Joseph Nielsen founded Nielsen Builders way back in 1908. Over the next century, the commercial construction company left its mark throughout the Shenandoah Valley and western Virginia, eventually earning its place as one of the Commonwealth’s top contractors.

AML Inc. has been serving the Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana area since 1956. After six decades in business, the construction company remains family owned and operated.

Reputation, commitment and years of service count – and perhaps nowhere more so than in the demanding field of operating and maintaining crane services, heavy haul and specialty rigging.

Industrial & Crane Services (ICS) is an innovative leader, pioneering a new era of advanced crane services. For years, the company has had a strong presence in the maritime industry, but today, ICS has expanded into the industrial services, manufacturing and field machining sectors.

Mazzella Companies is a family-owned business that has grown significantly over the past several decades to become one of the largest independently owned companies in the overhead lifting and rigging industry.

Founded on decades of industry experience, Engineered Rigging prides itself on creating ingenious and highly flexible solutions for the safe lifting and transportation of equipment. The company provides unique solutions, many of them patent-pending, and has the skills, facilities, and industry know-how to create solutions that work for all clients.

1984 was the year Precision Heavy Haul began operations under the leadership of CEO Mike Poppe. The company is known for specializing in projects that require moving loads that are heavy, oversized or otherwise awkward.

Since its start in 1981, Humphries and Company has been noted for its premium interior general contractor services throughout the Metro Atlanta Area, for its reputation for high-quality consistency, and for building relationships with its customers and subcontractors.

Located in North Carolina’s coastal lowlands, Columbus County is a rural community of winding rivers, pristine lakes, and ecologically diverse natural heritage areas. Dotted with small towns and welcoming people, the county is known for both its friendliness and rich farmland.

On the shores of Galveston Bay near Houston, Texas the City of La Porte, Texas has a lot to offer its residents, including a vibrant petrochemical industry, award-winning schools, and a business-friendly climate. This city of 35,000 people is known for its quality of life and innovative business development.

Alpharetta, Georgia, has experienced significant growth over the past twenty years and has received a number of accolades from both the state and national level. One of the best cities to locate to in the U.S., Alpharetta has also been named the ‘Top Place to Start a Business in Georgia’ by NerdWallet. Only two months later, it was awarded the title of ‘Top Small City to Start a Business in the U.S.’

Business in Focus recently spoke with Greg Dandewich, senior vice president of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW), about the many significant initiatives underway in Manitoba’s capital.

Marshall Country, in the rolling hills of Northeast Alabama, has become a premier destination for new and existing businesses and tourists alike.

Marengo County, Alabama, is a diamond in the rough waiting to be discovered. “People may overlook us because it is rural Alabama and they think that there is not going to be anything here,” says Brenda Tuck, Executive Director of the Marengo County Economic Development Authority, “but nothing could be farther from the truth. We are a gem, waiting to be utilized to our fullest potential.”

Located in Northeast Alabama within a two-hour drive of major cities in the Southeastern United States, DeKalb County has become an ideal location for distribution companies, automotive suppliers, and other manufacturers.

The Southeast enjoys the fastest growing economy in the United States. As the Heart of Dixie, Alabama is centrally located to capitalize on this exciting success. A strong, pro-business climate, competitive labor costs, a dedicated workforce, and an abundance of available land make the state an attractive destination for a wide variety of industries.

With its ideal location, Newaygo County, Michigan has made economic inroads and offers a high quality of life for its residents, which the Newaygo County Economic Development Office (NCEDO) refers to as “Rural Sophistication.” The NCEDO has played an instrumental role in bringing businesses and jobs to the county over the years.

Since 2004, Bay Future, Inc. has been improving the lives of Bay County, Michigan residents through job creation and retention in a variety of industries. Bay Future’s top priority is to assist and support businesses in Bay County and attract new companies to the region from across the globe.

In Hillsdale County, Michigan, neighbors still know one another by name and take the time to say hello. Historic buildings and quaint mom-and-pop shops line the streets. “It is like Mayberry or something out of a Norman Rockwell painting,” says Susan Smith, Executive Director of the Hillsdale County Economic Development Partnership. “It is like taking a step back in time, with the benefits of technology at your fingertips.”

St. Clair County, Michigan has a long history of creating a thriving environment for business success, much of which can be attributed to its geographic location and efficient transportation infrastructure, which acts as an instrument to continued economic growth for the county.