32nd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Managing the EDO Investment Portfolio to Maximize Job Growth
The investment conversation has to start somewhere, and when companies are seeking new locations, the conversation begins with site inventory.
Q1 2018
Seventy-three percent of the companies making an investment decision employ fewer than 500 people; 85 percent of the investments will be less than $50 million. Therefore, the EDO that spends more than 70 percent of its time on the small to medium-size companies is going to be more successful than the EDO that spends an inordinate amount of time focusing on or looking for larger projects.
Regarding long-term vs. short-term actions, nearly half of the respondents who are planning to open new domestic facilities say that their ultimate decision will be within two to three years, and 74 percent of the survey respondents say the information-gathering process takes a year or longer. Time is on the side of the EDO to plan, then act.
Looking at the top 20 combined ratings, 16 of the 20 are in the four portfolio categories of financial, workforce, transportation, or available sites and buildings. We know the overall economy is strong, but the survey results show this is driven by factors other than recent economic fiscal policy. The question then becomes, “Which of these four broad categories does the EDO professional have the most ability to influence?” Of the four broad categories, this year, increasing the inventory of available right-sized sites and buildings is where EDOs can make a real impact. The other categories are important, but the investment conversation has to start somewhere, and when companies are seeking new locations, the conversation begins with site inventory.
Recent Project Announcements

Halifax Linen Service Expands Roanoke Rapids. North Carolina, Operations
11/10/2026
Spray Products Corporation Expands Medina, Ohio, Operations
11/08/2026
BWXT Expands Jonesborough, Tennessee, Manufacturing Operations
11/08/2026
Germany-Based VITREUS USA Plans Newberry County, South Carolina, Production Operations
11/08/2026
ABB Relocates-Expands Selmer, Tennessee, Manufacturing Operations
11/08/2026
Astemo Expands Muncie, Indiana, Manufacturing Operations
11/08/2026
Grow Therapy Expands New York City Operations
11/05/2026
Robinson Carbon Plans Alenandria, Louisiana, Biochar Operations
11/05/2026
ClearFlow Metalworks Plans Logan County, Kentucky, Aluminum Manufacturing Operations
11/03/2026
Forgent Power Solutions Plans Columbus, Ohio, Operations
11/03/2026
Lockheed Martin Expands Camden, Arkansas, Production Operations
11/03/2026
Sartori Company Expands Plymouth, Wisconsin, Production Operations
11/02/2026
Tronix3D Expands Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Manufacturing Operations
11/02/2026
South Korea-Based Hwasung Group Plans Florence, South Carolina, Manufacturing Operations
11/02/2026
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