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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Advanced Manufacturing

Cold Storage Is Hotter Than Ever

Steve Kozarits, Senior Vice President, Transwestern and Lori Zuck, Managing Director, Transwestern (Q4 2020)

The Covid-19 pandemic has illuminated challenges and opportunities for both investors and occupiers of cold storage space. More

Disruption in the Automotive Industry

Dennis Cuneo, Owner, DC Strategic Advisors LLC (2020 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

The pandemic is yet another of a series of disruptive events that have impacted the auto industry, but the outlook is brighter. More

Shifts in Mobility and Transportation Infrastructure in a COVID-19 World

Michele Satterlund , Senior Vice President, State Government Relations, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC (2020 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

A conversation with Nicole Barranco at Volkswagen Group of America reveals the need for the U.S. to focus on its mobility systems to meet evolving consumer demand. More

Front Line: COVID-19 Spurs More Automated Manufacturing

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2020)

The global pandemic has presented manufacturers with new labor challenges, which are being addressed by new technologies and automation. More

Ensuring Business Continuity While Focusing on Accelerating Automation

Catalina Valencia, Principal, Terrafinder Consulting, LLC (Q2 2020)

In the face of current risks, business will focus on supply chain resiliency, accelerating automation, and increased investments in telecommunications and renewable energy. More

The Future of Manufacturing Site Selection is Connected

Catalina Valencia, Principal, Terrafinder Consulting, LLC (Q2 2020)

Area Development interviewed Catalina Valencia, Founding Principal, Terrafinder Consulting, at the 2019 Area Development Women in Economic Development Forum in Chicago about the future of site selection for heavy industry. More

The Wabash Valley Power Alliance: Helping Businesses Grow

Lisa A. Bastian (Q1 2020)

By offering affordable, reliable power and working with its community partners, this alliance of electric cooperatives is drawing businesses to its Midwest service territory. More

Edmonton’s Expanding Role in the Global Economy

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2020)

With a strong mix of resource industries and emerging high tech, the Edmonton metropolitan region is one of the fastest-growing regions in Canada. More

In Focus: 3D Printing Continues to Rock Manufacturing

John Hornick, Chief Strategy & Communications Officer, nScrypt (Q1 2020)

Manufacturing — not just printing — fully functioning parts and biomanufacturing are on the horizon for 3D. More

Regional Report: Technology and Natural Resources Fuel Pacific States’ Economies

Tom Gresham (Q1 2020)

Located at the epicenter of the nation’s tech industry, the Pacific region also benefits from a wealth of agricultural and natural resources as well as its locational advantages. More

Greater Memphis Plans to Build Upon Its Success

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2020)

Known for its logistics, Memphis is also a growing center for healthcare and technology. More

Regional Report: Population and GDP Grow in South Carolina

Tom Gresham (Q4 2019)

South Carolina’s business-friendly environment is drawing new businesses that can take advantage of its longstanding workforce training program to fulfill their needs. More

The Future of Manufacturing in America

Virginia Economic Development Partnership (Q4 2019)

Executives from major manufacturers offer their perspectives on how these trends will impact the future of manufacturing in Virginia and beyond. More

Front Line: Trend Toward Microfactories Continues

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2019)

By utilizing microfactories, manufacturers can respond quickly to changes in product design and demand. More

Are Your Employees Ready to Work with Robots?

Mark Howard, U.S. Country Manager, EU Automation (Workforce Q4 2019)

As manufacturers increasingly employ robots on the factory floor, they must communicate to their workforces how their roles will change and prepare them to work collaboratively with this new technology. More

The Convergence of Technology + Automotive and Its Impact on Site Selection

Patrich Jett, Chair, Global Automotive Desk, Colliers International (2019 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Automotive suppliers must approach site selection prudently, with an eye to a long-term solution when evaluating potential locations as well as their labor pools. More

Controlling Conditions in Aerospace Manufacturing Facilities

Dan Wiegandt, Program Director, Aviation, Aerospace & Defense, The Austin Company (2019 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Modern aerospace facilities have special interior environmental requirements in order to support the manufacture of cutting-edge technology and products. More

Which Government Policies Will Drive the AV Sector Forward?

Benton Blaine, Vice President, Infrastructure & Economic Development, McGuireWoods Consulting and Michele Satterlund , Senior Vice President, State Government Relations, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC (2019 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

State policymaking geared toward interconnectedness and integration is key to growth of the autonomous vehicle sector. More

The Evolving Automotive Landscape: What’s Driving the Future?

Stephen Gray, CEO, Gray  (2019 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Dramatic changes in automotive technology are impacting the industry’s labor force, as legislative moves attempt to steer the industry’s future. More

Advanced Manufacturing Disrupts the Location Process

Chris Volney, Senior Director, Labor Analytics, CBRE (Q3 2019)

As technological advances fundamentally alter long-standing manufacturing processes and practices, they’re also upending the way advanced manufacturing companies consider locations for their facilities. More

Regional Report: Energy and Infrastructure Lead the Way in Louisiana

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2019)

Through its infrastructure upgrades and workforce development initiatives, Louisiana is drawing investment from both traditional and advanced technology companies. More

Regional Report: Georgia - An International Business Destination

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2019)

Foreign direct investment and global trade have had a huge impact on economic development in the state of Georgia. More

2019 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Micron Technology Expanding Chip-Making in Virginia

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2019)

In response to increased demand for its computer chips, which are used in today’s advanced-tech vehicles, Micron is expanding in Manassas at a cost of $3 billion. More

2019 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Electric Boat Corp. to Expand Submarine Production in Rhode Island

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2019)

The 1,300-job project will allow the company to annually produce three Virginia-class submarines. More

Location Notebook: Diversification Bolstering Economic Growth in Ohio

Tom Gresham (Q2 2019)

While building on its existing strengths — including its logistical advantages, low tax burden, and productive workforce — Ohio is seeking to diversify the state’s economy. More

Location Notebook: Indiana Is Making Global Connections

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2019)

Both domestic and foreign advanced technology and other firms are investing in Indiana, a state with a well-prepared workforce and lifestyle initiatives to attract younger workers. More

Artificial Intelligence in Supply Chain Management

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2019)

Initially adopted by big tech companies, AI’s use has spread to manufacturing operations and their supply chains, despite cybersecurity and other concerns. More

Healthy-Eating Trends Challenge How Food Manufacturers Do Business

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (2018 Food Processing)

Food manufacturers are modifying their processes and investing in new technologies in order to meet rapidly evolving consumer trends. More

In Focus: Capitalizing on the Speed of 3D Printing

Matt Exline, Engineering Manager, Romeo Rim Inc. (Q4 2018)

3D printing, rapid prototyping isn’t just for product development; it has helped to create a culture where waste reduction is a priority. More

First Person: Internet Security for the Manufacturing Industry

Oliver Dehning, CEO, Hornetsecurity (Q4 2018)

Cybersecurity has become an increasingly important concern for businesses of all types and sizes. To find out more about the cyber threats these companies are facing, Area Development recently interviewed Oliver Dehning, CEO for U.S. operations at Hornetsecurity, a cybersecurity firm focused on cloud-based solutions. More

U.S.-Italy Collaboration Helping to Advance Manufacturing Innovation

Tom Gresham (Q4 2018)

The Italian Trade Agency’s Innovation Days events further strengthen U.S.-Italy advanced manufacturing ties by inspiring partnerships among academic and industry innovators. More

Workforce Automation: Scary Threat or Major Opportunity?

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Workforce Q4 2018)

Despite dire predictions that robots and automation will displace workers, studies predict automation and robotics will actually create more — but different — jobs than they displace. More

Designing the Aircraft Manufacturing Facility

Dan Wiegandt, Program Director, Aviation, Aerospace & Defense, The Austin Company and Ken Stone, Vice President and Project Executive, The Austin Company (2018 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Everything about an aircraft manufacturing and assembly building must be driven by the manufacturing process. More

3D Printing: A Game-Changer for the Automotive Manufacturing Industry

Sharmistha Sarkar, Content Writer, Allied Market Research (2018 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Automotive 3D printing has been experiencing phenomenal growth and is affecting the industry’s design, development, manufacturing, and distribution processes. More

Industry 4.0: The Influence of Big Data on the Manufacturing Floor

Stephen Gray, CEO, Gray  (Q3 2018)

By effectively embracing the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the manufacturing sector can analyze processes and identify optimization possibilities. More

Technology Upending the Location Decision Process

Tom Gresham (Q3 2018)

Technology’s radical transformations of industry are changing not only company operations but also how sites are selected. More

Orlando: A Prime Destination for a STEM Workforce

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2018)

Although Orlando already has a labor pool possessing STEM skills, it continues to build that resource through a collaboration between its educational institutions, the tech community, and government. More

First Person: “New Collar” Workers Needed to Support Manufacturing

Sarah Boisvert, Founder, Fab Lab Hub (Q3 2018)

Support for fab labs in high schools, trade schools, and community colleges will increase the number of workers with the skills manufacturers want, thereby creating a “new collar” workforce. More

Plastics Industry Flourishes in Response to Market Demand

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2018)

With U.S. natural gas costs being so low, the U.S. plastics industry continues to grow, while keeping an eye out for supply chain challenges brought about by changes in trade policy. More

Increasing the Ranks of Women in Manufacturing

Pamela Kan, President , Bishop-Wisecarver (Workforce Q2 2018)

Through education and mentorship, women will be encouraged to pursue careers in today’s increasingly technological and innovative manufacturing industries. More

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