real slots game TORONTO — Canada's main stock index rose Thursday, helped by strength in energy and utilities stocks, while U.S. markets moved lower ahead of reports on the labour market on both sides of the border. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 38.86 points at 25,680.04. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 248.33 points at 44,765.71. The S&P 500 index was down 11.38 points at 6,075.11, while the Nasdaq composite was down 34.86 points at 19,700.26. Friday will bring the monthly jobs reports in both the U.S. and Canada, which markets will be eyeing for clues on upcoming interest rate decisions by central banks, said Kevin Headland, co-chief investment strategist at Manulife Investment Management. The U.S. Federal Reserve has several key data reports coming before it makes its own decision on Dec. 18, said Headland, including inflation. Markets are currently leaning toward a quarter-percentage-point cut from the Fed, he said. But “there’s a lot of data for them to digest before the announcement.” The Bank of Canada’s decision is next week, and Headland said markets seem to think there’s a good chance the central bank could cut by an outsized half-percentage point. “In my belief, the bank is trying to front-run the mortgage renewals that are coming due over the next year or so, to just avoid some of the bigger hits to discretionary spending,” said Headland. “There’s no reason for them not to continue rate cuts unless there’s a surprise tomorrow.” Canadian bank earnings continued to roll in on Thursday. CIBC saw its profit rise while its provisions for loan losses dropped. TD also saw its profit rise, though its adjusted earnings were lower as the bank continues to work through the fallout from its anti-money laundering deficiencies. Meanwhile, BMO’s earnings were a miss on analyst expectations but the bank said it expects loan performance to improve in 2025. So far, there haven’t been any major surprises from bank earnings overall, said Headland. Bitcoin continued its meteoric rise, briefly breaching US$100,000 for the first time after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump tapped crypto advocate Paul Atkins to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. “US$100,000 is definitely a psychological threshold,” said Headland. “I guess time will tell whether it can remain at that level,” he added. “If we’re getting downside pressure to risk assets, I would assume that Bitcoin and other companies will be swept up in that negativity.” But for now, the surge is indicative of the broader positive momentum markets have enjoyed since Donald Trump’s election, said Headland. The Canadian dollar traded for 71.24 cents US compared with 71.09 cents US on Wednesday. The January crude oil contract was down 24 cents at US$68.30 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up four cents at US$3.08 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$27.80 at US$2,648.40 an ounce and the March copper contract was down a penny at US$4.19 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press

Former President has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here’s the latest: Commemoration in New York City To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. The Obamas recall Carter’s Sunday services In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away — buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” A somber announcement The died Sunday, more than a year after entering , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, who , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. A Southerner and a man of faith In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Gore remembers Carter for life “of purpose” Former Vice President praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. The Clintons react to Jimmy Carter’s death Former President former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end.” The statement recalled Carter’s many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David.” After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in “supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said. The Associated PressNone

Awfis Space Solutions shares will remain in focus on Wednesday as promoter Peak XV Partners Investments and shareholders Bisque Ltd and Link Investment Trust plan to sell a 12.2% stake in the company through a block deal, CNBC-TV18 reported. The stake sale , valued at Rs 583.4 crore, is priced at Rs 680 per share, a 5.2% discount to the last closing price on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Sources said the deal includes a 90-day lock-in period. Peak XV owns a 22.86% stake in Awfis, Bisque holds 23.47%, and Link Investment Trust has 0.36%. Awfis offers flexible workspace solutions, from individual desks to customized office spaces for corporates. Also Read : DLF Camellias' Rs 190 crore Gurugram apartment: How many Bitcoins would you need? In November, Awfis announced a partnership with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) to design, build, and manage over 1.65 lakh square feet of office space at Adani Inspire in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). Stock Trading Markets 102: Mastering Sentiment Indicators for Swing and Positional Trading By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading ROC Made Easy: Master Course for ROC Stock Indicator By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading Market 103: Mastering Trends with RMI and Techno-Funda Insights By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Derivative Analytics Made Easy By - Vivek Bajaj, Co Founder- Stockedge and Elearnmarkets View Program Stock Trading Options Trading Course For Beginners By - Chetan Panchamia, Options Trader View Program Stock Trading A2Z of Stock Market for Beginners: Stock Market Course For Beginners By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Technical Analysis Made Easy: Online Certification Course By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading A2Z of Stock Trading - Online Stock Trading Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Stock Markets Made Easy By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Ichimoku Trading Unlocked: Expert Analysis and Strategy By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading Futures Trading Made Easy: Future & Options Trading Course By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Market 101: An Insight into Trendlines and Momentum By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Dow Theory Made Easy By - Vishal Mehta, Independent Systematic Trader View Program This agreement covers two floors in one of the city's prime commercial hubs. The BKC area is connected to the Aqua Line of the metro and the Bandra suburban station and is a preferred business destination in Mumbai, the company said. With the addition of this new mandate, the company expands its footprint in the building, where it already operates a coworking centre, Awfis said. The deal was facilitated by Rounak Real Estate Consultants, an advisory firm with expertise across prime residential, commercial, and industrial spaces. Also Read : Vishal Mega Mart IPO opens today. Check GMP, review On Tuesday, Awfis Space shares closed at Rs 716.9, down 0.15% on the BSE, while the benchmark Sensex ended flat. The stock has gained 62% in the past six months, bringing the company’s market capitalization to Rs 5,078 crore. ( Disclaimer : Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )

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Hail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in MiamiIn a rapidly evolving cryptocurrency market, identifying key trends is vital for making informed investment decisions. As digital currencies experience highs and lows, certain coins continue to emerge as crucial components of an investment portfolio. This insight highlights five cryptocurrencies with substantial growth potential, regardless of market conditions. DOGEN, a prominent player in the meme coin sector, stands out with its strategic focus and significant growth projections. Currently priced at $0.0011, DOGEN is poised for an 18% increase as it transitions to the next presale stage. The coin has the potential for a striking 600% gain by the end of its presale. With community-driven features and upcoming utilities, DOGEN aims to evolve beyond a meme coin into a valuable asset within the Solana ecosystem. Solana’s SOL, known for its lightning-fast blockchain, is a pivotal force in supporting decentralized applications. Offering scalable solutions, Solana attracts developers and innovators, with SOL as its native currency driving transactions and supporting the network’s vast projects. Ethereum, a leading blockchain platform, solidified its position by transitioning to a Proof-of-Stake model. Known for its smart contracts and decentralized applications, Ethereum continues to focus on enhancing transaction efficiency. With upcoming updates aimed at scalability, Ether remains a critical asset for investors. Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency, continues to capture interest with its decentralized nature and capped supply. Operating on blockchain technology, Bitcoin promotes secure electronic transactions without intermediaries. Its unique features and limited supply ensure its ongoing appeal in today’s market. Dogecoin, initially a meme, has found substantial popularity, buoyed by a supportive community and notable endorsements. Despite its uncapped supply, Dogecoin’s strong community engagement keeps it relevant in a fluctuating market landscape. For investors seeking diverse market opportunities, these five cryptocurrencies offer compelling distinctions, whether for short-term gains or long-term steadiness. With DOGEN showing notable promise and a solid strategic plan, its potential impact within the market cannot be overlooked.

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WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - General Motors (GM.N) , opens new tab said Monday it will sell its stake in its joint venture battery plant in Lansing, Michigan, to partner LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) , opens new tab as the Detroit automaker trims its electric vehicle plans. GM expects to recoup its investment in the facility, which a person briefed on the matter said is about $1 billion. The deal, which is expected to close early next year, does not change its ownership stake in the Ultium Cells joint venture, which operates battery plants in Ohio and Tennessee. The largest U.S. automaker said the plant, which is near completion, will serve an unidentified new customer. GM said the Lansing plant currently has nearly 100 employees and is on track to meet employment commitments. "We believe we have the right cell and manufacturing capabilities in place to grow with the EV market in a capital efficient manner," said GM Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson. The announcement comes amid uncertainty about the future of key EV battery production and consumer tax credits. President-elect Donald Trump's transition wants to kill the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric-vehicle purchases, Reuters reported this month. GM has been scaling back its EV plans over the last year. In June, GM cut its EV production forecast for 2024 and in July CEO Mary Barra said GM would not produce 1 million EVs in North America by the end of 2025 "just because the market's not developing but it will get there." In 2023, GM said it would delay production of electric pickup trucks at a Michigan plant by a year. GM said separately the automaker and LG Energy Solution are extending their 14-year battery technology partnership to include prismatic cell development. GM in August finalized a separate deal with South Korea's Samsung SDI (006400.KS) , opens new tab battery factory in Indiana that will build prismatic cells, which could lower EV cost and weight. Sign up here. Reporting by David Shepardson Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabJimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’

By LINDSEY BAHR Do you have a someone in your life who plays Vulture’s Cinematrix game every morning? Or maybe they have the kitchen television turned to Turner Classic Movies all day and make a point of organizing Oscar polls at work? Hate to break it to you: They might be a hard-to-please cinephile. But while you might not want to get into a winless debate over the “Juror No. 2” release or the merits of “Megalopolis” with said person, they don’t have to be hard to buy gifts for. The Associated Press has gathered up some of the best items out there to keep any movie lover stylish and informed. “Interstellar” 4K UHD While Christopher Nolan dreams up his next film, fans can tide themselves over by revisiting his modern classic “Interstellar,” which will be back in IMAX theaters on the weekend of Dec. 6, followed by the home release of a new collector’s edition on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray ($59.95). A third disc in the set, available Dec. 10, contains more than two hours of bonus content, like a never-before-seen storyboard sequence, and new interviews with Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and famous fans Peter Jackson and Denis Villeneuve . A biography of Elaine May Elaine May does not give interviews anymore. But thankfully that didn’t deter writer Carrie Courogen, who did a remarkable job stitching together the life of one of our culture’s most fascinating, and prickly, talents. “Miss May Does Not Exist” is full of delightful anecdotes about the sharp and satirical comedian who gained fame as one half of Nichols and May and went on to direct films like “The Heartbreak Kid” and “Mikey and Nicky.” Courogen writes about May’s successes, flops and her legendary scuffles with the Hollywood establishment. It’s a vital companion to Mark Harris’ biography of Mike Nichols . Macmillan. $30. A “Matrix” hoodie The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has an exclusive new “Matrix” sweatshirt for sale in conjunction with its Cyberpunk exhibition. Brain Dead Studios designed and created several items, including the black hoodie ($140), a white rabbit tee ($54) and a pint glass ($18). An Academy Museum exhibition catalog If you can’t make it to Los Angeles to check out the “Color in Motion” exhibit for yourself, the Academy Museum also has a beautiful new companion book for sale ($55) charting the development of color technology in film and its impact. It includes photos from films like “The Red Shoes,” “Vertigo,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and images of rare prints from the silent era. The Academy Museum Store is having a sale (20% off everything) from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. A status tote Related Articles Things To Do | US airports with worst weather delays during holiday season Things To Do | The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Things To Do | These holiday gifts change the game when building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more Things To Do | ‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained? Things To Do | Beer pairings for your holiday feasts Want to look like a real film festival warrior, the kind who sees five movies a day, files a review and still manages to make the late-night karaoke party? You’re going to need the ultimate status tote from the independent streaming service MUBI . Simple, to-the-point and only for people in the know. $25. The Metrograph magazine Film magazines may be an endangered species, but print is not dead at The Metrograph . Manhattan’s coolest movie theater is starting a biannual print publication “for cinephiles and cultural connoisseurs alike.” The first issue’s cover art is by cinematographer Ed Lachman (“Carol”), and contributors include the likes of Daniel Clowes, Ari Aster, Steve Martin and Simon Rex. There’s also a conversation with Clint Eastwood. It’s currently available for pre-order and will be in bookstores Dec. 10 for $25 ($15 for Metrograph members). Director style This is not a book about filmmaking styles, camera angles and leadership choices. It’s literally about what directors wear. “How Directors Dress: On Set, in the Edit, and Down the Red Carpet” ($40) has over 200 archival photos of filmmakers in action: Spike Lee in his basketball caps, Sofia Coppola in her Charvet button-ups, Steven Spielberg’s denim on denim and many more. With a forward by the always elegant Joanna Hogg and writing from some of the top fashion journalists, it’s a beautiful look at how filmmakers really dress for work — and might even be a source of inspiration.

From revisiting the political scandal that sparked a cultural reckoning in Canberra to a rich-lister’s unravelling, there were no shortage of court battles being waged — or defended — by the top end of town in 2024. We revisit some of the cases that dominated headlines and left us shocked, perplexed, and — at times — even entertained. Brittany Higgins defended a defamation action launched by Senator Linda Reynolds. Credit: Composite image/Holly Thompson Villain or victim? Reynolds v Higgins It was a story of an alleged rape in the halls of Parliament House and a covert political cover-up, and like all “fairytales”, it needed a villain. That was how WA Senator Linda Reynolds’ lawyer Martin Bennett began the five-week-long trial in her defamation suit against former staffer Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, the most high-profile case to go before WA’s civil courts in 2024. The former defence minister sued Higgins over social media posts accusing her of mishandling the former staffer’s alleged rape by Bruce Lehrmann in March 2019 — a claim that was later aired by the media and created a storm that led to Reynolds’ political demise. Higgins fiercely defended the action on the basis her posts were true, but opted against taking the stand at the eleventh hour amid concerns for her health. The trial, which the pair mortgaged and sold their homes to pursue, pored over the events of 2019 in excruciating detail, dragged in high-profile figures — from former prime minister Scott Morrison to broadcaster Peta Credlin — and threw private texts into the public arena we imagine the parties would have preferred to remain private. It also spawned fresh evidence Reynolds now wants to use as a weapon in her bid to have Higgins’ $2.4 million compensation claim probed by the corruption watchdog. Lehrmann has maintained his innocence since his 2022 criminal trial was aborted due to juror misconduct, but a Federal Court judgment found, on the balance of probabilities, that he did rape Higgins. Lehrmann is now appealing that ruling. Justice Paul Tottle is expected to hand down a judgment in the court row in the New Year, but we suspect there won’t be any winners in this saga. Western Australia’s mining dynasty, of which the nation’s richest person Gina Rinehart is the most famous member, was embroiled in a court fight over the rights to the Hope Downs projects in the state’s iron-rich Pilbara region. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Gina Rinehart: 1, Bianca and John: 0 The high-stakes clash over the Hope Downs iron ore project , which pitted Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart against two mining dynasties and her eldest children, occupied two floors of the Supreme Court for more than six months in 2023. And yet still, there was unfinished business in the battle for the multibillion-dollar asset. The case made headlines again in April, when Rinehart’s eldest children lost an eleventh-hour bid for 82 top secret documents their billionaire mother claimed were protected by legal privilege. The pair, who have been locked in a bitter battle with their mother over mining assets left behind by their pioneer grandfather Lang Hancock, believed the files might aid their pursuit for ownership of Rinehart-led Hancock Prospecting’s sprawling mining tenements in the state’s north-west. But Justice Natalie Whitby ruled the pair had insufficient evidence, lashing the handling of the case and its burden on the public justice system after revealing the court book spanned 6000 pages. “To say that the resources dedicated to these privilege claims was grossly disproportionate to the issues in the dispute is an understatement,” she wrote. Ouch... We’re still awaiting a judgment from Justice Jennifer Smith on the broader row. We hope Justice Smith is not spending the whole festive season “in the area of or contiguous to” her desk and what we imagine is a very lengthy draft judgment. Beleaguered Mineral Resources boss takes on media to keep court row quiet He gained a reputation as the uninhibited billionaire mining boss behind Mineral Resources’ meteoric rise, but it would be what Chris Ellison kept hidden that would be his downfall. Depressed lithium prices, sweeping cost cuts and a debt-laden balance sheet saw Ellison declare it the “shittiest time” to be a managing director in one newspaper interview. Just a few months later, he would announce plans to vacate the top job, undone by an exposé in the Australian Financial Review detailing his involvement in an alleged decade-long tax evasion scheme. But as shareholders were demanding answers and the corporate regulator was beginning its own probe, Ellison’s lawyers were busy fighting to keep the media from undoing sweeping gag orders over documents filed in his now-settled row with a former contracts boss. The documents were central to the two-year court row MinRes, Ellison and self-proclaimed whistleblower Steven Pigozzo had been fighting on several fronts until inking a peace deal in July — which featured explosive allegations of misconduct. While a string of Pigozzo’s claims had been republished by the media, much of the case had been covered by suppression orders which were broadened when both parties asked that more than 16 legal documents be permanently removed from the case file. “The non-publication orders are sought to fortify matters raised previously about allegations that were not just irrelevant but scandalous,” Ellison’s lawyer told the court. WA Health, scientist ink top-secret stem cell patent peace deal She was the face of Royal Perth Hospital’s state-of-the-art cellular therapy facility, the Perth scientist behind a medical invention that saw her wheeled out by the health department’s publicity team to showcase its life-changing research. That was until the day of Dr Marian Sturm’s retirement in 2021, when the health service dragged her to court demanding compensation and that the licence agreement for the invention be torn up. The three-year medicine ownership battle came to an abrupt end in March after the East Metropolitan Health Service and Sturm’s company Isopogen inked a top-secret peace deal. The lawsuit centred around intellectual property rights to an improved method of manufacturing mesenchymal stromal cells used to treat inflammatory illnesses, which Sturm developed in 2007 and registered in her name and that of her capital-raising vehicle Isopogen. Sturm’s relationship with the EMHS soured amid claims she had breached her contract by asserting ownership over the medicine, which saw Isopogen, two former employees, the state’s own patents attorneys and its insurer embroiled in a bitter legal pursuit with the health service. The parties claimed they had reached a mutually acceptable, confidential settlement which provided a comprehensive framework for “an ongoing relationship”. A spokesperson for the health service told this masthead that gag order extended to how much this three-year sparring match cost the taxpayer. How convenient. Vegan activist Tash Peterson, partner cop $280k bill in defamation row She’s not quite the “top end of town”, but we couldn’t take a look back at the biggest civil cases of 2024 without referencing the whopping damages bill handed to Perth’s most prominent animal rights activist. In November, Tash Peterson and her partner were ordered to pay $280,000 in damages to the owners of a Perth veterinary clinic for defamation after a bizarre dispute in 2021. The dispute, which was later circulated on social media, was sparked after Peterson and Jack Higgs spotted two cockatiels in a large cage at the front of Dr Kay McIntosh and Andrew McIntosh’s Bicton Veterinary Clinic. What unfolded was a bizarre tirade in which Peterson accused the clinic of “advertising animal slavery” — despite neither of the birds being able to survive in the wild — and of eating their own patients. Peterson and Higgs had claimed their tirade was justified as honest opinion, defending the content on the basis it was substantially true and a matter of public interest. But the part of the trial that managed to capture the most attention were revelations about just how deep Peterson’s pockets were, with the V-Gan Booty Pty Ltd entity behind her burgeoning OnlyFans account generating more than $380,000 in earnings in 2022 alone. We suspect this won’t be the last we see of Peterson. Get alerts on breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert .North Yorkshire farm shop praised for 'delicious' eggs revealed among UK's best

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As Shenandoah County seeks to expand its inventory of business-ready land, officials are considering a new tool that could provide resources for local development while allowing the county to collaborate and share in the benefits of regional projects. It's called a Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA), a partnership among local and regional governments that enables them to pool resources for developing industrial sites, attracting businesses and sharing tax revenues. During a recent Shenandoah County Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting, Jenna French, the county's director of tourism and economic development, referenced a proposal by Jay Langston, executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership (SVP), a regional economic development organization, to form a RIFA among SVP member localities. If created, the RIFA could theoretically include the counties of Shenandoah, Page, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Augusta and Bath, as well as the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton and Waynesboro. Beth Doughty, former director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, presented on the RIFA model at the meeting, citing its success in other regions. "The idea that you can join together, it helps you expand your inventory and potential for bringing in businesses and industry," Doughty said. "It creates jobs. It attracts investment. It mitigates your risk versus having to develop these properties all by yourself." What is a RIFA? A RIFA is a legal partnership between local governments that enables them to jointly fund and manage economic development projects, Doughty said. Participating localities share the costs of preparing industrial sites and infrastructure, and they also divide the tax revenue generated by businesses that locate there. It's something like a joint investment fund for local governments. Instead of each locality scraping together resources to develop a site on its own, they pool their money into a collective pot, spreading the costs and risks. When a new business sets up shop on the developed land, the profits — like dividends — are shared among the participating members. This model allows even smaller counties and communities to gain a stake in larger projects that would otherwise be out of reach. "A RIFA can borrow money. It can issue bonds. It can accept funds and property from the Commonwealth. It can apply for grants and loans. It can make its own loans and grants," Doughty said. "It can enter into agreements with any other political subdivision of the Commonwealth." Doughty provided an example from the Western Virginia RIFA in Roanoke, which transformed a 58-acre site into an industrial park. Three localities contributed to the $10 million project based on their size and expected benefits, and they now share the tax revenue. "I just think joining a RIFA is kind of a no-brainer," Doughty said. How a RIFA works A RIFA is governed by a board of representatives from each participating locality. For each project, the RIFA takes on a site for development and forms a project team. Only interested localities join the project and share in its costs and revenues. As the project develops, the participating localities share in the costs and benefits, with contributions and tax revenue divided proportionally based on participation. According to Doughty, the flexibility allows localities to invest in projects that align with their priorities while opting out of those that don't. She noted that this structure reduces financial risk and makes large-scale development feasible. French echoed those thoughts during the meeting, stating the framework might work for Shenandoah County. "You can choose to be a part of the RIFA, but that doesn't commit you to be involved in every single project," she said. "You still have the ability to say this project makes sense for us as a community and this one doesn't." The vision Economic development officials noted that the Shenandoah Valley faces a lack of large, business-ready sites, limiting its ability to attract industries. A RIFA could help address this gap by enabling localities to collaborate on projects such as industrial parks, infrastructure upgrades and regional marketing. Langston, in a phone interview with the Daily, highlighted the region's need for a site that could support multiple industries. "The region as a whole is trying to develop good business sites for our target sectors, but what we have been lacking is a large site, approximately 500 acres, that will allow the location of multiple target sectors, not just one big project," Langston said. He identified sectors such as aviation-related industries, machinery manufacturing and EV component production as key targets. "The key challenge is funding, which is why no single community has tackled such a large site," he added. EDA member Beverly Butterfield noted the opportunity a RIFA would give Shenandoah County to participate in such a project. "Development doesn't necessarily happen county line to county line," Butterfield said. French added that there may be opportunities within county lines if a RIFA were formed. "We are going to be looking at the purchase and development of public lands," French said. "Is there an opportunity for the towns to participate in that with us and buy into the purchase and development of the land? We could form a RIFA with the towns." Next steps No decisions were made during the meeting, but officials agreed to continue exploring the feasibility of forming a RIFA. To approve Shenandoah County's participation in forming a regional RIFA, the EDA would first need to make a recommendation, which would then be presented to the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors. The supervisors would ultimately decide whether the county would participate. "This is preliminary," County Administrator Evan Vass said. "There are many questions to be asked and answered."