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Inward Investment Guides
United States Inward Investing Guide

United States Inward Investing Guide

Location USA is a guide for international companies looking to invest or establish operations within the United States. Location USA provides practical advice and guidance about facilities deployment, labor force skills, taxes and incentives, and more. For specific information on all 50 states, utilize the State Resources links.


Energy Innovation from SMUD LEEDS Businesses to Sacramento
Area Development Online Research Desk (Location USA 2012)
 
With so many states trying to lure businesses to their cities, why have such pioneering companies as Intel, Siemens Mobility, Micron, and SynapSense chosen to call Sacramento, California, home? Sacramento has a prime central location near the San Francisco Bay Area and key distribution channels via an international airport, deepwater channel seaport, and rail and interstate freeway systems. The region boasts Enterprise Zone areas, offering incentives for companies to locate within the Greater Sacramento area. But perhaps most enticing is Sacramento's commitment to becoming a green city - currently boasting the second largest number of buildings in the U.S. that are LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

The customer-owned Sacramento Municipal Utility District - affectionately known locally as SMUD - has had at its core values a commitment to innovation, conservation, creativity, and service since its inception in 1946. SMUD leads the nation in its renewable energy policies and energy-efficiency programs. Its wind, hydro, solar, and advanced R&D projects have contributed to SMUD's standing as the first large California utility to receive 20 percent of its resources from renewable sources.

This dedication has driven SMUD to become a major force in establishing Sacramento as a leading cleantech/green-tech industry center. As the region's trusted energy partner, it actively engages its customers in how to increase energy performance and decrease monthly expenses. SMUD's collaborative spirit with the private sector is evident in the myriad of groundbreaking programs it has developed for Sacramento companies to incorporate energy-efficiency measures throughout their organizations, from design and construction phases to retrofit.

One company that can attest to this collaborative spirit at SMUD is Micron, which acquired Numonyx in 2010 and launched its North American headquarters in Folsom, California, part of SMUD's service territory. Since data centers can require up to 50 times more power than office space, SMUD's team worked closely with Micron to optimize energy efficiency in its new 44,000-square-foot facility, resulting in a 15 percent energy consumption reduction and a $150,000 incentive. Micron's investment payback is estimated at less than two years, with approximately $120,000 ongoing annual savings in electricity costs.

Aerojet, a major space and defense contractor, also based in Folsom, has a corporate mandate for sustainability in all areas of its organization. Aerojet partnered with SMUD in 2009 on a major solar project to install PV panels covering more than 40 acres of its property and generate 6.5 gigawatt hours of electricity a year. Solar panels are mounted on a north-south axis that rotates to track the sun for maximum generation. At the time, this solar project was the largest single-site industrial project in California and one of the largest in the country.

SMUD is setting aggressive goals for renewable energy production, including 125 megawatts of customer-sited, net-metered solar power by 2016. These decisions are attracting new industries and companies to the Greater Sacramento area and encouraging the expansion of existing companies. Through SMUD's innovative partnerships and programs, companies have access to renewable energy, reliable electricity, and competitive rates that are consistently lower than other California investor-owned and other municipal - all items that positively impact the bottom line.

Location Profile
SMUD
Connect

SMUD
Jim Alves, Economic Development Manager
6201 S Street, Mailstop B401
Sacramento CA 95817
916-732-5477

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United States Inward Investment Location Profiles
ARIZONA
Arizona - A Great Place For Business

Arizona is one of the fastest-growing, most dynamic economies in the United States. Both Fortune 500 and start-up technology companies call Arizona home, reaping the advantages of a competitive business climate and tax structure; a skilled, knowledge based work force; and world-class innovation, cultural, and scenic resources.

ARKANSAS
Your Success Story Starts In Arkansas

Arkansas's transportation network and central U.S. location define the state as a strategic distribution center. Midway between Mexico City and Montreal, Arkansas offers a valuable distribution advantage.

Little Rock, Arkansas: A Globally Recognized Brand

For two years in a row, the Little Rock region has been named "America's Fourth Strongest Economy" by the Brookings Institution's MetroMonitor. The Wall Street Journal calls it the nation's "Sixth Best Real Estate Market," while Forbes says it is America's "Seventh Best Place for Jobs."

KANSAS
Wichita, Kansas USA - Site of Choice for Advanced Manufacturing Enterprises

Wichita, better known as the Air Capital of the World, has also been ranked #1 U.S. metro for aviation manufacturing. Wichita has the highest concentration of aircraft and aircraft parts manufacturing employment (skills) in the United States.

KENTUCKY
Kentucky Is a Global Business Center

Kentucky remains a leader in attracting foreign direct investment, with nearly 35 percent of announced new investment in 2012 due to FDI activity. Today, about 420 foreign-owned firms from 30 nations employ nearly 80,000 people in the state.

NEW YORK
Think New York for Business Opportunity

When you hear "New York" you probably think of tall buildings and Wall Street — not cows, pastures, and a state whose leading industry is agriculture. In fact, we have both, and the world is taking notice of the abundant milk supply, sophisticated transportation system, and oneday access to almost 100,000,000 consumers.

OHIO
The Columbus Region Grows Increasingly Global Each Year

The Columbus Region is a thriving 11-county area located in Central Ohio. Home to 15 Fortune 1000 headquarters, with two million people and a population growth rate of 1.3 percent annually, the Columbus Region is one of the fastestgrowing major metropolitan areas in the Midwest, and is growing more and more global each year.

The New Ohio — A Leader in New Job Creation

Profitable. Diverse. Motivated. Strategic. Global. These are the words that describe the new Ohio and make us a leader in new job creation in the U.S.

OKLAHOMA
Tulsa - Where Business Grows

Home to more than 950,000, Tulsa, Oklahoma, perfectly balances convenience and affordability with the advantages of a highly skilled work force, a central location, a pro-business atmosphere, and an excellent quality of life. It is a dynamic, growing region that offers the fifth-lowest cost for doing business in the nation and is home to some of the nation's largest companies. These assets combine to make an ideal home for progressive companies competing in a global economy.

TENNESSEE
Select Tennessee for Your Next Investment

Tennessee's ideal location, strong transportation infrastructure, low costs of doing business, and high quality work force provide an attractive setting for investments from around the globe. With most major U.S. markets within a day's drive, Tennessee provides immediate access to eight interstate highways, an extensive network of railways and waterways, and the world's second-busiest freight airport in Memphis.

WEST VIRGINIA
Plastics - West Virginia's Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

Offering one of the highest concentrations of hightech, specialty, and engineering polymer production in the world; an abundance of necessary raw materials; a knowledgeable, highly trained and productive work force; and established transportation systems; it is no wonder West Virginia is home to a vibrant and growing plastics industry.