ReportWire

Tag: nationwide

  • Energy Dept. announces $544M loan to boost U.S. semiconductor production

    Energy Dept. announces $544M loan to boost U.S. semiconductor production

    [ad_1]

    U.S. microchip manufacturing is getting a boost from the Department of Energy.

    On Thursday, the agency announced it will loan $544 million to SK Siltron to make silicon carbide semiconductors for electric vehicles.

    What You Need To Know

    • The U.S. Department of Energy announced it will loan $544 million to SK Siltron in Bay City, Mich.

    • The loan will help the company increase production of the silicon carbide wafers used to make electric vehicles 

    • The funding will create about 200 construction jobs and up to 200 skilled labor positions

    • More than 80% of the global superconductor industry is in Asia

    The Energy Department expects the loan to create about 200 construction jobs for the company to expand its facility in Bay City, Mich., and to create up to another 200 skilled positions through a Michigan New Jobs Training Program with Delta College.

    When complete, SK Siltron is projected to rank among the world’s top-five makers of silicon carbide semiconductors, joining Wolfspeed in Durham, N.C.; Coherent Corp. in Saxonburg, Penn.; and Xiamen Powerway Advanced Material Co. in China.

    More than 80% of the world’s semiconductor production facilities are based in South Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan, according to the semiconductor industry association, SEMI.

    Silicon carbide semiconductors are used to help EVs charge more quickly and travel longer distances than traditional silicon semiconductors.

    Increasing SK Siltron’s capacity will help electric vehicle makers secure the chips they need, the Energy Department said. EVs use about twice the number of semiconductors as gas-powered vehicles.

    “This project reinforces President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to onshore and re-shore domestic manufacturing technologies that are critical to meeting the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious goal that half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 are zero-emissions vehicles,” the Energy Department said in a statement on its website.

    [ad_2]

    Susan Carpenter

    Source link

  • Energy Dept. announces $544M loan to boost U.S. semiconductor production

    Energy Dept. announces $544M loan to boost U.S. semiconductor production

    [ad_1]

    U.S. microchip manufacturing is getting a boost from the Department of Energy.

    On Thursday, the agency announced it will loan $544 million to SK Siltron to make silicon carbide semiconductors for electric vehicles.

    What You Need To Know

    • The U.S. Department of Energy announced it will loan $544 million to SK Siltron in Bay City, Mich.

    • The loan will help the company increase production of the silicon carbide wafers used to make electric vehicles 

    • The funding will create about 200 construction jobs and up to 200 skilled labor positions

    • More than 80% of the global superconductor industry is in Asia

    The Energy Department expects the loan to create about 200 construction jobs for the company to expand its facility in Bay City, Mich., and to create up to another 200 skilled positions through a Michigan New Jobs Training Program with Delta College.

    When complete, SK Siltron is projected to rank among the world’s top-five makers of silicon carbide semiconductors, joining Wolfspeed in Durham, N.C.; Coherent Corp. in Saxonburg, Penn.; and Xiamen Powerway Advanced Material Co. in China.

    More than 80% of the world’s semiconductor production facilities are based in South Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan, according to the semiconductor industry association, SEMI.

    Silicon carbide semiconductors are used to help EVs charge more quickly and travel longer distances than traditional silicon semiconductors.

    Increasing SK Siltron’s capacity will help electric vehicle makers secure the chips they need, the Energy Department said. EVs use about twice the number of semiconductors as gas-powered vehicles.

    “This project reinforces President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to onshore and re-shore domestic manufacturing technologies that are critical to meeting the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious goal that half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 are zero-emissions vehicles,” the Energy Department said in a statement on its website.

    [ad_2]

    Susan Carpenter

    Source link

  • Inclusion study: 2023 marked low for women-led films

    Inclusion study: 2023 marked low for women-led films

    [ad_1]

    EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Just 30% of the top 100 films of 2023 featured a female lead or co-lead, according to a new report by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.

    It’s a substantial downturn from the year 2022, when 44 films had a girl or woman lead, the report noted.

    “This is a catastrophic step back for girls and women in film,” said Dr. Stacy L. Smith, who co-authored the report, in a statement. “In the last 14 years, we have charted progress in the industry so to see this reversal is both startling and in direct contrast to all of the talk of 2023 as the ‘year of the woman.’”

    While the report describes these findings as “awful,” it also noted a positive takeaway from some of USC’s other findings: The percentage of lead or co-lead actors from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group increased from the year 2022. More specifically, in 2023, 37 top-grossing films had a lead or co-lead from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, compared to 31 in 2022. 

    [ad_2]

    Will Sayre

    Source link

  • Consumers expect prices to fall this year, Federal Reserve Bank of New York says

    [ad_1]

    Americans expect inflation to improve in the coming years, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s January Survey of Consumer Expectations.

    Respondents said they expect inflation to be 3% in one year and 2.5% in five years — the same as they expected at the end of 2023.

    What You Need To Know

    • Consumers expect inflation to be 3% in one year and 2.5% in five years, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s January Survey of Consumer Expectations

    • Survey respondents expect prices to fall in the coming year for gas, food, rent, medical care and college

    • They expect their household spending will increase 5% this year

    • Consumers are optimistic about their earnings increasing and credit availability improving

    In three years, they expect inflation to drop to 2.4%. A 0.2% decrease since December, the three-year projection was the lowest it has been since March 2020.

    Inflation was 3.4% in December, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index. The Federal Reserve will release CPI figures for January on Tuesday.

    While consumer expectations about home price growth were unchanged for a fourth consecutive month at 3%, they are more optimistic about prices falling in the coming year for all other goods, including gas, food, rent, medical care and college educations.

    Despite the falling prices, they expect their household spending to increase 5% — the same expectation as last month.

    They are also more optimistic about earnings growth a year from now. Respondents said they expect their earnings to increase 0.3% to 2.8% in January 2025. The increase was driven largely by people over the age of 40 who do not have a college degree.

    Despite their earnings confidence, more respondents in January thought the U.S. unemployment rate would be higher in a year, though their perceived probability of losing their own job or voluntarily leaving their position both fell.

    Consumers’ expectations of credit availability improved in the January survey, with fewer respondents saying it was harder to get credit now compared with a year ago. Respondents also felt better about their ability pay off debt, with the average perceived probability of missing a minimum debt payment in the next three months decreasing 0.3% — a level similar to 2019.

    A larger share of respondents (76.%) in January’s survey said they expect to be financially the same or better off a year from now — the highest level since September 2021.

    In a statement, a White House official hailed the report as evidence that President Joe Biden’s economic plans are a success — an effort by the Democratic president’s administration to sell his policies to the American people ahead of November’s election.

    “This report is further evidence that the Biden economy is delivering for Americans today and giving them more confidence about where we’re headed tomorrow,” White House Council of Economic Advisers Chair Jared Bernstein said in a statement. “The data show that more Americans think their financial situation will be better a year from now than any time since the pandemic first hit.

    This builds on a recent surge in consumer confidence that makes clear we are on the right path, even as we have more work to do to lower costs,” Bernstein continued. “Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress want to cut taxes for the wealthy and big corporations, while repealing the very measures that are cutting costs and supporting growth.”  

    [ad_2]

    Susan Carpenter

    Source link

  • Israel-Hamas war: Latest updates

    Israel-Hamas war: Latest updates

    [ad_1]

    Get the latest updates on the war between Israel and Hamas.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Here’s what you can expect from Super Bowl commercials this Sunday

    Here’s what you can expect from Super Bowl commercials this Sunday

    [ad_1]

    NEW YORK (AP) — Big name advertisers will be pulling out all the stops on Super Bowl Sunday — enlisting high-profile actors, investing in dazzling special effects and, they hope, going for laughs as they seek to win over viewers during game breaks.

    What You Need To Know

    • In an increasingly fractured and polarized media environment — and with fewer people watching live TV — the Super Bowl is an anomaly

    • The big game’s viewership has actually increased, with a record 115.1 million people tuning in last year

    • Many Super Bowl commercials have already been released

    In an increasingly fractured and polarized media environment — and with fewer people watching live TV — the Super Bowl is an anomaly. The big game’s viewership has actually increased, with a record 115.1 million people tuning in last year.

    So marketers will use the game on Sunday, which will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+, to draw attention to new products, brand extensions and their marketing message as they again vie for the eyes of more than 100 million expected viewers.

    Almost as an escape from the divisive U.S. presidential election and conflicts deepening around the world, most Super Bowl advertisers appear to be doubling down on flights of fantasy or light humor, often with a dose of nostalgia and a lot of mini-reunions of TV characters.

    “Serious is out,” said Kimberly Whitler, marketing professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. “Marketers have figured out entertainment, enjoyment and escapism is the name of the ad game.”

    Many Super Bowl commercials have already been released. Here’s what we know heading into this year’s big game.

    TV show mini reunions

    Perhaps taking a cue from the success of last year’s PopCorners ad that featured a reunion of “Breaking Bad” actors stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, this year there’s a slew of mini TV show reunions in ads.

    T-Mobile, which has been reuniting Scrubs co-stars in Super Bowl ads since 2022, teams up Zach Braff and Donald Faison to sing a version of “Flashdance…What a Feeling,” with Jason Momoa — along with a cameo by Jennifer Beals.

    In an ad stuffed with celebrity cameos — including “Judge Judy” Judy Sheindlin — e.l.f. cosmetics reunited “Suits” stars Gina Torres, Rick Hoffman and Sarah Rafferty in a courtroom spoof.

    NBC sitcoms have quite a few reunion moments during the game. In an Uber Eats ad, which shows people forgetting things so they remember Uber Eats can deliver a wide variety of items, Jennifer Anniston seemingly forgets she ever worked with her “Friends” co-star David Schwimmer.

    In an ad for Mtn Dew Baja Blast, Aubrey Plaza says she can have a ‘Blast’ doing anything, including reuniting with her “Parks and Rec” boss Nick Offerman as they fly on dragons.

    And in an ad for Booking.com, Tina Fey hires body doubles to stay at different lodging because she has so many options on the site, including her “30 Rock” co-stars Jane Krakowski and Jack McBrayer.

    Bringing well-known TV show characters together can help connect to the audience, said Northwestern University marketing professor Tim Calkins.

    “A younger, more on-trend figure might be more exciting, but could lack the awareness of these well-established characters,” he said. “Surprise is a key element of Super Bowl advertising, so unexpected reunions can work well.”

    Nostalgia, light hijinks

    Humor and a touch of nostalgia can be found in many ads. Molson Coors ‘ ad brings back their “Chill Train” that last appeared in advertisements nearly two decades ago, in 2005. A tongue-in-cheek ad shows the train crashing into a football watching party to bring partiers Coors Light. LL Cool J turns out to be the conductor.

    For Sofia Colucci, chief marketing officer for Molson Coors, which is advertising for the second year after Anheuser-Busch ended its decades long exclusive sponsorship of the game, the Super Bowl is a unique venue to reach existing customers and attract new ones.

    “One of the things we’re really trying to be thoughtful about is making sure that we are retaining and protecting our core drinkers at the same time attracting new drinkers,” she said. “The Super Bowl is a huge stage where you do have that opportunity to talk widely to those audiences.”

    In another hijink-filled ad, Doritos introduces its new Dinamita chips — the 24th year Doritos is advertising in the Super Bowl — by depicting two grandmotherly women in a store with actress Jenna Ortega. They reveal their action-prowess by taking off to pursue “Top Gun: Maverick” actor Danny Ramirez who grabbed the last bag of chips from a store shelf.

    Frito-Lay North America CMO Brett O’Brien says Dinamitas is aiming to reach a “multicultural young audience” aged 16 to 24.

    Celebrities abound

    There are always tons of celebrities in ads, and the star power seems to go up and up every year.

    “It’s celebrity on steroids right now,” Virginia Commonwealth University Brandcenter’s Jessica D. Collins said. While that is not necessarily new or surprising for the Super Bowl, she added, “it’s just going to be so heightened this year.”

    That means big names like Arnold Schwarzenneger starring in a State Farm ad, Ice Spice making an appearance for Starry, Christopher Walken facing imitations of himself for BMW, and Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner Usher showing up in an Uber Eats’ spot.

    Many ads have stuffed multiple celebrities in ads. Beyond the TV show reunions, Michelob Ultra features soccer legend Lionel Messi, “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis and retired Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino. BetMGM features Vince Vaughn, Tom Brady and Wayne Gretsky. And Paramount+ touts a star-filled lineup, including Drew Barrymore, Sir Patrick Stewart and Creed.

    Squarespace also hired a big name for behind the camera with Martin Scorcese directing his first Super Bowl ad for the domain hosting site.

    While star-power is exciting, it’s always possible to overdo it. Advertisers can risk viewers remembering what stars they saw in a commercial but not the brand name, University of Minnesota associate professor of marketing Linli Xu notes.

    One organic way advertisers can pull off celebrity appearances is to choose a featured star that already has a connection to the brand, Collins said, or tap into a recent pop culture moment.

    “A lot of times you’ll see a celebrity just show up and you’re like, ‘That person would have never used that product. Why are they there?’” she said.

    Some serious moments

    Of course, this year’s Super Bowl commercials won’t all be laughs.

    Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism has said it will run an ad featuring Martin Luther King Jr.’s speechwriter Dr. Clarence B. Jones. Dove’s ad focuses on the fact that low body-confidence leads to girls quitting sports. And Google’s heartstring-pulling ad follows a blind man as he uses “Guided Frame” — Google’s A.I.-powered accessibility feature for the Pixel camera that uses a combination of audio cues, high-contrast animations and tactile vibrations — to take pictures of the people and places in his life.

    Surprises

    As always, there will still be some game day surprises. Some advertisers such as Amazon have stayed mum on any plans. Upstart e-commerce site Temu has reportedly bought several ads. In a presidential election year, it’s possible we might see a candidate ad. And while there have been no indications of such, many wonder if advertisers will capitalize on this year’s Taylor Swift buzz in some way.

    Regardless of whether or not she makes her way into the commercial-side of the big game, marketers say advertisers are taking note of the “Taylor Swift effect” and trying to reach everyone, not just sports fans.

    “We have people that have never watched Football a day in their life now watching the entire game — not just for the ads, but for the game itself and for the celebrity sightings,” Collins said.

    [ad_2]

    Associated Press

    Source link

  • Michigan is unanimous No. 1, FSU 6th in final AP Top 25 football poll

    Michigan is unanimous No. 1, FSU 6th in final AP Top 25 football poll

    [ad_1]

    HOUSTON, TX — Michigan was voted a unanimous No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll of the season after the Wolverines beat Washington in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday night to win their first national title in 26 years.

    The Wolverines (15-0) received all 61 first-place votes as the only unbeaten team in the country. Washington (14-1) was second, the Huskies’ best final ranking since finishing No. 2 in 1991. That year, Washington was No. 1 in the final coaches’ poll to claim its only national title.

    Texas (12-2) was third, its best ranking since finishing second in 2009. Georgia (13-1) was fourth and Alabama (12-2), which ended the Bulldogs’ 29-game winning streak in the Southeastern Conference title games to make the playoff, was fifth.

    Florida State (13-1) and Oregon (12-2) finished tied for sixth. The Seminoles’ only loss came in a lopsided Orange Bowl against Georgia after they became the first unbeaten Power Five conference champion to be left out of the playoff and many of their top players opted out of the bowl.

    Missouri was eighth and Mississippi was ninth to give the SEC four teams in the top 10. For the Tigers, it was their best finish since landing at No. 5 in 2013.

    Ohio State was 10th, the Buckeyes’ worst final ranking since they were 12th in 2013.

    Clemson moved back into the poll at No. 20 to extend its streak of being ranked to end the season to 13 years, the second-longest in the nation behind Alabama’s 16.

    [ad_2]

    Associated Press

    Source link

  • Choosing A Hospitality Approach To Differentiate Co-Working Spaces

    Choosing A Hospitality Approach To Differentiate Co-Working Spaces

    [ad_1]

    In the rivalrous world of co-working, companies with me-too business models don’t last long. Increasingly, leading firms plying their trade in the co-working sector are leveraging a hospitality mentality to separate their offerings from those of competitors.

    Among notable names in this niche: Carr Workplaces, Venture X, Select Office Suites, Worksuites and Premier Workspaces, all of which elevate their brands by being less about physical offices than about providing a level of hospitality that leaves clients on top of their respective games.

    Above, beyond

    Among pioneers in going beyond administrative function to provide a service that’s essentially an adjunct division of their clients’ teams is Carr Workplaces. The company provides businesses with a suite of services including event planning, research, notary services, office organization, travel arrangements and dining reservations, taking on roles that can save its clients time to focus on their own respective businesses.

    The company carried its approach to extremes in early 2020, when the pandemic shut down co-working spaces nationwide. The Carr Workplaces Chicago team continued to visit the office, where they organized their client companies’ mail and — recognizing its importance to business function — offered to deliver it to clients’ homes.

    Another company, Select Office Suites, with a trio of New York City locations, provides turnkey solutions aimed at having clients feel they’d actually prefer to be in the office. The company builds community among tenants by offering lounges and cafes fostering communication and collaboration. On-site staff answer phones, provide concierge service, manage IT, schedule meeting space and events and offer refreshments. Clients describe the offices as warm, professional places encouraging productivity.

    Venture X, a primarily U.S.-based firm, with more than 50 locations around the world, uses a franchise model in which locations are owned and operated by entrepreneurs from each local market. Result: owner-operators are more motivated to forge rapport with and among tenants and to provide a hospitality-focused service culture. Locations serve up boutique amenities and deliver a comparatively more upscale look, feel and price point, expressly designed to lure greater numbers of enterprise-level business.

    Worksuites, a more-than 20-year-old business with 23 locations in Texas and Georgia, targets customers occupying a place somewhere between modern and trendy and old-school office space. The company’s congenial office environments encourage heads-down productivity without imparting a shared or temporary square footage sensibility. On-site staff greet guests and arrange catering, in-house IT support and quick Internet. Everything from presentation equipment to coffee service is coordinated.

    Premier Workspaces has 90 locations across the country, offering furnished offices and suites, on-site management and administrative support and mail distribution. According to satisfied clients, the company’s thoughtful services impart a feeling Premier Workspaces cares about the success of the companies using those spaces.

    Hospitality hurdles

    In bringing a service-first hospitality sensibility to co-working, myriad challenges need be surmounted. One is the hurdle of setting expectations for clients, says Ashley K. Buckner, chief operating officer at Carr Workplaces. “The reality is we cannot service every client request at the same time, so setting a client’s expectation on turnaround time, response [and more] is a crucial piece” in meeting and besting expectations.

    Really getting to know customers can be another headwind for hospitality-minded co-working companies. “We must first get to know them, their preferences, and understand their lives outside of work,” Buckner says.

    “Without this, we only support them on the surface, which anyone can do. Building meaningful relationships allows us to serve them on a deeper level, in a way people remember . . . Making a positive impact on the client workday experience is the reason we exist, [making for] a place where clients feel supported and at home.”

    [ad_2]

    Jeffrey Steele, Contributor

    Source link