LEESBURG, VA, December 15, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Vertosoft is pleased to announce its selection as a Contractor under the NASPO ValuePoint Cloud and Software Solutions Portfolio, awarded by the lead state Utah. Contract number LS5028 begins on September 16, 2026, and will provide public agencies with convenient access to Vertosoft’s cloud solutions through a competitively solicited cooperative purchasing agreement.
About NASPO: The NASPO ValuePoint program leverages a lead-state procurement model to provide competitively negotiated, best-value contracts that benefit public agencies nationwide. The program is designed to promote purchasing transparency, encourage supplier competition, and ensure that agencies have access to high quality solutions that meet rigorous procurement standards. Through this structure, NASPO ValuePoint supports long term value and strengthens purchasing reliability across the public sector.
“NASPO ValuePoint provides an important pathway for agencies to procure proven technology solutions with confidence,” said Ashlianne Shigley, Government Contracts Program Manager of Vertosoft. “Through this award, we look forward to partnering with agencies across the country to further advance their modernization efforts and adopt efficient cloud solutions.”
Public agencies and eligible entities interested in procuring solutions under the NASPO ValuePoint contract can contact Ashlianne Shigley at NASPO@vertosoft.com, or visit Vertosoft’s NASPO page for more information. Vertosoft also welcomes inquiries from states seeking to execute a Participating Addendum (PA), and these requests may be directed to the same contact information listed above.
About Vertosoft: Vertosoft is a leading distributor of innovative technology solutions that advance public sector modernization. The company provides channel partners and suppliers with specialized expertise, strategic contract access, and secure, scalable resources designed to accelerate success in government markets.
Defense Cleanse Helps Law Enforcement Officers, Correctional Personnel and Security Professionals Recover From Direct Exposure to Defense Sprays in as Little as Three Minutes
NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 10, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– SoRite today announced the release of SoRite® Defense Cleanse (Defense Cleanse), a fast-acting decontamination solution engineered to quickly neutralize the effects of tear gas, pepper spray, and other chemical irritants. Developed specifically for law enforcement officers, correctional personnel, and security professionals who carry defense sprays, it helps users rapidly recover from direct exposure as well as “spray blowback” that can occur during tear-gas deployment. Defense Cleanse is the only non-toxic, sodium-chlorite-based solution on the market that both neutralizes irritants and lifts contaminants from the skin. It is also suited for the hunting, outdoor, and self-defense environments.
Member tested and recommended by the National Tactical Officers Association, Defense Cleanse is engineered to remove capsaicin oil found in OC (pepper spray), CS (tear gas), CN (riot control agents), and bear spray. It delivers one of the fastest recovery times available on the market, significantly reducing eye tearing and burning, sneezing, coughing, skin irritation, sore throats, and in extreme cases, vomiting.
In field use and training environments, users have reported “eyes open” after direct exposure of defense sprays to the face and eyes in as little as three minutes and full recovery within five to 10 minutes. For lesser “blowback” applications, recovery times are even faster. Competing solutions can take up to 15 minutes to begin working. Unlike wipes or soaps that provide partial relief, Defense Cleanse targets contaminants at the chemical level. It reduces the “afterburn” effect that occurs when residual contaminants reactivate during sweating or showering.
“Defense Cleanse was developed because there was a distinct need in the field for a non-toxic solution that would rapidly counteract the effects of all types of tear gases and pepper sprays,” said Autumn Ryan, CEO and founder of SoRite. “Whether the exposure happens during duty, training, outdoor activity or an unexpected encounter, it is imperative that everyone has access to a solution that is easy to deploy, works immediately and consistently, and enables them to rapidly return to normal activities.”
Defense Cleanse is formulated to be non-toxic, non-corrosive and fragrance-free. “It requires no personal protective equipment and is safe for use on skin, uniforms, duty gear, and equipment,” adds Ryan. “It is ready to use out of the package, needs no mixing or preparation, and is built around SoRite’s W.A.R.P. protocol of ‘Wipe, Apply, Rinse, Purge’ to remove oily capsaicinoids and irritants quickly and effectively.”
Defense Cleanse is available in gallon jugs for use by large teams dealing with major incidents and individual towelettes and aerosol canisters for field deployment and rapid application by individual officers, small teams, hunters, and members of the public. A cup of Defense Cleanse can also be used as a laundry additive to decontaminate defense sprays from clothing.
For agencies, officers and outdoor professionals who depend on fast recovery to maintain safety and operational readiness, Defense Cleanse sets a new standard for chemical irritant aftercare.
About SoRite
SoRite develops high-performance decontamination and cleaning solutions for professional, tactical and consumer use. The company is on a mission to make life safer, cleaner, and better for everyone. Its products are grounded in scientific research and designed to provide fast, reliable results and exceed operational demands while delivering industrial-strength performance without toxic trade-offs. SoRite is a Woman-Owned Business and was established in 2015.
SAN FRANCISCO, December 10, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Instawork today released The Year in Flexible Labor 2025, an annual view of the real-time labor dynamics that shaped local economies this year.
Based on millions of completed shifts across 150 markets, the real-time data shows affordability as the dominant force determining where businesses operate and where workers choose to earn. While major markets remained the busiest for total shifts, inland regions, particularly parts of North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee, saw the fastest acceleration in demand. This aligns with recent Census data showing that the fastest-growing U.S. metros were in Southern and inland markets.1
Logistics and manufacturing operations show a similar pattern. A 2025 study of 50 U.S. metro areas found that warehousing and distribution activity has increasingly re-concentrated in inland and mid-sized markets rather than coastal hubs, driven by land availability, operating costs, and proximity to regional supply chains.2 Instawork’s flexible labor data captures this trend in real-time.
Key Insights From Instawork Year in Flexible Labor 2025
1. Affordability Increased Staffing Pressure
Several major markets continued to show the largest demand for flexible work, but affordability challenges intensified sharply in 2025:
San Francisco and Seattle recorded the widest wage-inflation gaps, with real wages falling further behind the cost of essential goods.3
That pressure coincided with population and cost trends in inland markets where wage growth held closer to inflation and operating costs remained more stable.
2. Inland Metros Drove the Fastest Shift Growth
As affordability tightened in coastal markets, inland regions captured the strongest gains in flexible labor activity, reflecting broader economic and population expansion in the South and Midwest. Raleigh-Durham led the way with a surge in flexible labor demand followed by Nashville, New York, Columbus, and Dallas.
Instawork Year of Flexible Work 2025: The Inland Surge Inland Metros Drove the Fastest Shift Growth
3. Core Operational Roles and Midweek Demand Held Steady
General labor, warehouse work, back-of-house kitchen roles, and event staffing were in the highest demand throughout 2025, with businesses leaning on flexible staffing to manage an uncertain business environment.
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Tuesdays (in that order) remained the busiest shift days, giving workers predictable midweek opportunities, while maintaining schedule and income flexibility.
4. Wage Movement by Occupation
Role-level wage trends varied, reflecting local cost pressures and staffing needs. Merchandisers saw the strongest wage growth, followed by brand ambassadors, security personnel, and entry-level warehouse workers. Hotel housekeepers, food service workers, and forklift drivers experienced slight declines.
Instawork Year in Flexible Labor 2025: Wage Growth by Occupation Wage Movement by Occupation
2025 Totals at a Glance
Top 5 most requested roles:
General Labor, Warehouse Associate, Line Cook, Event Server, Dishwasher
Fastest-growing markets:
Raleigh-Durham, Nashville, New York, Columbus, Dallas
Peak shift days:
Wednesday, Thursday, Tuesday (in order)
Average fill rate: 95%
Stat of the Year
Raleigh-Durham’s 50% shift growth and North Carolina’s broader population gains reflect a structural rise in inland economic activity, consistent with population and supply chain operations growth.1 2
Signals for 2026
Inland momentum will grow as businesses seek more predictable and lower-cost markets.
Wages and role demand will continue to vary as businesses respond to global economic uncertainty and cost pressures, which impact staffing needs.
Flexible staffing will continue serving as an affordability hedge, allowing operators to match labor to demand in real-time.
Major markets with improving wage-inflation alignment (e.g., New York, Atlanta) may become more attractive for logistics and hospitality expansion.
1. U.S. Census Bureau, “Metro Area Trends” (2025) and “Vintage 2024 Population Estimates”, showing growth in 88% of U.S. metros and fastest growth concentrated in Southern/inland cities.
2. ScienceDirect (2025), “Re-concentration of logistics activities across 50 U.S. metros,” documenting the inland/mid-sized shift in warehousing and distribution activity.
3. Instawork’s Quarterly Wage Index, December 2025
About Instawork
Instawork’s mission is to create economic opportunities for businesses and hourly workers across the globe. As the leading AI-powered marketplace for hourly labor, Instawork connects light industrial, hospitality, retail, and robotics companies to skilled workers, turning staffing agility into a competitive advantage. Instawork helps more than nine million workers earn on their terms while developing valuable skills.
Backed by leading investors such as Benchmark, Craft, Greylock, and Spark Capital, Instawork is redefining how businesses stay resilient and how people work.
ITHACA, N.Y., December 9, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– GrammaTech, a long-trusted provider of cybersecurity services and tools that improve and accelerate software development, today announced it has achieved “Awardable” status with its Dykondo (DYnamic KONtainer Debloater/Optimizer): Debloating container images for reduced attack surface and optimized edge deployments offering through the Platform One (P1) Solutions Marketplace. This designation allows government buyers to easily acquire GrammaTech’s container debloating capability for mission-critical efforts. GrammaTech’s solution, developed with support from the Office of Naval Research, is designed to provide an automated solution for container debloating.
Container images frequently include unnecessary software, libraries, and files that are irrelevant to specific deployments, resulting in bloated images that increase attack surfaces, trigger false positives in static container scans, and impose unnecessary storage and bandwidth burdens. While current best practices rely on manual Dockerfile optimization, this is time-consuming and limited in scope. Dykondo automates container debloating by removing superfluous components from recognized application and file types, returning a lean, secure image. The result: smaller images, fewer false vulnerability reports, reduced deployment overhead, and a minimized attack surface, without the need for complex Dockerfile tuning.
“This recognition from Platform One highlights the innovation and impact of our ONR-supported research, translating into deployable cybersecurity capabilities for national defense.” said Dan Goodwin, CEO of GrammaTech.
The P1 Solutions Marketplace is a digital repository of post-competition, 5-minute long readily-awardable solutions, which address the Government’s greatest requirements in hardware, software and service solutions. “With Dykondo now available through the P1 Solutions Marketplace, government teams can easily integrate advanced container hardening into their software pipelines, increasingly a priority for securing edge environments.” said Dr. Lucja Kot, Vice President of Research at GrammaTech.
GrammaTech was recognized among a competitive field of applicants to the P1 Solutions Marketplace whose solutions demonstrated innovation, scalability, and potential impact on DoD missions. Government customers interested in viewing a solution video can create a P1Solutions Marketplace account at https://p1-marketplace.com/.
This material is based upon work supported by ONR under Contract No. N00014-21-C-1032. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ONR.
About GrammaTech: GrammaTech is a provider of advanced cybersecurity services and leading developer of software-assurance solutions. Our origin story began in the computer science department at Cornell University and now traverses a thirty-five-year company history of delivering cutting-edge cyber capability in support of government, intelligence and mission-critical infrastructure. GrammaTech technology is used by software developers and system defenders alike, everywhere reliability and security are paramount. It covers threat detection and mitigation, malware analysis, machine learning and automation, migration to memory safe languages, attack surface area reduction, and software supply chain integrity.
Contact Information Sarah Riggins Project Manager, GrammaTech sriggins@grammatech.com 301-530-2900
FAIRFAX, Va., December 9, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Symposit, LLC (“Symposit”), an 8(a)-certified national security, IT, and AI logistics solutions firm, today announced the acquisition of HumanLink, LLC (“HumanLink”), a human-factors engineering consultancy specializing in aviation and transportation security training and implementation. The acquisition strengthens Symposit’s offerings in national security, cybersecurity, and training by integrating HumanLink’s deep expertise in Human Factors Engineering (HFE), performance, and data analysis.
Founder and CEO of HumanLink, Bonnie Kudrick, will lead Symposit’s security training division. The former DHS executive brings over three decades of delivering human-performance-centric solutions across the commercial and federal security, aviation, and transportation domains, including at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Lockheed Martin.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bonnie Kudrick and the HumanLink team to Symposit, amplifying and expanding on our ability to support federal and state customers in national security solutions,” said Bobby Bermudez, CEO of Symposit. “Customers like CBP, Department of State, and TSA need rapid responses and cutting-edge technology to help their workforce do their jobs more efficiently, identify threats faster, and expand safety processes for security professionals and the general population.”
By acquiring HumanLink and formally launching a dedicated HFE training division, Symposit elevates its ability to deliver end-to-end solutions that not only meet system and network requirements but also optimize the people-system interface for safer, higher-performing operations.
Bonnie Kudrick added, “Joining forces with Symposit enables us to deliver our human factors training and methodology to federal customers for greater security impact and effectiveness. The alignment between Symposit’s systems and network engineering capabilities and our human-performance focus means we can deliver comprehensive solutions that address technology, processes, and people that make holistic improvements in worker welfare, security training performance, threat detection, and customer experience.”
The acquisition of HumanLink allows Symposit to meet increasing demand for security screener training and performance across aviation and transportation environments. Symposit’s Human Factors Engineering Division will add human-system research, interface analysis, workflow optimization, training design, and risk mitigation to the organization’s capabilities. These combined solutions enhance Symposit’s competitive advantage and reinforce its position as a full-lifecycle partner for federal agencies, transportation operators, and private-sector clients seeking comprehensive solutions that unite technology, processes, and human performance.
About Symposit: Symposit is a mission-centric technology and advisory company with federal and commercial clients across infrastructure, aviation, homeland security, and transportation. As an 8(a)-certified firm, Symposit delivers low time-to-value solutions in cloud architecture, cybersecurity, systems/network engineering, advisory services, security training, and human factors engineering. Symposit’s track record includes secure deployments in aviation environments, mission-critical federal systems support, infrastructure risk mitigation, and rapid-turn technology enablement. www.symposit.com
As Nigeria modernises one of Africa’s largest public sector workforces, MuchSkills’ technology is being deployed by Phillips Consulting to power a federal skills intelligence effort.
STOCKHOLM, December 9, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Swedish skills intelligence platform MuchSkills is collaborating on a major government initiative in Nigeria to map and analyse the skills of the federal civil service through its AI-enabled workforce capability platform. Employing around 70,000 people, the Nigerian civil service forms the core of a public sector workforce of roughly one million people – one of the largest in Africa.
This initiative, introduced under the leadership of Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, is part of the wider Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA) programme and reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen capability and modernise the civil service.
The skills element of the PASGA programme aims to give Nigeria a live view of its civil service skills, identify critical capability gaps, and deliver real-time data to guide training, hiring, and reforms that improve public service delivery. It covers all federal ministries and extra-ministerial departments, and is delivered under contract by Nigerian consulting firm Phillips Consulting Limited (pcl.), alongside other HR firms.
“By mapping competencies and identifying skills gaps, this exercise will support targeted training, redeployment where needed, merit-based career progression, and ultimately build a more agile, competent, and responsive civil workforce,” said Walson-Jack.
Phillips Consulting – a certified MuchSkills partner – chose Muchskills to supply the digital platform and analytics for the skills gap analysis work within the programme. The mapping phase, which began in October, is now in its final stages.
MuchSkills provides organisations with tools to map, visualise, and analyse workforce capabilities in real time. Adopted by organisations across Europe, the US, and Asia, its skills intelligence platform helps make workforce planning more transparent and data-driven.
“Skills intelligence is becoming the foundation of modern workforce transformation,” said Daniel Nilsson, Co-Founder and CEO of MuchSkills. “By combining Swedish innovation with Nigerian expertise, we’re helping one of Africa’s largest public workforces build the trusted capability data it needs to make better decisions, strengthen service delivery, and plan for the future.”
Walson-Jack highlighted the importance of the initiative for civil service reform, saying: “This collaboration with MuchSkills and consultants represents one of the boldest investments in human capital transformation in the history of the Federal Civil Service, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and signalling our readiness to build a modern, transparent, and future-ready civil service for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
Kemi Phillips, Partner at Phillips Consulting, added: “Our partnership with MuchSkills brings world-class HR tech into a national project that will redefine how Nigeria manages and grows its public workforce.”
The project reflects a rising global interest in using skills intelligence to transform workforce planning. For MuchSkills, it marks a milestone that demonstrates how Scandinavian innovation is making a real-world impact.
Built for investors who value certainty, global access, and long-term confidence.
MUSCAT, Oman, December 3, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Three months after its introduction, Oman’s 10-Year Golden Residency is emerging as one of the region’s most compelling long-term residency pathways, attracting rising interest from investors, entrepreneurs, and internationally mobile families seeking stability, transparent regulation, and strategic access to high-growth markets. The programme-launched under Oman Vision 2040-offers a structured framework for investors wishing to establish deeper roots in a country positioning itself as a secure and globally connected economic hub.
The Golden Residency grants eligible applicants long-term residency in return for a minimum investment of USD 520,000 across seven clearly defined routes. These include owning completed real estate units within Integrated Tourism Complexes; establishing a company registered in Oman; purchasing government development bonds; investing in securities listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange; or placing a fixed-term deposit in a licensed Omani bank for a minimum of five years. Applicants may also qualify by owning a company that employs at least 50 Omani nationals or through nomination under Oman’s Foreign Capital Investment Law, provided the company’s capital meets the required threshold.
A defining feature of the programme is its family-centric design. Approved applicants can sponsor their spouse and children of any age, secure additional property outside tourism zones, and employ up to three domestic workers without a local sponsor. The residency also includes fast-track immigration lanes and expanded visit visas for extended family members. These benefits-rare in many global residency schemes-position Oman as a destination offering long-term security as well as an inclusive, predictable environment for families.
The application system is fully digital, enabling applicants worldwide to upload documents, track applications, and engage directly with dedicated relationship managers. The programme is supported by Migrate World, which provides due-diligence verification and relocation support to align the onboarding process with international investor-migration standards. The streamlined model reflects Oman’s broader institutional push toward efficiency, transparency, and unified investor services.
Oman’s geographic position at the junction of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East continues to be a central factor in global interest. With access to more than 2.6 billion consumers and direct links to major trade routes, the country is increasingly viewed as a stable base for regional operations. Strong regulatory institutions, long-standing political neutrality, and one of the world’s most stable currencies further reinforce investor confidence. Quality-of-life indicators are also contributing to global demand, with Oman ranking among the top countries worldwide for safety, climate, and purchasing power.
Officials note that the programme is already complementing national efforts to attract talent and capital into priority sectors. Pathways requiring the employment of Omani nationals support the country’s human-capital goals, while mandatory audits strengthen governance and operational standards among participating companies. Early interest from investors in renewable energy, logistics, advanced manufacturing, tourism, and mining aligns closely with Oman’s diversification agenda under Vision 2040.
As competition intensifies across global residency and citizenship programmes, Oman is positioning its model as long-term, reliable, and partnership-driven. While other regional initiatives rely heavily on short-term incentives, Oman’s approach-grounded in regulatory clarity, economic stability, and a family-focused design-is steadily gaining recognition in international investment circles. Three months into its rollout, early indicators suggest the programme is on track to become a key driver of Oman’s investment attractiveness in the years ahead.
About Invest OMAN: Invest Oman is the Sultanate’s official gateway for strategic investment, offering investors unified access to opportunities across priority sectors aligned with Oman Vision 2040. The platform brings together more than 22 government and private entities under one roof, providing a streamlined, transparent, and investor-centric experience from initial enquiry to project expansion. Through tailored support, sector insights, and a fully digital services ecosystem, Invest OMAN enables global investors to navigate establishment procedures efficiently and unlock long-term value in one of the region’s most stable and strategically connected economies. For more information, visit https://investoman.om/
BELLEVUE, Wash., December 2, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– CoreStack today announced the full public release of Graphion™, a Cloud-Native and AI-Native Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) built to secure the hyper-connected, supply-chain-driven world of modern cloud applications. As enterprises assemble software from distributed components and deploy into fast-changing multi-cloud environments, Graphion introduces a fundamentally new approach to understanding and mitigating cloud risk.
Graphion constructs a continuously updated, multi-layered graph of the entire cloud ecosystem, mapping code, containers, Kubernetes clusters, APIs, identities, and configurations into a single intelligence model that evolves with every change. Instead of treating vulnerabilities and misconfigurations as isolated findings, Graphion shows how issues relate, how they propagate, and which ones truly matter. This gives security teams the context required to prioritize the risks with real business impact.
A Unified View of the Software and Infrastructure Supply Chain A defining innovation of Graphion is its integration of Software Bills of Materials (SBOM) with Infrastructure Bills of Materials (IBOM), linking what developers build with what operators deploy and what runs in production. With this combined view, enterprises can identify vulnerabilities earlier, trace supply-chain weaknesses to runtime assets, and detect code-to-cloud drift before exposure occurs. This SBOM+IBOM approach provides end-to-end traceability aligned with emerging software supply-chain mandates and gives organizations a practical, scalable way to operationalize them.
Ontology-Driven LCGM That Adds Context and Reduces Hallucinations Graphion’s ontology-based Large Cloud Governance Model (LCGM) brings the missing layer of knowledge and application context absent in most security tools today. By understanding asset semantics, cloud relationships, and operational intent, the ontology constrains AI interpretation, limiting hallucinations while delivering precise, contextual recommendations.
AI-Native Security That Reduces Noise and Accelerates Response Built with embedded agentic AI, Graphion learns each organization’s environment, understands business criticality, and provides explainable remediation paths. Rather than generating more alerts, Graphion reduces noise by interpreting relationships across assets, identities, configurations, and vulnerabilities-surfacing only the issues that matter. The AI-native design also automates guardrails, drift detection, and policy validation, enabling organizations to maintain continuous Authorization to Operate (cATO) and keep pace with modern DevSecOps pipelines.
Purpose-Built for an Era of Cloud Complexity As cloud environments shift continuously and supply-chain attacks surge, traditional static tools cannot keep up. Graphion provides the connected, adaptive, continuously validating security architecture required to operate confidently in this new reality-enabling organizations to build, deploy, and scale cloud applications with far greater trust and velocity.
CEO Statement “Cloud environments are now too dynamic and too interconnected for yesterday’s security approaches,” said Ezhilarasan (Ez) Natarajan, Founder & CEO of CoreStack. “Graphion was built to be Cloud-Native and AI-Native, delivering continuous graph intelligence, unified supply-chain visibility, and ontology-driven agentic AI that turns complexity into clarity. With Graphion, enterprises can secure every connection that matters and accelerate cloud initiatives with confidence.”
SAN FRANCISCO, December 1, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Authorium, the cloud-based technology platform for government administrative operations, today announced that the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) will host the company’s technology in its Innovation Lab.
DIR’s Innovation Lab provides a secure and controlled environment where Texas officials and staff from all state agencies, higher education institutions, and local government entities can explore, demo, and utilize emerging technology in a no-risk environment before engaging in the procurement process. Authorium is making select components of its procurement workflow and AI-enhanced features available in the Lab.
“Authorium is honored to be selected for inclusion in the Innovation Lab as the DIR team is tasked with leveraging the world’s most powerful technology to solve critical challenges,” said Jay Nath and Kamran Saddique, Authorium’s Co-CEOs. “City, county, state, and federal government teams recognize and rely on Authorium’s solutions for increased efficiency, effectiveness, visibility, and compliance and we look forward to showcasing these values in Texas.”
Unlike commercial platforms adapted for government use, Authorium was designed exclusively for public-sector use and 60% of the public benefit corporation’s staff served in government themselves. The platform is hosted in AWS GovCloud, TXRAMP certified, and SOC 2 verified, ensuring compliance with the State of Texas’ highest security and data protection standards.
Authorium is fully cloud-based, allowing agencies to explore and test capabilities with no installation or IT overhead. Texas government employees looking to explore emerging technology in the DIR Innovation Lab can email innovation@dir.texas.gov for more information.
About DIR DIR’s mission is to serve the Texas government by leading the state’s technology strategy, protecting state technology infrastructure, and offering innovative and cost-effective solutions for all levels of government. Learn more about DIR at dir.texas.gov.
About Authorium Authorium is a no-code, cloud-based platform exclusively for government administrative operations. Government teams rely on us to support budget and grant administration, contract lifecycle management, HR processes, procurement, and legislative analysis. As a public benefit corporation, we serve the government workers that serve their communities, including Washington Technology Solutions, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and Florida Department of Children and Families. Learn more at authorium.com.
Hernando County Achieves One of Florida’s Largest Tax Reductions While Strengthening Long-Term Infrastructure and Safety Investments.
Hernando County Chairman Brian Hawkins Announces Historic Tax Cuts: Millage Set at 3% Below Rollback Rate
BROOKSVILLE, Fla., December 1, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– In his State of the County address today, Hernando County Commission Chairman Brian Hawkins unveiled a comprehensive fiscal strategy delivering significant taxpayer relief while securing the county’s long-term future. Highlighting a debt ratio of less than 3%-one of the lowest in Florida-Hawkins announced landmark reforms that prioritize infrastructure, public safety, and conservation.
A True Tax Cut: 3% Below Rollback Chairman Hawkins underscored the Board’s decisive vote to set the maximum millage at 3% below the rollback rate. By going below the rollback-the rate needed to generate the same revenue as the previous year-the Board has enacted a true reduction in tax burden, projected to be one of the most aggressive tax cuts in the state this year.
“We didn’t just hold the line; we pushed it back,” said Chairman Hawkins. “At a moment when families are feeling the pressure of inflation, Hernando County is actively reducing its revenue intake to keep money in the pockets of the people who earned it.”
Ending Wasteful Budgeting Habits Hawkins also announced the elimination of a decade-old policy requiring a blanket 20% contingency reserve on capital projects. This reform unlocks tens of millions of dollars previously frozen by “lazy budgeting.”
“We have modernized a broken system,” Hawkins stated. “By tying project contingencies to actual engineering data rather than arbitrary percentages, we have freed up millions for real needs: roads, parks, and safety.”
Strategic Investments & Stability Leveraging the county’s strong credit and low debt, Hawkins outlined an aggressive investment plan:
Infrastructure: Long-term road and utility projects supported by responsible bonding.
Public Safety: Enhanced capabilities for the Sheriff, Fire, and Emergency Services.
Conservation & Tourism: Strategic use of stabilized bed tax revenues to preserve the Hernando Beach Tower and protect coastal preserves.
“We are lowering taxes, reducing debt, modernizing outdated systems, and investing in a future that works for every resident,” Hawkins concluded. “The state of Hernando County is strong-and getting stronger.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Office of Commissioner Brian Hawkins Hernando County Board of County Commissioners Phone: (352) 587-3000 Email: bhawkins@hernandocounty.us Website: www.hernandocounty.us
MIAMI, November 28, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– USCIS selected only 120,141 H-1B registrations in FY 2026, the lowest since 2021. As uncertainty grows around employer-sponsored pathways, the EB-5 Program is becoming a more practical and reliable choice for H-1B families than ever before.
Recent data indicates a significant rise in uncertainty among H-1B professionals. In FY 2026, USCIS selected 120,141 H-1B registrations, the lowest since 2021, driven by stricter scrutiny, enhanced fraud-prevention rules and a registration fee increase from $10 to $215.
Total registrations fell to about 358,000, a 26.9% decline from FY 2025 and more than 54% down from FY 2024. Combined with tightening enforcement and a weakened job market, these shifts have created a more complex environment for high-skilled foreign workers, particularly Indian nationals, who also face decades-long Green Card backlogs.
Several developments are driving this rise in uncertainty, the most significant of which are outlined below:
Meta continued multi-year workforce reductions throughout 2025, including a round in October 2025 that cut 600 employees from its Super intelligence Labs division.
Because H-1B workers must secure a new employer within a strict 60-day window, they face heightened vulnerability during layoffs, particularly when job markets in major tech hubs become saturated.
2. The 60-Day Grace Period Becoming More Unpredictable
3. Cumbersome Process Changes
Beginning September 2, 2025, most non-immigrant visa renewals, including H-1B, will require mandatory in-person interviews, ending the streamlined Dropbox system. This increases timelines, costs and travel requirements.
USCIS has implemented beneficiary-centric registration and additional anti-fraud safeguards, contributing to lower filing volumes and increased scrutiny during adjudication.
4. The $100,000 H-1B Fee Creating Added Strain
On September 19, 2025, the U.S. administration proposed a $100,000 employer-paid fee for new H-1B petitions.
The jump from the earlier $2,000 to $5,000 range raised immediate concern among employers and visa holders.
Since petitions would be denied without proof of payment, many fear reduced sponsorships, fewer transfers, and restricted overseas travel.
For Indian H-1B professionals, the proposal adds another significant pressure point amid already tightening immigration timelines.
These developments have created the highest levels of uncertainty H-1B professionals have faced in more than a decade. They also highlight the structural limitations of the H-1B system, where immigration status remains tied to a single employer, reducing autonomy and complicating long-term planning for professionals and their families.
Why More H-1B Professionals Are Turning to EB-5
With employer-sponsored pathways becoming less predictable, many H-1B families are reassessing long-term strategies. The EB-5 Program is emerging as a practical alternative for several reasons:
1. Independence from Employer Sponsorship
H-1B status is dependent on maintaining employment with a specific sponsoring company. Job loss, restructures, promotions, or role changes may trigger new filings or threaten lawful status. In contrast, the EB-5 Program offers a path to Permanent U.S. Residency that is not tied to an employer, enabling greater security and long-term planning.
2. Security During Layoffs and Market Volatility
As outlined earlier, the 60-day grace period is both short and increasingly inconsistent, with some NTAs issued even before the full period lapses. This makes job loss one of the most significant points of vulnerability for H-1B professionals, who must secure a new sponsoring employer under tight and sometimes unpredictable timelines.
The EB-5 Program offers a solution to this structural risk as it allows U.S.-based Indian investors to concurrently file Form I-526E and Form I-485, enabling them to stay in the U.S. lawfully throughout processing. They typically receive the Employment Authorization (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP) within 2-6 months of filing, ensuring job continuity* and freedom to travel outside the U.S. without issue upon re-entry.
*H-1B professionals pursuing EB-5 may continue working under their existing status until their Adjustment of Status is approved.
3. Priority Processing
Since the RIA of ’22, Rural EB-5 Projects have benefited from Priority Processing in Rural TEA Projects, which has significantly reduced pre-RIA adjudication times of 2-4 years. EB5 United’s recent I-526E approvals have been averaging ~5 months, with some taking less than 3 months. In comparison, approvals for Urban Projects are still taking more than 2 years on average.
4. Freedom to Advance or Pivot Careers
Many H-1B professionals decline promotions or career changes that might affect their visa status. EB-5 investors, however, can pursue any role, sector, or business venture without restriction, reclaiming full control over career decisions.
5. Family Stability and Work Rights
An EB-5 investment grants Green Cards not only to the investor but also to their spouse and children under 21, enabling the entire family to live, study, and work in the U.S. without the stress of temporary visa renewals or legal uncertainty.
Aging out occurs when a child turns 21 and is no longer considered a dependent under U.S. immigration law. For H-1B families, this is a significant concern; once a child ages out, they lose eligibility as a dependent and may need to file a separate petition, face extended wait times for Green Card approval, or potentially become ineligible for a Green Card altogether.
The EB-5 Program helps mitigate this risk through its Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) protections. Under CSPA, a child’s age is frozen on the date Form I-526E is filed. For U.S.-based Indian investors who file Form I-526E and Form I-485 concurrently before the child turns 21, the child’s age is effectively locked in permanently, helping prevent aging out during processing.
Conclusion
The combined data from USCIS, tech workforce trends, and recent policy changes make it clear that the H-1B pathway has become increasingly unpredictable for professionals and their families. In contrast, the EB-5 Program has demonstrated year-on-year improvement in adjudication timelines, especially for Rural Projects in the post-RIA era. As of November 2025, we surpassed 700 I-526E approvals, underscoring our leadership in Rural EB-5 Projects and the success of USCIS Priority Processing under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) of 2022. The tables below highlight how 2025 filings achieved noticeably faster processing times compared with petitions submitted between 2022 and 2025.
I-526E Approval Summary for Petitions FILED in 2025
Rural EB-5 Project
Total Approvals
Avg. Time
Shortest Approval Time
Rural Project 1
17
4.5 months
2.8 months
Rural Project 2
170
5.3 months
3.2 months
Rural Project 3
8
4.9 months
2.9 months
I-526E Approval Summary Across EB5 United’s Rural EB-5 Projects (2022-2025)
Rural EB-5 Project
Total Approvals
Avg. Time
Shortest Approval Time
Rural Project 1
72
9.7 months
2.8 months
Rural Project 2
409
8 months
2.7 months
Rural Project 3
224
11.9 months
1 month
Disclaimer: Individual processing timelines may vary. Immigration benefits are not guaranteed and are subject to USCIS approval. This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security.
MCLEAN, Va., November 25, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– CORAS, the only IL5-authorized Agentic AI Decision Intelligence platform in the Department of War (DoW), announced today that it has been awarded a contract with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to enhance and unify the Navy’s leadership assessment and behavioral modeling capabilities through the Talent Management Nexus effort in support of Naval Personnel Command’s Talent Management Center of Excellence.
This award expands CORAS’s growing portfolio of U.S. Navy partnerships, following its successful deployment of the “Leader’s Compass” application at the U.S. Naval Academy. Under the new ONR contract, CORAS will configure its secure, low-code platform to deliver a unified web application supporting leadership assessment, behavioral modeling, and performance tracking across the fleet.
“This CORAS collaboration will provide the U.S. Navy with a single, data-driven view of potential leadership and development across the force,” said Dan Naselius, President and CTO of CORAS. “By combining IL5-secure Decision Intelligence with behavioral science, the Navy can modernize and optimize how it nurtures, identifies, develops, and deploys its future officers and leaders.”
Through this effort, CORAS will enable ONR to orchestrate and integrate data across multiple Navy systems in real time, administering assessments, conducting automated analyses with built-in Agentic AI, natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning (ML), and visualizing Sailor performance through dynamic briefs. These features will allow the Navy to track leadership growth over time, refine behavioral models, challenge program efficiency and effectiveness, and continuously improve the development processes for all Sailors.
The CORAS platform, built on a FedRAMP High and IL5 environments, supports advanced security controls, multi-user access for administrators, panelists, and participants, and seamless integration with the Authoritative Data Environment (ADE) and other MyNavy HR data sources. As a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solution, CORAS is rapidly configured and deployed within days, providing immediate operational value to ONR and the Navy’s Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education Information Sciences (MPTE-IS) portfolio.
“The ONR award underscores CORAS’s expanding role as a trusted enabler of data-driven decision and readiness SaaS platform within the Department of War,” said Moe Jafari, CEO of CORAS. “From the PMO to the Pentagon, CORAS empowers the U.S. Navy to harness its data, identify future leaders, and make faster, more informed decisions.”
CORAS and its Agentic Agent GARY operate at IL5 and FedRAMP High in government environments including NIPR and SIPR, offering profound ROI and 50+x productivity. Agencies can acquire CORAS and GARY through GSA, NASA SEWP, SBIR Phase III, Tradewinds AI Marketplace, Carahsoft, and AWS partner channels. Learn more at www.coras.ai.
Mahwah-Based Solar & Storage Leader Partners with Local Nonprofits to Provide Thanksgiving Meals, Toys, & Winter Coats to Underserved Families
MAHWAH, N.J., November 24, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Core Development Group, a leading New Jersey-based commercial solar and energy storage contractor, today announced its multi-faceted holiday initiative to support underserved individuals and families across the state. The effort included donations and drives for food, toys, and winter clothing in partnership with three local nonprofits.
The 2025 philanthropic program focused on critical needs during the holiday season:
Thanksgiving Meals at Eva’s Village: Core Development Group donated funds and non-perishable food items to The Community Kitchen at Eva’s Village in Paterson. This support will help the organization serve an estimated 1,600 meals during Thanksgiving and the following weeks to help vulnerable populations.
Holiday Toys for Paterson & Passaic Youth: The company donated funds for the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson & Passaic‘s annual Toy Drive. The Club uses these donations to provide gifts and inspire over 2,400 local youth from disadvantaged circumstances.
Winter Warmth with Jersey Cares: Core Development Group employees participated in a company-wide effort to support the Jersey Cares Coat Drive, which last year collected 18,000+ new and gently used coats to be distributed to children, families, and individuals in need across New Jersey.
“The holidays are a time for celebration and giving thanks. We are especially grateful to our donors,” said Dr. Christina Dukes Brown, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club, Paterson and Passaic, NJ. “We’re celebrating the inspiring young people, and we’re thankful for Core Development Group, who joins us in bringing smiles and a little holiday magic to children in our communities. Together we share a belief in the potential of today’s youth.”
“Giving back to the communities where we live and work is a fundamental value of our company,” said Henry Cortes, Founder & CEO of Core Development Group. “Our team is passionate about supporting organizations like Eva’s Village, The Boys & Girls Club, and Jersey Cares that make a direct, positive impact on the lives of our neighbors. We encourage other local businesses to join us in this mission.”
Core Development Group is eager to continue philanthropic activities next year. As part of the group’s mission, they seek to engage people in efforts to promote positivity and sustainability with partnerships that impact local communities and beyond. For more information on Core Development Group’s commercial clean energy solutions – https://www.coredevusa.com.
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About Core Development Group
Core Development Group is a trusted and agile independent U.S. renewable energy developer, contractor and consultant. The company helps organizations transition to clean, renewable energy and provides solar energy systems, battery storage, microgrids, and EV charging infrastructure to companies in the U.S. and abroad. Core Development Group also provides world-class engineering, design, construction, quality assurance, and construction management consulting services for renewable energy projects. Founded in 2012, Core Development Group is headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey. Learn more at coredevusa.com.
AUSTIN, Texas, November 21, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– TIDAL NRG LLC (“TIDAL”), Energy Tech LLC (“Energy Tech”), and Qynergy announced today that the parties have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining their intent to form a joint venture focused on next-generation power infrastructure, regenerative energy technologies, high-efficiency materials, and advanced manufacturing capabilities in Texas.
Under the MOU, the parties will collaborate to evaluate and structure a joint venture that includes:
The option to develop and construct a new manufacturing facility in a mutually approved Texas location to support advanced energy technology production and deployment.
Exclusive access for TIDAL to Energy Tech’s regenerative power and quantum data center technologies, which incorporate high-grade graphene components to enhance energy density, thermal stability, and overall system efficiency.
Negotiation of a power-as-a-service (PaaS) offtake agreement, enabling TIDAL to deliver scalable, resilient power solutions across its hyperscale on-grid and off-grid portfolio.
“This MOU marks an important step in combining market-leading energy technologies with TIDAL’s portfolio of powered land assets and hyperscale partnerships,” said Chad L. Swensen, President & CEO of TIDAL NRG LLC. “We believe the potential joint venture could accelerate the deployment of disruptive power solutions across the state of Texas.”
Alan Gaines, Chairman of TIDAL NRG, added: “This collaboration brings together best-in-class technology partners to address one of the most urgent challenges of our time – delivering reliable, scalable power to support America’s digital and industrial growth. By aligning with Energy Tech and Qynergy, we are positioning TIDAL to lead the next wave of energy innovation in Texas.”
Dr. Chester Coleman, Chief Technology Officer of TIDAL NRG, underscored the breakthrough nature of the technology stack: “The convergence of regenerative power systems, quantum-coordinated data center architecture, and high-grade graphene-based components represents a transformational leap for the energy and compute industries. Graphene’s exceptional conductivity, strength, and thermal properties unlock new performance thresholds that traditional materials simply can’t achieve.”
Dr. Coleman also shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “I’m excited to be working alongside the TIDAL management team to bring this groundbreaking technology to market. Their vision, operational discipline, and ability to execute at scale create the perfect environment for deploying innovations – including graphene-enhanced power systems – that can fundamentally reshape the future of energy and high-density compute infrastructure.”
The collaboration also positions the parties to explore grant funding, strategic capital opportunities, and rapid commercialization pathways that leverage Qynergy’s engineering strengths and Energy Tech’s regenerative and quantum power platforms.
The MOU establishes a framework and negotiation of definitive agreements expected in early 2026.
About TIDAL NRG LLC TIDAL NRG is a Texas-based power infrastructure company developing on-grid and off-grid solutions for hyperscale data centers, energy-intensive industries, and next-generation compute infrastructure.
About Energy Tech LLC Energy Tech develops regenerative power systems, graphene-enhanced high-efficiency components, and quantum data center technologies designed to deliver resilient and efficient power at scale.
About Qynergy Qynergy provides technology innovation, commercialization support, and advanced engineering solutions across energy, defense, and scientific sectors.
New research reveals retailers raised prices five times faster during the 2025 trade war period than under regular market conditions
VILNIUS, LT, November 20, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– A new research report from IPRoyal has revealed that reciprocal tariffs during the 2025 US-China trade war triggered price rises. This included a 1.8% rise on average, with some categories reaching 2.04% (compared to a 0.39% baseline), weeks before any tariffed goods could reach store shelves.
The research conducted a comprehensive analysis of 1,900 consumer products and tracked prices across 19 product categories (100 products per category) from September 2024 to August 2025. The findings challenge conventional assumptions about how tariffs affect consumer prices.
The key findings from the research included:
During Liberation Day (April 2nd, 2025) and the subsequent trade war period (until May 12th, 2025), prices increased at a rate of up to 2.04% per two-week period, more than five times the baseline rate of 0.39%.
Nearly 43% of all tracked products showed price increases during the trade war period.
Unilateral tariffs had a minimal impact, with an average increase of only 0.44%.
Actual supply chain disruptions from Red Sea shipping attacks produced no measurable price effects.
21% of product categories that experienced the April price spikes later reverted to below-baseline prices.
“It is clear from the research conducted that trade war policy announcements may have a previously underappreciated effect on prices,” said Justas Vitaitis, the project’s Lead Researcher. “While a corporate greed narrative may seem enticing, our findings are just as important to policymakers.
“Over the six weeks of the 2025 trade war, U.S. consumers paid elevated prices on goods already purchased at pre-tariff costs. Yet, putting the entire blame on retailers would be akin to blaming investors for selling stocks during periods of financial uncertainty. There were other market forces at play, and policymakers should adapt accordingly.”
The research also found that the manner of tariff announcement, such as the unprecedented scope, high visibility, and explicit “trade war” framing of Liberation Day, created conditions where widespread price increases faced minimal competitive pressure.
“For consumers, the implications were significant: during the six-week trade war period, shoppers paid elevated prices on pre-tariff inventory, transferring wealth to retailers as windfall profits rather than to governments as intended tax revenue.
“Overall, it is clear that high-profile, politically charged tariff announcements produce bigger and faster price hikes than quietly implemented policies. The way trade policies are announced may harm consumer welfare more than tariffs themselves, and should be considered in the future”, concluded Vitaitis.
The study analyzed pricing data from Keepa, tracking 100 products in each of 19 randomly selected Amazon categories. Researchers have no affiliation with Keepa.
AI-native tariff compliance software demonstrates expert-level mastery of trade regulations.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., November 19, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– KYG Trade™ (www.kygtrade.com) today announced that its AI trade compliance assistant, Kay, passed the October 2025 CBLE-a rigorous, highly technical assessment widely considered one of the most challenging in the global trade industry. Kay scored 93%-higher than the required 75% score to pass the exam. In a comparison test, one of the top general-purpose commercial LLMs failed the exam with a score of only 60%. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website, the average pass rate for the three exams prior to the October ’25 exam was 22.3%.
The CBLE requires advanced reasoning across Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), as well as various U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) directives and guidelines. Tested across six major categories-broker compliance, tariff classification, quota, valuation, entry/entry summary, and a complex practical exercise, the exam is designed to measure deep subject-matter expertise rather than generic knowledge retrieval.
AI Purpose-Built for Trade and Tariff Compliance
Kay’s impressive performance underscores the importance of AI systems engineered specifically for global trade and tariff compliance. Unlike general-purpose language models, Kay is optimized for the complex interpretive reasoning needed in customs compliance, including multi-source regulatory rule reconciliation and real-world export import shipping document analysis.
Executive Commentary
“As a licensed customs broker and former Big 4 trade and customs partner, I know firsthand how complex this exam is,” said Todd R. Smith, Founder CEO of KYG Trade. “Today, I uploaded the CBLE PDF into our platform, and Kay completed the entire 80 question 4.5-hour exam in under five minutes.” Smith emphasized Kay’s advanced capabilities in processing unstructured documents, “The HTS classification and practical exercise were the most impressive. Kay extracted and interpreted information from a full-page of facts referencing an air waybill, commercial invoice, and broker invoice. Kay didn’t just answer correctly-she proved robust OCR and ETL capabilities, essential for the administratively cumbersome document ridden trade and tariff landscape. This milestone reflects exactly why we built an AI-native global trade and tariff compliance platform: to enable our trade compliance customers to work faster and smarter without compromising sensitive data.”
“We’re proud to have developed one of the ‘smartest’ global trade and tariff management (GTM) solutions available today.”
Addressing Industry Skepticism
Some industry observers have questioned whether AI’s high performance on multiple-choice exams is meaningful. KYG Trade maintains that CBLE success requires more than pattern matching.
“Each question often involves cross-referencing multiple regulations, interpreting nuanced language, and ruling out competing statutory frameworks under time pressure,” said Aaron Ansel, a trade attorney and KYG’s Cofounder Chief AI Officer. “The complexity lies in the reasoning needed to achieve the correct answer. Basic retrieval augment generation (RAG) alone doesn’t cut it.”
Commitment to Security and Trust
KYG Trade also reaffirmed its commitment to data protection. The company is ISO 27001 certified, and all customer data processed through Kay is never stored, never retained, and never used to train its AI.
“Compliance is built on trust,” said Anand Raghavendran, a licensed customs broker and KYG’s Chief Product & Innovation Officer. “We designed our platform so organizations can safely leverage AI without exposing sensitive trade secrets to general-purpose LLMs.”
If you sat for the October 2025 CBLE and scored at least 50%, KYG is celebrating Kay’s accomplishment by providing you with a free subscription to its AI tariff and trade research tools. Get more information at discover@kyg.ai or https://www.kygtrade.com/contact-us.
Contact Information
Leslie Levy August Chief Marketing Officer leslie@kyg.ai 650-391-7759
WVSP Joins Roster of More Than 300 Law Enforcement Agencies That Carry Shadow Systems
PLANO, Texas, November 18, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Shadow Systems, the American handgun manufacturer known for its relentless pursuit of performance-driven design, has proudly announced that it has been awarded an exclusive contract to provide duty pistols to the West Virginia State Police, the largest law enforcement agency in the state and fourth-oldest state police agency in the United States.
Developed for the specific challenges found only in the line of duty, Shadow Systems’ feature-packed pistols undergo rigorous testing and are designed to reduce recoil, adjust grip angle and work with officers’ existing gear and training, improving accuracy and shootability while maintaining reliability.
Made up of nearly 600 sworn law enforcement officers who provide necessary police functions to citizens and visitors of West Virginia, the WVSP will purchase 700 XR920 crossover pistols to be used by its troopers and 80 CR920X high-capacity subcompact pistols for use by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Troopers will also be able to select from Shadow Systems’ lineup of subcompact, compact, crossover and full-size premium American-made firearms, including compensated and long slide models, to best suit their individual preferences and characteristics for off-duty carry. In total, Shadow Systems offers more than 120 pistol configurations.
“Our top priority is equipping troopers with dependable, high-performance tools they can trust in every situation,” said Lt. Col. R. A. Maddy of the West Virginia State Police. “After an exhaustive evaluation process, Shadow Systems pistols stood out for their precision, reliability and ability to adapt to the unique demands of law enforcement service.”
Committed to supporting law enforcement agencies and military units and personnel, Shadow Systems provides its pistols to more than 300 law enforcement agencies across the country. To learn more about Shadow Systems’ law enforcement programs, including its Individual Office Purchase Discount, visit www.shadowsystemsdefense.com.
“Shadow Systems is honored to be the new duty pistol for the West Virginia State Police, one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the country,” said Steve Dreyer, director of law enforcement sales for Shadow Systems. “As a state-of-the-art firearm designer and manufacturer founded by former law enforcement officers and combat veterans, we know firsthand the importance of real-world capability and reliability in pursuit of safety. This new partnership further demonstrates Shadow Systems’ unwavering commitment to law enforcement, and we look forward to working with WVSP for the foreseeable future as they strive to keep communities safe.”
All Shadow Systems firearms are designed and manufactured in Plano, Texas, using American labor and materials. The veteran-led team behind Shadow Systems includes former military, law enforcement and competitive shooters – ensuring every pistol is grounded in practical experience and performance under pressure.
About Shadow Systems Shadow Systems Corp. is a privately held firearm manufacturer based in Plano, Texas, specializing in premium pistols designed for everyday carry, duty use and competition. Every product is engineered, machined and assembled in the USA by a team of veterans and former law enforcement officers. From internals to externals, Shadow Systems builds hard-use tools that perform under pressure.
NEW YORK, November 18, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Social Explorer announced a major expansion of its data library, adding more than forty datasets that transform its web application into a one-stop solution for community analysis. Known primarily for demographic data, Social Explorer now offers professionals across industries – from urban planning to real estate investment to public health – a unified platform for understanding communities through demographic, economic, environmental, health, and social equity data.
This expansion positions Social Explorer as the go-to platform for anyone who needs to understand community composition, how they function, why they change, and what interventions work. Users can now analyze communities through multiple dimensions in a single platform:
Economic Vitality & Workforce Dynamics – The Job-to-Job Flows (J2J), Business Formation Statistics (BFS), Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), and Nonemployer Statistics (NES) datasets provide insights into labor markets and entrepreneurship trends.
Housing & Real Estate Intelligence – Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) and Location Affordability Index (LAI) data enables the analysis of housing markets, affordability gaps, and investment opportunities.
Infrastructure & Environment – The Freight Analysis Framework (FAF), Air Quality Index (AQI), and Environmental Justice Screening & Mapping (EJSCREEN) support transportation planning, environmental assessment, and infrastructure investment decisions.
Risk & Resilience – The FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) and NOAA Climate Normals help assess disaster preparedness, climate adaptation needs, and community resilience.
Health & Equity – The Food Access Research Atlas (FARA), Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) enable analysis of community health, safety patterns, and social determinants of wellbeing.
Who Benefits
Urban Planners & Municipal Officials can conduct comprehensive community needs assessments, evaluate zoning decisions, and design data-driven resilience strategies.
Real Estate Developers & Investors can gain access to workforce trends, housing affordability metrics, transportation infrastructure data, and environmental risk factors that influence property values and development feasibility.
Public Health Departments can correlate food access, environmental hazards, social vulnerability, and health outcomes to target interventions and resources.
Economic Development Professionals can track business formation, analyze workforce mobility, identify growth sectors, and understand regional competitiveness.
Community Organizations & Nonprofits can document disparities, strengthen grant applications, and advocate for resources.
Academic Researchers can access the same authoritative data used by practitioners, strengthening both teaching and research.
Consultants & Policy Analysts can deliver community assessments without maintaining subscriptions to multiple data sources.
Why This Matters Now
Communities and the organizations that serve them face increasingly complex challenges – from housing demands to workforce development and public health needs. Addressing these issues requires seeing the full picture, assembled through a combination of demographic, economic, environmental, health, and social equity data.
“Decision-makers have always needed demographic data, but they also need economic indicators, environmental metrics, and equity measures – all in one place,” said Dickson Musslewhite, CEO of Social Explorer. “This expansion makes Social Explorer the command center for anyone serious about understanding and improving communities.”
LEESBURG, Va., November 17, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Vertosoft, a leading distributor of emerging technology solutions for the public sector, is pleased to announce it has been awarded Contract #159574 by Region 14 Education Service Center (ESC) through the OMNIA Partners cooperative purchasing program. The award follows Vertosoft’s successful response to RFP 25-S940: Software & SaaS Solutions. This recognition affirms the company’s position as a trusted partner for public sector technology procurement.
Effective October 1, 2025, the contract authorizes Vertosoft to provide an extensive portfolio of software and SaaS solutions to public agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations across the country through the OMNIA Partners cooperative network.
“This award underscores our continued commitment to delivering innovative technology and scalable solutions to the public sector. We are proud to support agencies in fulfilling their missions more efficiently and in bringing lasting value to the citizens and communities they serve. We look forward to continuing our relationship with OMNIA Partners as we work together to empower agencies across the country.” said Ashlianne Shigley, Government Contracts Program Manager at Vertosoft.
Region 14 ESC, located in Abilene, Texas, serves as the lead public agency for this competitively solicited and publicly awarded contract. OMNIA Partners is the largest and most experienced cooperative purchasing organization for public sector procurement in the United States. The program provides contract solutions that drive efficiency and cost savings for participating entities.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., November 17, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– VITRONIC is proud to announce the signing of a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract with Montgomery County, Maryland. This landmark agreement marks a significant milestone for VITRONIC U.S., signaling the company’s evolution from a leading hardware manufacturer to a full end-to-end turnkey service provider of automated traffic safety enforcement programs.
Through this next-generation model, VITRONIC will deliver integrated solutions designed to enhance road safety, operational efficiency, and public trust – in the United States and worldwide.
Traffic safety remains a significant challenge in the U.S., with 39,345 fatalities in 2024 – an 8.2% increase from five years ago. With 12.3 fatalities per 100,000 people, the U.S. fatality rate is over twice as high than European countries (5.9) and Australia (5.2). These figures highlight the urgent need for innovative and effective solutions to help protect lives.
Montgomery County, MD, first launched its automated traffic enforcement program in 1999 to improve road safety and reduce violations by influencing driver behavior. It is a key part of the county’s Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.
According to county reports, there were 37 fatal crashes in 2024, exceeding the 2015 – 2019 annual average of 30 fatal crashes and 33 fatalities. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rise in impairment, speed, nighttime and roadway departure crashes, further highlighting the critical need for this program to curb speed by changing driver behavior.
Montgomery County sought a new traffic safety partner capable of providing both cutting-edge technology and reliable long-term support.
We have always prioritized the safety of our residents and visitors,” Chris Tippery, Director of Operations of the S.T.A.R.S. Program at Montgomery County explained. “Partnering with VITRONIC allows us to take a decisive step forward. With the automated traffic enforcement program, we gain access to VITRONIC’s world-class technology and a company that truly understand this is more than just a business transaction but a partnership at every level. VITRONIC is the right choice to help us make Montgomery County roads safe for everyone.”
The Next Level of Traffic Safety
Building on more than 40 years of expertise, VITRONIC provides traffic enforcement and tolling solutions worldwide and has now developed its end-to-end service model. This concept combines advanced enforcement technology with a comprehensive service framework, enabling states, counties and municipalities to swiftly and sustainably deploy reliable enforcement programs – without the burden of managing complex infrastructure.
“This contract is more than a business agreement – it’s a shared commitment to saving lives and advancing the Vision Zero initiative.”, said Kjell Lyngstad, President and CEO of VITRONIC North America,” VITRONIC’s service program provides U.S. counties, states and municipalities with the tools they need to address today’s traffic challenges effectively. We are proud in the trust and confidence that Montgomery County is showing to VITRONIC to be an integral part in their Vision Zero goal.”
Through this holistic model, Montgomery County can implement scalable safety measures that reduce accidents and fatalities. For VITRONIC, the initiative is also a strategic milestone.
“The Montgomery County project not only expands our U.S. operations but also introduces our world-wide proven end-to-end enforcement services to yet another very important market.” Emphasized Daniel Scholz-Stein, CEO of VITRONIC Group. “With this model, we deliver real impact: fewer accidents, safer communities and saved lives.”
About VITRONIC
VITRONIC is the world’s leading innovation driver for machine vision, enabling its customers to master the challenges of tomorrow.
The global group of companies develops forward-looking solutions in the form of specialized products and software for image-based quality inspection, identification and process optimization, which find application in the growth sectors of automation and traffic engineering.
VITRONIC solutions make an important contribution to helping shape a safe and sustainable world. The existing limits of what is economically feasible are constantly being questioned in order to achieve the highest quality and productivity, for example in the production of automotive and pharmaceutical companies. Worldwide, Auto-ID solutions in logistics centers and at cargo airports, take over the reliable and efficient recording of shipments and thus ensure a transparent flow of goods.
In the transport sector, VITRONIC offers leading technology for increased safety on the roads, for optimizing traffic flow and for recording road usage.
Open and honest dealings with our customers form the foundation for jointly exploiting technological and process potential to the full. Joint success forms the basis of long-term cooperation with companies such as B. Braun, BMW, Daimler, DHL, UPS, Fresenius and Sanofi as well as with public clients.
Since its foundation in 1984, VITRONIC has been growing continuously for 40 years. The current annual turnover (2024) is above 260 million EUR and the company is currently represented on five continents in over 80 countries with around 1,400 employees. Since 2024 the company is part of ITIS Holding, leveraging the strengths of both entities, creating a strong end-to-end ITS and automation provider.
Development and production of VITRONIC systems are located at the company headquarters in Wiesbaden. VITRONIC subsidiaries span across all continents, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Additionally, a global network of sales and service partners ensures localized support for international customers.
About ITIS Holding
ITIS Holding is a leading provider of intelligent traffic infrastructure and road user charging solutions. Proven and technologically neutral solutions cover the entire value chain: from designing and building to operating, maintaining, and providing services to road users. ITIS Holding helps governments and clients facilitate traffic management, generate revenue to finance infrastructure development, and increase road safety in a technologically and cost-efficient way. With the robust capital base, knowledge, and extensive experience of our shareholders, ITIS Holding is well-positioned to accelerate growth, both organically and through strategic acquisitions. Visit www.itisholding.com