Business Insights

With a population of 684,451, Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The eighteenth largest city in the nation, Seattle was ranked as the fastest-growing city in the U.S. in 2013; today it remains in the top five. In the nineteenth century Seattle was known as America’s shipbuilding center and was one of the West coast’s few commercial hubs. During World War II the city evolved into a center for aircraft manufacturing partly thanks to the presence of the Boeing corporation and, by the 80s, Seattle became a technology center after Microsoft chose to build its headquarters in the city (followed by Amazon in the 90s). Thanks to progressive government policies and an ongoing effort to develop a green economy, Seattle is considered America’s number one “smarter city”.

Home to more than 800,000 residents, Jacksonville, Florida is the 12^th most populous city in the United States. Jacksonville is a consolidated city/county government integrated with Duval County; as a result, Jacksonville is technically the largest city by area in the U.S. at 874.3 square miles and boasts a metropolitan population of 1,573,606, the fourth largest in Florida after Miami, Tampa and Orlando.

Earth’s oceans are a vital part of the environment: not only do they contain 97% percent of the planet’s livable habitat and act as a home to more than seven hundred different species, but our oceans generate half of the oxygen humans breathe while absorbing 30% of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.[i] Considering that the oceans have such a huge impact on the environment and our lives, it’s shocking to discover that only one percent of ocean areas are protected by law.

Phoenix is the largest city in Arizona and the sixth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 1.56 million people. Phoenix is also the only state capital with more than one million residents, making it the most populous capital in the U.S.

“The United States has the most comprehensive system of assistance for Veterans of any nation around the world.”[i] The concept of Veteran’s assistance can be traced back to 1636 when the first Pilgrims, then at war with the Pequot Indians, passed a law stating soldiers who became disabled in the war should be supported in the aftermath of the conflict.ⁱ Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides services to more than 27 million Veterans. The Department is made up of 152 hospitals, 800 community-based outpatient clinics, 126 nursing home care units, 35 domiciliaries and 147 national cemeteries located around the United States.

Philadelphia is the fifth-largest city in the U.S., with an estimated population of 1.6 million in 2014. Philadelphia is the top international study destination for higher education and is considered an educational and economic hub; it has the eighth largest school district in the United States, with 142,266 students attending 218 public schools and 86 charter schools.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 2015, marking an important milestone for the agency. HUD has been helping families and individuals find quality and affordable housing and working to end homelessness since its inception. Statistics show that more than half of renters were spending thirty percent of their income on rent in 2012, a situation that is difficult for any family to maintain. HUD’s mission is to help low income families, senior citizens and people with disabilities have the opportunity to live in a dwelling they can afford. By assisting individuals, HUD initiatives also help to improve and revitalize the communities in which they live.

Chicago is the third largest city in the United States, with a population of more than 2.8 million. Chicago also boasts the third largest Gross Metropolitan Product in the U.S. (after New York City and Los Angeles), generating $610.5 billion, accounting for 3.9% of U.S. GDP. The MasterCard Worldwide Center of Commerce index named Chicago the 4^th most important business center in the world; more than 30 Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Chicago, and the city is rated as having the most balanced economy in the U.S. On a global level, Chicago is considered one of the world’s major financial centers and is the 2^nd largest Central Business District in the U.S.

The threat of the Zika virus has caused panic around the globe as new outbreaks continue to be reported. Although the virus was first discovered in 1947 and has been rarely seen in the U.S. in recent years, there has been massive increase in Zika infections across the country in 2016.

In light of recent water contamination scandals across the nation, state officials are finally starting to address the issue of water contamination in school buildings. Lead contamination of the water supply is very common, especially in older schools, creating an extremely dangerous situation for children.