Texas factory activity showed its first signs of growth in more than a year, according to business executives responding to November’s Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey, released November 30 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The production index, a key indicator of state manufacturing conditions, turned positive for the first time since July 2008. Other key indexes of current factory activity — including capacity utilization, shipments, new orders and growth rate of orders—also moved into positive territory.

Read the full story here….

From the City Wire, Arkansas

Submitted by The City Wire staff on Mon, 11/02/2009 – 3:44pm.

Arkansas’ economy saw “weak” signs of improvement and there were better signs of growth from a closely watched national manufacturing report.

Overall, both reports provide reasons for economic hope for a Fort Smith region still dominated by durable goods manufacturing.

Read the full story

Thanks to Chris Green for this contribution:

Everbank, a Jacksonville based mortgage service center is hiring up to 200 people due to its increase in business.  It’s been a while since we’ve read anything positive in our economic news for mortgage or finance, so good for Everbank, Jacksonville, and the US. Read the full story here:

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/03/23/daily22.html?surround=etf

Thanks to Chris Green for this excellent find.

Although it does not give an exact number, “hundreds” would at least imply 200 or more, right?  Very positive news for the Evansville economy, and good news for our nation.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090319/BUSINESS/90319033

Thanks to Chris Green for this submission:

Jacksonville Florida’s mayor and city officials are keeping a positive outlook for their local economy and doing a bust-up job attracting foreign investment in their port city.

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/03/23/daily11.html?surround=etf

What the heck is going on in Pittsburgh, Pa?  If I were Mayor of any given US city I’d be on the phone yesterday with the Mayor of Pittsburgh asking “doesn’t Pittsburgh understand we’re in the throws of an economic meltdown?”

Pittsburgh added over 4 BILLION dollars in capital investment in the city by companies coming to, adding on, and expanding in the city.  This kept them on pace with their 2007 results which they labeled “the golden year.”

If you live in or around Pittsburgh, this is certainly good economic news, and other your mayor should be the keynote speaker at the conference of Mayors this year.  Read some of what they’re doing to achieve this success HERE.

From KSTAR.COM

PHOENIX – There’s some good news on the housing market. Valley real estate guru R.L. Brown says the new home market appears to be hitting bottom.

“New home permits for the last four months have been really almost non-existent,” Brown said. “So that basically shows a shutdown of the new housing market while we’re still making sales of new homes, which tells us that the builders are selling off their spec inventory.”

“The median price of new homes has really seemed to stabilize over the last several months. That’s an indication that the bottom of the market, for new housing, has been reached.”

Brown says moving that inventory is the first step in getting new home builders back on the job.

Thanks to Gary Wyant of Scottsdale for this submission.

HVO, a medical supply company will open a new facility in the Western N. Carolina area that will produce 50 new jobs.

http://www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/02_09/02_25_09/fr_company_expands.html

Barclays is opening a credit card processing center that will employ 300 initially, and accomdate 500 employees within 5 years.  Great news for the Wilmington economy.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/barclays-to-open-new-customer-contact-center-in-newark-delaware,729864.shtml

If you live in or near Wallace and need work, Roses Department Store will open in a  few months employing some 40 full-time workers.   A new discount retailer opening amidst a recession?  For some, there’s no dousing the flames of entrepreneurship.  Good news for Wallace’s economy is good news for America’s economy.

http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14357&Itemid=35