[October 20, 2014]

StateBook International Signs Choose New Jersey, East Kentucky Power Cooperative and the Worcester Chamber of Commerce as Charter Members

On the heels of its partnership with SelectUSA, the federal level government entity charged with showcasing the United States as the world's premier business location, StateBook International, the first online marketplace to unite Economic Development Organizations (EDOs), site selectors and communities nationwide, today announced that Choose New Jersey, East Kentucky Power Cooperative and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce have all signed agreements to utilize the StateBook International platform to plan and drive economic expansion and growth across public, private and utility interests in 2015.

"This fast response from organizations spanning private, public and utility entities is a strong indicator that StateBook is answering a pressing market need," said Calandra Cruickshank, President of StateBook International. "Our platform is the first to aggregate the more than 20,000 data points relevant to site selection decision to help businesses identify sustainable communities for their headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and more. By factoring in elements like workforce, taxes, infrastructure, utility costs, incentives and quality of life, StateBook's offering EDOs like our Charter Members the chance to complement those statistical data points with their proprietary information to better position their locales for investment."

New Jersey has been "red hot" since the Grow New Jersey Assistance Program was signed into law last year. The program offers 10 years of tax breaks and up to $300 million for eligible projects, which can mean serious money for companies considering investment in the Garden State. It's no wonder big names like Goya, Allergan, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Actavis and Holtec have decided to call New Jersey home.

"Site selectors have long recognized New Jersey's trengths including its strategic northeast location, its access to consumers and top-tier talent, its reliable utility infrastructure and its ability to quickly move people and products, but it's the state's new tax incentives that are making it especially competitive," said Tracye McDaniel, president and CEO of Choose New Jersey. "Statebook will showcase the merits of locations in a way that individual economic development organizations couldn't do on their own, and it will help every community in New Jersey compete. We're excited to be in on the ground floor, and to have a new venue in which to shine."

When most people think of Kentucky, they think of bourbon, horses and bluegrass. But to economic development professionals, Kentucky is known as an advanced manufacturing state specializing in automotive; aerospace; aluminum; plastic and chemical production as well as a logistical juggernaut that features two international air hubs as well as outstanding road, rail and river access. East Kentucky Power Cooperative represents 87 of the state's 120 counties through its 16 owner member power cooperatives and facilitates state and local economic developers in marketing the state both domestically and internationally for firms and consultants looking to find the perfect location that can reach 60% of the US population in a day's drive.

"StateBook allows our communities and power cooperatives an opportunity to show people unfamiliar with what the Bluegrass State has to offer a platform that reflects that Kentucky is open for business," said Rodney Hitch, Director of Economic Development efforts for East Kentucky Power Cooperative. "StateBook is the perfect showcase to demonstrate what great locations exist in our territories featuring details concerning sites, community, workforce and any other information site selectors need in finding the perfect site."

Worcester, Massachusetts is the second largest city in New England with 10 world-class colleges and universities graduating over 35,000 students per year. According to Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce president/CEO Timothy P. Murray, "The city is well positioned with a well educated workforce, a business friendly environment and access to all major modes of transportation."

Worcester's political and business leaders came together last year to form a high level Economic Development Coordinating Council which was capitalized with over $1.2 million and charged with recruiting, retaining, and incubating businesses to the city. "We have signed on with StateBook as a charter member to lead our national recruitment effort," said Craig L. Blais, President/CEO of the Worcester Business Development Corporation.

EDOs that join as StateBook Members may upload their own information, photos and more to communicate the unique benefits of their region to site selectors, complementing the robust, independent StateBook Stats™ and data tools. As more than 90% of site selection decisions are made online¹ before an EDO is ever contacted, StateBook is a powerful tool for EDOs to showcase why their regions may be a prime target for investment.

For more information on StateBook International, please visit www.statebook.com.

StateBook International Boiler Plate

StateBook International is giving a voice to Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) in order to fuel and accelerate growth of new business in the US. The company has developed the first-of-its-kind online data platform and marketplace that unites EDOs, site selectors and communities nationwide to easily discover and share vast amounts of qualitative and quantitative data sets in a standardized format for fast, easy discovery and comparison.

The company's technology represents the next-generation Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platform. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) defines GIS as "a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information, i.e. data identified according to their locations.²" By 2015, the GIS market is expected to be valued at over $10.6B³, making it one of the fastest growing and highly competitive markets today.

Equally important, StateBook International is establishing the first industry standard in data comparison, StateBook International allows access to both national and proprietary data sets as well as those from local markets and communities; ultimately, bringing balance and deeper clarity to the site selection process worldwide.

¹ Source (News - Alert): University of Oklahoma: Economic Development Institute, http://edi.ou.edu/

² Source: USGS, "Geographic Information Systems," http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb//pubs/gis_poster/

³ Source: "Geographic Information Systems (GIS): A Global Outlook"; Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA), January 17, 2012, http://www.strategyr.com/Geographic_Information_Systems_GIS_Industry_Market_Report.asp

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