33rd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: The Role of Public Policymakers and the Private Market in Location Projects
Public policymakers and the private market help to address the cost of doing business at a particular site with an attractive tax policy and affordable energy costs, in addition to providing a qualified labor pool.
Q1 2019
Another important insight from the 2018 Corporate Survey is the continued role that the cost of doing business at a site has on the final location decision. In fact, six of the top-10 corporate site selection factors are tied to the cost of doing business at a site. Labor, energy, and occupancy/construction costs as well as local, state, and federal tax policy and exemptions/incentives all top the list of issues of concern for corporate site selectors.
The survey results illustrate the role public policymakers and the private market play in corporate site location projects. Ensuring a community has a large pool of skilled workers, affordable and reliable energy sources, a competitive real estate market, and a tax policy attractive to companies all happen before a company looks at a site. Tax incentives can help level the playing field for the higher cost of doing business in some regions and can be a final, critical piece of the corporate site location process. However, a high cost structure can be too high for even tax incentives to make a difference.
Project Announcements
Buttonwood Farm Expands Fortuna, Missouri, Egg Production Operations
08/15/2025
MerryGoRound Plans Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Fulfillment Operations
08/14/2025
Hartman Cabinetry Plans Jonesburg, Missouri, Operations
08/14/2025
eBliss Global Plans Utica, New York, Manufacturing Operations
08/14/2025
QTS Data Centers Plans Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Operations
08/14/2025
AbbVie Expands North Chicago, Illinois, Production Operations
08/13/2025
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