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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Construction / Project Planning

what-does-site-readiness-really-mean

What Does “Site Readiness” Really Mean?

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q1 2026)

A roundup of programs—and the consultants who know what they’re worth. More

The Evolving Landscape of AI Infrastructure

(Q1 2026)

AI is reshaping site strategy. This episode explores compressing “Time to First Token,” power-first location decisions, and the execution discipline executives need as data centers scale, faster than real estate cycles. More
jll-infrapartners-bet-prefab-can-cut-ai-data-center-timelines-by-up-to-22-months

JLL, InfraPartners Bet Prefab Can Cut AI Data Center Timelines by Up to 22 Months

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q1 2026)

A new build model overlaps site work and fabrication to accelerate AI infrastructure delivery. More
laying-the-groundwork-for-success-kentuckys-speed-to-market-initiatives-are-fueling-future-economic-

Laying the Groundwork for Success: Kentucky’s Speed-to-Market Initiatives Are Fueling Future Economic Growth

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (Q1 2026)

Kentucky’s Product Development Initiative is translating preparation into performance. More
forestry-and-related-products-why-location-mistakes-are-so-hard-to-undo

Forestry and Related Products: Why Location Mistakes Are So Hard to Undo

Lindsey Cannon, Managing Director, Quest Site Solutions (Q1 2026)

What corporate site selection teams must understand before committing long-term capital. More

Phillip Morris International Starting Building Before Plans

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q1 2026)

How a factory went from an idea to operational in about two years. More
dont-lose-by-winning

Last Word: Don’t Lose by Winning

Benton Blaine, Managing Director, Total Workplace and Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield (Q1 2026)

As site scarcity shifts corporate decisions from parcels to people, execution—not assets—is becoming the real differentiator. More
capitalizing-on-the-obbba-before-the-2026-cliff

Capitalizing on the OBBBA Before the 2026 Cliff

Mehdi Sinaki , Attorney, Michelman Robinson (Q1 2026)

Discover how the OBBBA creates a short-lived opportunity for modular developers to accelerate deductions, leverage restored bonus depreciation, and meet tight 2026 energy-incentive deadlines. More
economic-developer-role-shifting-from-deal-making-to-systems-stewardship

Economic Developer Role Shifting from Deal-Making to Systems Stewardship

Nathan Ohle, President, CEO, International Economic Development Council (Q1 2026)

New research shows how economic development leadership is shifting beyond deals and incentives. More

Energy, Infrastructure, and Innovation: Building America's Future

(Q4 2025)

From advanced nuclear to mass-timber logistics facilities and Atlanta’s next growth chapter, this podcast episode connects the dots on energy, workforce, and infrastructure decisions shaping competitive locations nationwide. More
manhattans-old-ramps-new-logistics

Manhattan’s Old Ramps, New Logistics

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2025)

In an undersupplied NYC market, a historic multistory facility shows why what seemed obsolete is now indispensable for last-mile distribution. More

Peek a Boo Data Centers

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2025)

AI’s power hunger is pushing data centers underground, underwater—and soon into orbit—redefining cooling, reliability, and sustainable energy. More
data-centers-in-2025-when-power-became-the-gatekeeper

Data Centers in 2025: When Power Became the Gatekeeper

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q4 2025)

The era of easy expansion is over—success now depends on early alignment among utilities, governments, and capital. More
a-single-front-door-for-corporate-investment-in-fort-worth

A Single Front Door for Corporate Investment in Fort Worth

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q4 2025)

Manufacturers and corporate real estate executives often talk about speed to market and clarity of process as deciding factors in site selection. Fort Worth is testing what happens when a city reorganizes itself around those principles. More
the-cold-chain-sector-recalibration

The Cold Chain Sector Recalibration

Amy Binstein, Head of Midwest Research, David Aschenbrand, Strategic Services Advisory Lead, and Lisa DeNight, Managing Director and Head of North American Industrial Research at Newmark (Q4 2025)

A surge of new supply, aging legacy facilities, and shifting operator strategies are creating a widening divide between modern, efficient assets and obsolete space across the nation’s cold storage footprint. More

How to Spot a Community That’s Ready for Your Investment

Taylor Stepp, President, Site Selection and Economic Development, Strategic Development Partners (Q4 2025)

A Site Selector’s Guide for Separating the Real Partners From Pretenders. More
whos-liable-when-ai-builds

Who’s Liable When AI Builds?

Jane Kutepova, Counsel, Michelman & Robinson, LLP (Q4 2025)

Legal risks and the rise of the AI clause in construction contracts. More
why-utilities-are-becoming-developers

Why Utilities Are Becoming Developers

Puanani Norwood, Managing Partner, Los Angeles Office, BCLP (Q4 2025)

The energy transition is reshaping real estate strategy as utilities and corporations compete for control of generation assets. More
gen-z-likes-the-office-everybody-else-not-so-much

The Office Is Back but Is the Portfolio Strategy Aligned?

Michael McDermott, Central Region Lead, Total Workplace Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield (Q3 2025)

Reestablishing the value of the office has driven trends in workplace investment and location strategy More
if-it-a-site-sounds-too-good-to-be-true

If a Site Sounds Too Good to Be True…

Devin Hillsdon-Smith, Principal, Hyphen Strategies (Q3 2025)

Learn how to separate marketing spin from real-world readiness when evaluating community proposals. More

Rethinking Local Governments Through Consolidation and Choice

J. Sebastian Smelko, Partner, co-vice chair, Governmental Affairs & Regulatory Law, Ice Miller  (Q3 2025)

Voluntary regional consolidation can deliver what corporate project teams value most: predictability, speed and scale. Indiana’s experience and international models show how optional, capacity-building frameworks make regions more investable. More
the-permit-puzzle-and-the-path-to-groundbreaking

The Permit Puzzle and the Path to Groundbreaking

Lauren Berry, Director, Location Analysis and Incentives, Maxis Advisors and Andrew Sineni, Senior Vice President, User Development Services, Foundry Commercial (Q3 2025)

Why the most successful projects build permitting strategy into their earliest site and construction decisions. More
scoring-the-site

Scoring the Site

Devin Hillsdon-Smith, Principal, Hyphen Strategies (Q3 2025)

How site selectors score locations — and what executives should know about the process. More
too-much-of-a-good-thing-can-overbuilt-spec-development-benefit-manufacturers

Too Much of a Good Thing: Can Overbuilt Spec Development Benefit Manufacturers?

Bradley Migdal, Executive Managing Director, Americas Strategic Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield (Q3 2025)

Power supply, infrastructure, and specs often fall short for manufacturers eyeing overbuilt logistics sites. More
electrons-are-the-new-gatekeepers

Electrons Are the New Gatekeepers

Bradley Migdal, Executive Managing Director, Americas Strategic Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield (Q3 2025)

As grid capacity tightens, manufacturers must treat energy as a core site selection filter. More

Editor’s Note: Thriving at the Intersection of Change

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q3 2025)

More
site-selection-numbers-vs-reality

Site Selection Numbers vs. Reality

Devin Hillsdon-Smith, Principal, Hyphen Strategies (Q3 2025)

Why You Should Question Every Stat in a Site Proposal. More
automotive-site-selection-is-evolving-as-future-mobility-takes-hold

Automotive Site Selection Is Evolving as Future Mobility Takes Hold

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

As the industry accelerates toward electrification and advanced mobility, site selectors and real estate teams are prioritizing adaptable facilities, talent proximity, and logistical readiness over traditional scale. 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
first-person-rick-hoskins-filter-kings-expansion-playbook

First Person: Filter King’s Expansion Playbook

Area Development Research Desk (Q3 2025)

CEO Rick Hoskins explains how the fast-growing air filter company selects its sites, scales its labor-heavy operation, and maintains speed-to-customer across multiple U.S. regions. 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
where-cold-chain-meets-culture-how-karis-cold-is-blending-art-and-infrastructure-in-chicago

Where Cold Chain Meets Culture: How Karis Cold is blending art and infrastructure in Chicago

Amy Matias, Area Development Staff Writer,  (Q3 2025)

Cold storage with character? Karis Cold’s Stockyards Cold facility in Chicago blends infrastructure with public art—redefining what it means to build a logistics hub in a legacy district. More
karis-colds-ken-verne-on-urban-demand-automation-and-the-infrastructure-gap

First Person: Karis Cold’s Ken Verne on Urban Demand, Automation, and the Infrastructure Gap

Area Development Research Desk (Q3 2025)

Karis Cold’s Ken Verne joins Area Development to talk about urban infill opportunities, automation readiness, ESG strategy, and why facilities need to be designed for 2030—not just today’s needs. More
reshoring-reality-check-from-construction

Reshoring Reality Check from Construction

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

How tariffs and economic incentives are influencing FDI and location decisions. 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
rewriting-the-rules-of-warehouse-roi

Rewriting the Rules of Warehouse ROI

Joe Dunlap, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Legacy Investing (Q3 2025)

Embedding automation into leases may offer companies a smarter way to balance risk, cost and productivity. More
a-zebra-in-the-room

A Zebra in the Room

Olivia S. Byrne, Esquire, K&L Gates LLP (Q2 2025)

A surprising encounter reveals why environmental due diligence isn’t just paperwork — it’s protection. More
time-for-states-to-shine

Last Word: Time for States to Shine

Charlie Smith, Geopolitical Strategy Consultant,  (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
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
rebuilding-the-industrial-base-requires-a-commitment-to-ecosystem-formation

Rebuilding the Industrial Base Requires a Commitment to Ecosystem Formation

Ken Biberaj, Executive Managing Director, Savills  (Q2 2025)

A return to American manufacturing demands more than factories — it requires coordinated, community-wide ecosystem development More

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