Civic Development News and Data

Merck has begun construction on a $3 billion, 400,000-square-foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at its Elkton, Virginia site, which will serve as a Center of Excellence for small molecule production. The project is part of Merck’s broader $70 billion U.S....

Dana Thermal Products is permanently closing its Auburn Hills, Michigan facility, resulting in layoffs for about 200 employees through January 2026. The company cited an unexpected drop in electric vehicle demand that led to immediate reductions in customer orders....

A new Innovate Carolina report shows UNC-Chapel Hill’s startups and commercialization efforts generated nearly $8 billion in statewide economic activity over the past year. The university recorded significant gains in patents, invention disclosures, and startup...

The Medical Device Manufacturers Association cautioned that imposing new tariffs on medical technologies could weaken U.S. manufacturing and drive up device prices. In comments to the Trump administration’s Section 232 investigation, the group said tariffs would...

North Carolina’s Rural Infrastructure Authority approved $9,815,885 in grants to support 21 local government projects aimed at expanding infrastructure and revitalizing local economy. The awards will help create 758 jobs and attract $179 million in private and public...

Electrolux Consumer Products will invest more than $23.7 million to expand its Kinston dishwasher manufacturing facility, creating 74 new jobs in Lenoir County. The project will add 30,000 square feet to the company’s existing site and boost domestic production of...

Leaked internal papers show Amazon aims to automate up to 75% of its U.S. operations by 2027, a move that could replace or eliminate 600,000 jobs. The company projects $12.6 billion in labor savings through expanded use of AI-driven robotics across warehouses and...

Denver’s hotel sector continues to anchor the city’s economy, generating nearly $7 billion in annual economic activity, supporting 33,809 jobs, and contributing $1.1 billion in tax revenue, according to a new Oxford Economics report. The study found that hotel guests...