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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Advanced Manufacturing

The Form and Substance of Business Incentives

George Tobjy, Managing Director of Client Services, Maxis Advisors (Q1 2023)

Government at all levels continues to provide numerous incentives to companies in varied industrial sectors in order to generate jobs and economic prosperity. More

Innovation Corridors Update

John W. McCurry (Q4 2022)

From robotics to EVs, from semiconductors to the life sciences, metro and regional hubs of innovation are advancing economic development across the nation. More

Eight Public/Private Partnerships Strengthening Michigan’s Talent Pool

Michigan Economic Development Corporation (Q4 2022)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation works with the state’s universities and local organizations to ensure businesses have access to the advanced talent they need to grow and succeed. More

In Focus: The CHIPS Act - A Historic Investment in Our Future

Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (Q4 2022)

By helping to provide a critical domestic supply chain, the CHIPS Act represents a new era of American industrial competitiveness. More

Fixing the Supply Chain with AI and Robotics

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2022)

Automation, industrial robots, and other technology solutions have allowed manufacturers to shorten their supply chains, while also making them more efficient and reducing labor costs. More

Factoring Mexico Into a Solution to the Global Supply Chain Crisis

Bob Cook, Senior Vice President, Latin America, Site Selection Group, LLC (Q4 2022)

While its proximity to the U.S. and lower labor costs make Mexico a good location for a manufacturing operation, other costs may be higher, and its supplier base still lacks maturity. More

“Friend-Shoring” To “Next-Dooring”

Daniel Ujczo, Senior Counsel, Thompson Hine LLP (Location Canada 2022)

Canada holds a strategic position as a critical investment destination in a new era of global supply chains and sourcing. More

Ontario: Coming Back Strong

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Location Canada 2022)

With a thriving base of both traditional and high-tech industries, Ontario is a top performer in Canada’s economy. More

EVs to Bring About a Dramatic Transformation of the Automotive Supply Chain

Daron Gifford, Strategy Consulting Services Leader, Automotive Industry Leader, Plante Moran (2022 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Electric Vehicles are here…but how ready is the supply chain? More

EV Revolution Creates Massive Need for New Auto Production Facilities

Brian Jones, President & CEO, Gray Construction (2022 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Automakers are vying to rule the industry’s EV era — and they need factories to do it! More

The Dawn of the Trillion-Dollar Space Economy

Lisa A. Bastian (2022 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

The building and servicing of rockets and satellites, security of satellite data, space tourism, and more provide the potential for massive industry expansion. More

Front Line: U.S. Seeks to Manufacture Critical Rare Earth Materials

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2022)

Reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign imports of rare earth materials is critical to the production of energy-efficient as well as other high-tech products. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Chipmaker Intel Adding Semiconductor Facilities in Arizona

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Intel’s two new Arizona fabs that represent a $20 billion investment will make an impact on the semiconductor shortage resulting from pandemic-induced supply chain snarls. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Samsung Makes Its Largest U.S. Investment in Texas

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Working to expand semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., Samsung is adding to its presence in Texas with a $17 billion investment. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Supply Chain Needs to Be Met by U.S. Steel’s New Arkansas Mill

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

U. S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt said in a statement that the company is “reshaping the future of steel making” with this mill. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Apple to Open East Coast Campus in North Carolina and Invest in Local Schools

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

The North Carolina project is part of Apple’s plan to boost its overall U.S. investment by $430 billion and the creation of 20,000 jobs in several states. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: CoStar Group Expanding in Richmond, Virginia

(Q2 2022)

When the firm’s project is completed, it will occupy more than one million square feet along the James River. More

Leading the Charge

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (Q2 2022)

Kentucky has positioned itself at the forefront of the EV and battery industry. More

Front Line: Performing Physical Tasks Remotely

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Rapid advances in automation are even allowing some tasks in manufacturing facilities to be tackled remotely. More

The Energy Transition: Moving Toward Renewable and Carbon-Neutral Solutions

Brian Gallagher, Vice President, Corporate Development, Graycor (Q2 2022)

The massive shift from fossil fuels to cleaner-sourced energy is not a simple or linear path forward. More

Taking Action Now for An Increasingly Automated Future

Jacob Everett , Founder, Corsa Strategies (Q2 2022)

The jobs created by automation will ultimately exceed those that are lost, but a federal program is needed to successfully navigate the transformation of the labor force. More

In Focus: Safety First-The Benefits of Construction Robotics

Prasoon Shrivastava, Founder and CEO, Zepth (Q2 2022)

The use of construction robots can transform site safety for human workers, while monitoring processes that impact project timelines and budgets. More

Driving Into An Electric Vehicle Future

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (Q1 2022)

The transition to EVs will bring mega investments and thousands of jobs to some communities while disrupting makers of ICE vehicles, the communities in which they’re located, as well as their employees. More

Auto Giants Race to Build U.S. EV Battery Assembly Plants

Jack Rogers (Q1 2022)

More than $20 billion worth of new EV battery assembly facilities are being built in the U.S., but 90 percent of battery components are imported, and Tesla is busy preparing for a global shortage of lithium battery cells More

Tennessee’s Economy Incredibly Resilient

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2022)

Despite COVID-19 challenges, the state scored a record-breaking year in 2021. More

Northeast Indiana: Building a Healthy Business Future

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2022)

With a reputation as the “orthopedic capital of the world” and a focus on improved medicine through advanced materials, Northeast Indiana continues to build on its successes. More

Optimizing Market Share in the EV Industry

Brandon Darroch, Southeast Division Manager and Senior Associate, SSOE and Matthew Patterson, Senior Account Executive and Industrial Business Development, SSOE Group (Q1 2022)

With huge growth expected in the EV/battery production market, manufacturers must start their project planning early, taking into account labor, energy, and supply chain needs. More

First Person: AI and Robotics in the Workplace

Carolina Weidler, Principal, Hendy (Q1 2022)

With COVID-19 changing the reality of the world’s population, it has undoubtedly affected the way businesses operate. Area Development recently discussed the use of robotics and other automation technologies in response to these changes with Carolina Weidler, leader of Hendy’s Science and Technology Practice Group. More

New Equipment Considerations in Capacity Planning and Manufacturing Resiliency

Michael Verdier , Vice President & Market Leader, Integrated Industrial Design (IID), BHDP Architecture (Q1 2022)

Regular maintenance and a review of what’s needed to meet capacity requirements — including cost of new equipment or possible automation — will ensure your company meets its current and future productivity goals. More

In Focus: Michigan Rises to the Competitive Challenge

Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (Q1 2022)

As the competition heats up, the state is taking concrete steps to ensure Michigan maintains its advantage in attracting and retaining advanced technology companies. More

Five Ways Automation Will Strengthen Your Labor Force

Cristi Waterson (Q1 2022)

Automation, robots, and AI technology can create safer, more fulfilling work environments for employees, while simultaneously creating opportunities for workers to gain new skills and advance their careers. More

Front Line: U.S. Automakers Look to Semiconductor Partners

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2022)

In response to supply chain challenges and in order to expand production of AVs and EVs, U.S. automakers are looking to design the highly coveted chips in-house. More

Workforce Development Programs Are in Overdrive

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Workforce Q4 2021)

Job losses resulting from the pandemic have made upskilling of workers for the post-COVID economy even more critical, and government and private organizations are stepping up. More

The Next Generation of Cold Chain Logistics

Brian Chatham, Project Manager; Jeremy Klysen, Business Development Manager; Joseph Scovronski, Senior Architect; Burns & McDonnell (Q4 2021)

In order to meet consumer demand for fresh food delivery, food processing and distribution companies are expanding cold chain logistics and automation systems. More

First Person: Building a Sustainable Global Semiconductor Supply Chain

Brooke L. Beebe, Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Engagement, Hemlock Semiconductor Operations (Q3 2021)

Hemlock Semiconductor in Saginaw, Michigan, is the nation’s largest manufacturer of ultra-pure polysilicon that is sliced by other manufacturers into wafers to be used in solar cells and semiconductors. Area Development’s editor recently asked the company’s senior vice president of Advocacy and Engagement about the recent shortage in the global production of semiconductors that has been causing delays in the manufacture of products utilizing these chips. More

Michigan Invests in Its Talent Ecosystem

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2021)

The state is doubling down on its efforts to meet current workforce demands while building a pipeline of talent with the in-demand skills for a new generation of jobs. More

U.S. Space Race Propels the Nation to New Heights

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (2021 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Activities involving the development, production, and use of space technologies are spread across the United States. More

Getting the EV Industry Charged Up

Alison K. Eggers, Partner, Litigation Department, Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Brandon L. Bigelow, Partner, Litigation Department, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (2021 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Consumers’ confidence with electric vehicles — and the ultimate success of the EV industry — depends upon the building of a network of charging stations. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Microsoft Chooses Atlanta For New AI/Cloud Computing Facility

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

The promise of a robust talent pool from area universities, as well as proximity to other tech giants, helped solidify Microsoft’s decision to locate a new facility in Atlanta. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Taiwan Semiconductor’s New Phoenix Plant Will Help Alleviate U.S. Chip Shortage

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

The semiconductor company’s new $12 billion plant in Phoenix, Ariz., will produce 20,000 wafers monthly and is expected to create 1,600 jobs. More

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