Melissa is an exceptional partner in regional economic development. Her ability to coordinate seamlessly with Alliant Energy ensures that Winnebago and Worth counties are always positioned for growth. She is proactive, deeply knowledgeable, and highly collaborative- bringing her into a project early is a guarantee that things will move forward efficiently and successfully.
— Chad Hansen , Alliant Energy
In Focus: AI Is Changing Incentives Math
9 Jun 2025
News
Insights from Area Development’s Consultant Forum Workshop
Artificial intelligence isn’t just transforming how companies operate — it’s also disrupting how economic development incentives should be measured.
That was the message delivered by CBRE Managing Director John Lenio during a presentation at Area Development’s Consultant Forum Workshop in San Antonio.
As automation and machine learning reduce the need for certain types of labor, companies are delivering more economic value with fewer jobs. And yet, many incentive agreements still rely on rigid job creation targets written for a different era.
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