In today's auto industry, different fuel sources and powertrain systems are jockeying for position among the traditional gas and diesel vehicles. Because the new technologies such as advanced lithium-ion batteries need to be tested and perfected, and infrastructure built out, such as charging stations, it will be a while before the next generation of the auto industry takes off. However, “Putting The Spark Back Into The Auto Industry” tells us that while there are uncertainties about which technologies will win in the long term, it is an exciting albeit challenging time to be part of the auto industry.

Of course, one of those challenges deals with strengthening what is left of the workforce, as well as the best ways to attract new talent to the industry. In “Conquering The Auto Industry's Workforce Woes” we discover the talent equation is more important than ever. Find out what the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., is doing to rebuild the auto industry's image so that talent will want to work in the industry.

Also Inside

As the business community continues to ride the “green” wave, company leaders increasingly run across talent and vendors inquiring about their sustainability practices and processes. They want to know they are dealing with an organization that is doing its part to preserve resources. Not sure how to respond?

“What Sustainability Practices Can Do For You” details how two manufacturing companies are implementing sustainable efforts into their processes, such as using methane gas generated from a landfill that would otherwise be burned off, to installing efficient lighting, to requiring machinery equipment suppliers to reengineer the equipment so it achieves optimal energy savings.

We also learn about sustainability initiatives that include a revitalization effort in Omaha, Neb., which is a LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot project; as well as the repurposing of an inactive factory campus in Oklahoma to a green technology park; and the retrofitting of former ammunition bunkers to support data center operations.

Implementing sustainable and energy-efficient practices does not have to break the bank. There are many low-cost or no-cost measures to incorporate in your processes, particularly in regard to the usage of energy and water. “Sustaining Facilities: Raising The Bar” describes the most common energy-efficiency measures, sustainable purchasing, material handling, and air quality and cleaning initiatives to carry out in existing facilities. The key to sustainability says Maureen Roskoski, senior professional with Facility Engineering Associates PC, is to find the integration of the triple-bottom line, the correlation between environment, financial and social. She also advises educating the occupants of the facility as to why you are implementing these measures, and the cost savings that will result.

2010 Economic Indicators

This issue of GCX features our annual run down of Economic Development Indicators. Millions of points of data for 16 industry sectors have been analyzed to determine the top 10 states for each sector based on startups, branch activities and employment concentration numbers. Discover the states of strength based on indicators from the first quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009.

Best regards,

Rachel Duran

Editor In Chief