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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Government Policy / Business Climate

a-new-course-for-us-shipbuilding

A New Course for U.S. Shipbuilding

Jeff Troan, Managing Director, Vista Site Selection, LLC (Q3 2025)

Maritime Prosperity Zones could reshape shipbuilding and repair across the U.S. — if defined and used wisely. More
the-compliance-reckoning-is-here

The Compliance Reckoning Is Here

Brooklin Salemi, Senior Managing Director, Economic Incentives Advisory, Newmark and Joseph Gioino, Senior Managing Director, Economic Incentives Advisory, Newmark (Q3 2025)

New challenges—from automation to federal fallout—are testing how companies manage risk in incentive-backed projects More
2025s-top-states-for-business

2025’s Top States for Business: How the Winners Are Outpacing the Rest

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q3 2025)

Speed, workforce alignment, and energy infrastructure now define the best states for doing business — not just incentives or tax breaks. Our exclusive rankings break down how the top performers are staying ahead in a tightening market. More
investors-seek-shelter-in-food-focused-real-estate

Investors Seek Shelter in Food-Focused Real Estate

Ermengarde Jabir PhD, Director of Economic Research, Moody’s (Q3 2025)

Cold storage and grocery-anchored retail are proving to be safe havens as consumer behavior shifts and CRE volatility grows. More
a-new-era-in-conservation-and-economic-opportunity

A New Era in Conservation and Economic Opportunity

Warren Koshofer, Partner, Michelman & Robinson LLP (Q3 2025)

MABA reframes conservation policy by emphasizing incentives, partnerships, and business-friendly opportunities across sectors. More
supply-chain-whiplash-reshapes-cre

Supply Chain Whiplash Reshapes CRE

Gregg Healy, Executive Vice President & Head of Industrial Services – North America, Savills and JC Renshaw, Senior Supply Chain Consultant, Savills (Q3 2025)

Power, ports, and unpredictability are pushing manufacturers to rethink their entire real estate approach. More
rethinking-auto-site-strategy-in-the-age-of-tariffs-and-powertrain-shifts

Rethinking Auto Site Strategy in the Age of Tariffs and Powertrain Shifts

Gregory Burkart, Principal - Site Selection Services, Walbridge  (Q3 2025)

As EV momentum slows and tariffs rise, automotive companies are reworking supply chains, production plans, and location strategies to adapt to a rapidly changing market. More
how-canada-stays-competitive

How Canada Stays Competitive

Marc Beauchamp, President, SCI Global (Q3 2025)

As trade tensions mount, Canada’s supply chain reboot aims to retain foreign investment and reduce risk exposure. More
how-to-manage-the-surge-in-building-costs

How to Manage the Surge in Building Costs

Brian Gallagher, Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development, PPC Partners, Inc. (Q3 2025)

Construction firms are navigating supply shocks, labor shortages and policy pressures with smarter, early-stage coordination. More
us-textile-manufacturers-are-building-for-the-future

U.S. Textile Manufacturers are Building for the Future

Catherine Tymkiw (Q2 2025)

Automation and policy incentives could reshape the future of American textile production. More
manufacturings-new-risk-game-for-site-selection

Manufacturing’s New Risk Game for Site Selection

Alexandra Segers, General Manager, Tochi Advisors and Michael Johnson, Shareholder, Baker Donelson (Q2 2025)

Companies face growing challenges as tariffs, political shifts, and trade policies disrupt location strategies. More
time-for-states-to-shine

Last Word: Time for States to Shine

Charlie Smith, Managing Director, Geopolitical Strategy at Newmark (Q2 2025)

With federal action slowing and market forces accelerating, private firms are finding that the most effective policy responses—on issues like energy, housing, and workforce—are coming from state and local governments with the agility to act. More
how-innovation-and-investment-are-reshaping-life-sciences-in-2025

How Innovation and Investment Are Reshaping Life Sciences in 2025

Connor Barnes, Vice Chair, Cushman & Wakefield and Sandy Romero, Head of Life Sciences and Healthcare Insights, Global Research, Cushman & Wakefield (Q2 2025)

Talent shortages, financing volatility, and supply chain shifts define the life sciences outlook. More
the-legal-limits-of-dei-in-incentives-agreements-hiring-and-contracting

The Legal Limits of DEI in Incentives Agreements, Hiring, and Contracting

Jonathan K. Stock, Of Counsel, Vorys and Allen S. Kinzer, Partner, Vorys (Q2 2025)

States and cities have tied incentives to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals — such as subcontracting targets or workforce composition — but a new executive order from the Trump administration and related lawsuits are raising the legal stakes. That raises new questions about what’s lawful and what’s not when it comes to DEI, affirmative action, and the use of contracting targets — and how that may impact your next location decision. More
the-new-math-behind-mexico-and-us-manufacturing-decisions

The New Math Behind Mexico and U.S. Manufacturing Decisions

Jenna Hassam, Senior Associate, Business Consulting and Site Selection, JLL (Q2 2025)

Rising wages, grid strain, and policy shifts are changing the calculus for manufacturers in North America. More
facility-deployments-in-a-dynamic-electric-landscape

Facility Deployments in a Dynamic Electric Landscape

Sarah Carnes, Senior Consultant, Enterprise Services and Location Strategy Practice, Deloitte Consulting LLP (Q2 2025)

How companies can adapt to evolving utility policies, secure reliable power, and mitigate risks in a shifting electric landscape. More

Around the Horn: North America’s Trade Tensions

Area Development Research Desk (Q1 2025)

Charlie Smith, managing director of geopolitical strategy at Newmark Global Strategy discusses the current trade tensions across North America and their implications with his colleagues, managing director Carlos Sanchez (based in Mexico) and senior managing director Gregg Wassmansdorf (based in Canada). More
39th-annual-corporate-21st-annual-consultants-surveys-what-business-leaders-and-consultants-are-sayi

39th Annual Corporate & 21st Annual Consultants Surveys: What Business Leaders and Consultants Are Saying About Site Selection

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q1 2025)

The findings from Area Development’s annual surveys provide a comprehensive look at how decision-makers are navigating the current landscape and what factors are shaping their investment plans. More

First Person: Brent Omdahl, SVP Government Affairs for Global Wafers

Area Development Research Desk (Q1 2025)

The EVP for Government Affairs at GlobalWafers shares insights on a $3.5 billion investment in Sherman, Texas, workforce development, and how the CHIPS Act has reshaped semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. More

Editor’s Note: The Future Is Now

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q1 2025)

More
navigating-the-new-era-of-scif-construction

Navigating the new era of SCIF construction

Brian Metras, Senior Vice President, Secure Environments Group Lead, Project Development Services, JLL  and Tom Taylor, Managing Director, Aerospace and Defense Group, JLL (Q1 2025)

Changing compliance standards, heightened geopolitical threats drive SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities) construction boom. More
us-tariff-outlook-key-signals-to-watch-in-2025

U.S. Tariff Outlook: Key Signals to Watch in 2025

Charlie Smith, Managing Director, Geopolitical Strategy at Newmark (Q1 2025)

How economic developers, manufacturers, and policymakers can prepare for potential trade shifts. More

A Tale of Two Industrial Winds

Ermengarde Jabir PhD, Director of Economic Research, Moody’s (Q1 2025)

Shifting supply chains, evolving trade policies, and new investment trends are reshaping the industrial real estate landscape. More

All Roads Lead to Washington

Ken Biberaj, Executive Managing Director, Savills  (Q1 2025)

We are at the dawn of America’s next Industrial Revolution, and it will be shaped in large part by the convergence of technological innovation, climate change and geopolitical pressures. More

Power, Policy, and Site Selection in 2025

Tracey Hyatt Bosman, Managing Director, BLS & Co. (Q1 2025)

Energy, tariffs, and trade are going to be a moving target in the coming months. More

Forging Solid Foundations

Travis Sayler, Senior Civil Engineer, Gresham Smith (Q1 2025)

Four Key Considerations for Building Strong Relationships with Local Governments in Industrial Development. More

Implementing Effective Sustainability Strategies for Building Projects

Brian Gallagher, Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development, PPC Partners, Inc. (Q1 2025)

Sustainability has moved from a buzzword to a critical business practice, driven by government regulations and building codes as well as end-user expectations. More

Large-Scale Projects Face Financing Challenges

Adam Glatz, Managing Director, Maxis Advisors (Q4 2024)

Executives have been forced to find new ways to finance projects. More

Why Decarbonization Goals Start with Site Selection

Mac Farr, Principal, Strategic Development Group (Q4 2024)

Decarbonization is transforming site selection as companies prioritize sustainability. More

NEW NIMBYism: A Threat to The U.S. Economy

Jacob Everett , Founder, Corsa Strategies (Q4 2024)

[There is a] false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’ - Isaac Asimov More

Navigating Federal Incentives to Achieve Sustainability Ambitions

Steven Tozier, Managing Director, EY (Q4 2024)

How to successfully take advantage of complex federal incentives for achieving sustainability goals. More

Best Practices in Incentives Procurement

Amy Gerber, Executive Managing Director, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield and Kathy Mussio, Managing Partner, Atlas Insight (Q4 2024)

Area Development Guest Editors Kathy Mussio and Amy Gerber, rounded up industry leaders to share their best practices for navigating economic development incentives. More

South Carolina Enacts Key Tax Credits to Boost Economic Development Efforts

John Wall, Partner, Burr & Forman and Jeff Allen, Partner, Burr & Forman (Q4 2024)

SCEDA priority legislation could boost state’s economic development efforts. More

Behind the U.S. Virgin Islands Plans to Become a Strategic Hub

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2024)

A Jones Act exemption, Made in America status, and improved shipyard show promise. More

Top States for Doing Business in 2024: A Continued Legacy of Excellence

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q3 2024)

Certain states just have the right ingredients for attracting and nurturing business growth. The 2024 Top States for Doing Business rankings are in, and guess what? The Southern states are shining bright once again. More

Ensuring Compliance and Maximizing Incentive Benefits

Doug Heinz, Manager, Site Selection & Incentives Advisory, Kroll (Q3 2024)

Managing compliance is key to fully realize and maximize incentive benefits for your manufacturing projects. More

Green Jobs Boom in 2023: Is the IRA a Leading Factor?

Mike Chmura, Economist, Chmura Economics (Q3 2024)

Is the IRA driving a surge in green jobs, or is it part of a broader clean energy movement? More

The Critical Role of Real Estate in Site Selection Projects

Devin Hillsdon-Smith, Principal, Hyphen Strategies (Q3 2024)

Strategically selecting sites that optimize economic, logistical, and sustainability factors, not only enhances operational efficiency but also secures a robust foundation for future growth and success. More

What the Latest EPA PFAS Rule Means for Site Due Diligence

Robin L. Main, Partner, Hinckley Allen (Q3 2024)

The new rule brings wide-ranging impacts for property owners and operators. More

Midwest becomes hotspot for semiconductor manufacturing and supply industries

Taylor Stepp, EY (Q2 2024)

Midwestern states compete for semiconductor investments, leveraging new incentives and educational partnerships to attract major industry players. More

Exclusive Research