five years. Run programs. Measure results. Make small changes. The belief under all of it was that things would stay stable long enough for the plan to work. That belief no ...

In Northwest Indiana, underutilized brownfields sit alongside newly laid quantum fiber lines, creating a rare opportunity to pair legacy land with next-generation industries. The choices we make now about land reuse, energy, and community engagement will shape whether this growth is sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. As an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow with the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC), I am leading an initiative to identify and prioritize at least eight brownfield sites along the emerging Quantum Fiber Corridor that stretches from Chicago to North Central Indiana. These sites will be evaluated for redevelopment potential, paired with reuse strategies, and connected to sources of public and private ...

Congress has extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 — the 2018 Farm Bill — through September 30, 2026. The extension was included in the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (H.R. 5371), which Congress passed on November 12, 2025. This law also restored federal government operations following the recent shutdown and provided funding for ongoing programs, ensuring that key Farm Bill authorities continue uninterrupted while Congress works toward a new reauthorization. The extension maintains the full range of programs originally authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, covering agriculture, nutrition assistance, conservation, and rural ...

In late 2019, the City of Eagle Pass, Texas, established its first Economic Development Department. After serving the County of El Paso, Texas, for several years, I was recruited to lead this new initiative. The hope? To leverage Eagle Pass’s low cost of living, international trade, and available workforce to create a more robust economy with an emphasis on small businesses.

Energy affordability is one of the most important yet often overlooked factors in economic development. When energy costs are high, they act as a hidden tax on households, businesses, and entire communities. In rural America, where incomes are lower and infrastructure challenges are greater, the impact of high energy costs is even more severe. These costs create barriers to competitiveness, limit disposable income, and make it harder for communities to attract and retain employers. Addressing rural energy affordability is therefore not just a utility issue, it is a cornerstone of rural economic development strategy.

IEDC's Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) program recognizes organizational excellence in the areas of internal and external operations, structures, and procedures. This series profiles recently accredited AEDOs, putting some of economic development's highest-performing organizations in the spotlight.

In this edition, we hear from Lauren Miceli, Director of Marketing & Communications at Pasco EDC of North Tampa Bay, FL.