Brian Kelsey, CivicAnalytics -- The falling price of oil will compete for economic story of the year in 2014, but what does it mean for economic developers heading into 2015? Most of the attention so far has been paid to oil-producing states like Texas and North Dakota, but for economic developers in non-production states, could lower oil prices create opportunities for leveraging their own competitive advantages?

HARTFORD, CT -- Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced Connecticut has once again been recognized as a fuel cell leader, ranking as one of the top five states by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in its recent report State of the States: Fuel Cells in America 2014. The hydrogen and fuel cell industry is powering economic and job growth not only in Connecticut but across the Northeast region. Nearly 600 Connecticut companies are part of the more than 1,170 industry businesses in New England, New York and New Jersey.

Yvette C. Hammett, The Tampa Tribune -- Plans by Port Tampa Bay to transform the now-vacant Port Red Wing into a cluster of steel manufacturing operations took a step closer to fruition Tuesday. The Tampa Port Authority board approved a lease agreement with Tampa Tank Inc. and Florida Structural Steel, which could result in creation of 108 new jobs for the area. Now it is up to Tampa Tank to decide whether to take the deal, which includes an economic incentives package, or whether to expand in a location outside of Hillsborough County.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- RayGen Resources is the winner of the Global Cleantech Cluster Association's Grand Prize in its fourth annual Later Stage Awards. During the 5th annual CleanTech Investing Seminar in Lausanne, Switzerland, the GCCA honored 10 companies in 10 categories, with RayGen Resources winning the GCCA pitch contest and taking the top award. As the Grand Prize winner, RayGen Resources receives a special invitation to the exclusive, invitation-only, Campton Wealth Family Alternative Investing Conference (FAIC) taking place in March 2015.

ONTARIO -- Today, the Better Business Climate Act, 2014, passed third reading in the Ontario legislature. The Act will strengthen the province's economy by cutting red tape for business and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens and practices that cost time and money. Along with burden reduction, the Act will also foster the development of globally competitive economic clusters which help attract investment and talent across Ontario by fostering regional capacity for productivity, innovation, exports, global competitiveness, business attraction and creating well-paying jobs. 

Kelly Petty, ColaDaily -- Megan Hughes Hickman, executive director of EngenuitySC, a public-private partnership to build economic competitiveness in the Midlands, said the region could flourish in many industries but would miss an opportunity not to lead on technology.

Mark Crawford, Area Development -- Economic growth in the Midwest was steady in 2014, thanks to solid performances by the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, especially transportation equipment. The economy also got a boost from the surging energy sector, led by oil-shale production in Ohio, which improved sales for supporting industries like sand, chemicals, and steel drill pipe made in Midwestern steel plants. 

Rebecca O. Bagley, Forbes -- In order to stay globally competitive in this new economy, regions must have an economic base that constantly innovates and optimizes the use of technology. Technology-based economic development, or TBED, is the approach used to help create a climate where this economic base can thrive.

Semiconductor Today -- At the 5th annual CleanTech Investing Seminar in Lausanne, Switzerland on 3 December, III-nitride epitaxial material supplier EpiGaN nv of Hasselt, near Antwerp, Belgium was announced as winner of the 2014 Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA) Later Stage Award in the category ‘Energy efficiency’.EpiGaN is a member company of the Flanders Cleantech Associaton (FCA) based in Antwerp, which provides the Flemish cleantech industry with a platform to gain exposure to worldwide business partners, networks and investor communities.

The Times of India -- AHMEDABAD: The city's first Cultural Heritage Cluster - aimed at incubating new ventures and innovative strategies that use culture for economic development - was launched on Sunday at Law Garden.