Famed for its bourbon, horse racing and fried chicken, Kentucky's economy is roaring thanks to the collective successes of these three industries. State officials are keen to further diversify the economy, however, and promote less traditional sectors such as logistics and technology.

A new generation of hi-tech manufacturers in the US are driving demand for industrial space in some of the country's largest cities.

The mayor of Birmingham in Alabama, William A Bell, tells Courtney Fingar how the renovation of an old railway yard into a baseball stadium is just one example of how the city is transforming its image and attracting the attention of both domestic and international investors.

The Argentinian province of Mendoza is globally renowned for its wine, but its governor is keen to demonstrate to investors that the region thrives in many fields, including mining and energy production.

Beyond the US megacities, several second-tier cities – Seattle, Columbus, San Antonio, Minneapolis/St Paul, San Diego and Portland – are in search of FDI to promote their positions on the world stage. Karen E Thuermer discovers how a major new investment initiative could help them find it.

A diaspora has long been an invaluable source of income to those in developing countries. But channelling this capital into public projects that will benefit the country in the long term is a difficult task, and one which only a few are experiencing notable success in.

At the turn of the millennium, after years of losing out on technology projects to established tech hubs, Chicago decided it was time to raise its game. Now its honour roll of successful start-ups includes Groupon and GrubHub.

Costa Rica's new president, Luis Guillermo Solis, has wasted no time in hitting the investment trail. During his first visit to the US, he tells Michal Kaczmarski why inward investment is so important and explains his strategy for making Costa Rica a hub for high-tech companies.