Connecticut
Report Predicts Slow Job Growth
A report by the University of Connecticut is predicting that the state's job growth will decelerate in the next year and will further flatten in 2009. The main reason is the overall slowdown in the national economy, especially the housing sector, according to the report. In addition, the state has had difficulty attracting skilled workers, partly because of high costs and the lack of a major city.
Source: The Hartford Courant

New York
State Scrutinizes Businesses Receiving Tax Break
The state has begun publicizing the names of 2,900 companies which have received hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks to invest in poor and impoverished neighborhoods but have not met promises to reinvest or hire new employees. Statewide, the figures show the Empire Zone program has created little job growth, with the firms participating generating 52,000 fewer jobs than promised and some actually reducing, rather than expanding, their work force. State officials say they will demand repayment if improvements aren't made.
Source: The Buffalo News

Florida
Poll Shows Citizens are Environmentally Conscious
State residents believe global warming is a threat that will have adverse impacts on the state in future years and support Gov. Charlie Crist's (R) climate change initiatives, a Mason-Dixon poll indicates. In a statewide poll commissioned by Environmental Defense, 69% of the 625 registered voters surveyed felt greenhouse gases would negatively impact their lives, and half felt Florida was in greater danger than the rest of the country.
Source: The Tallahassee Democrat

Ga.: New Opportunities Open up for Small Businesses
The Athens-Clarke Economic Development Foundation will use a $25,000 state grant awarded by the state Department of Economic Development to hire a new staff member to focus on small-business interests. The new staffer will implement a four-part plan, which includes creating a small-business resource center, fostering collaboration among local business organizations, promoting and helping city's music, film and art communities, and opening an office to create small-business opportunities in health care and bio-sciences.
Source: The Athens Banner-Herald

Colorado
Rural Areas to Receive Health Care Help
Gov. Bill Ritter (D) has created a panel to provide grants to rural health care providers. Ritter's Colorado Rural Health Care Grants Council will oversee allocation of a $7.5 million gift the state is to receive from the UnitedHealth Group. Ritter said specific areas of the state that need help the most include counties that have no primary care physicians, lack doctors who will accept new Medicaid patients, or have no hospital.
Source: The Pueblo Chieftain

North Dakota
Commission Protests Timeframe for New Pipeline
State officials say they may not have sufficient time to review a planned pipeline that would give local oil producers more options for shipping their crude to refineries. Belle Fourche Pipeline Co. wants to begin construction on the 32-mile stretch of pipeline in October, however the Public Service Commission, which controls the sitting of oil pipelines, argue that the project developer's aggressive schedule leaves relatively little time for the commission to examine the project and schedule a public hearing in the affected area.
Source: Associated Press

Alaska
Companies Oppose New Oil Tax
Local oil and gas companies are opposing efforts to change the state's oil production tax. The head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association said that its members, including two of the state's three major oil producers, support the net profits-based system currently in place. While the old tax was based on gross oil production, the new tax, which state lawmakers approved last August, is based on oil company profits. Gov. Sarah Palin (R) has announced that she would call a special session this fall to address the tax.
Source: Anchorage Daily News

California
Firms Anxious Over Immigration Crackdown
Local businesses which employ the majority of illegal immigrants throughout the country, are reeling after federal officials announced a new workplace crackdown last week. The Department of Homeland Security has announced new regulations on how businesses must respond when informed that there are discrepancies in a worker's tax records. Businesses, including hotels, farms, restaurants and convalescent homes, say they are confused and fear they could be forced into mass firings over the new regulations.
Source: The Sacramento Bee