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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Corporate Exec Survey Results

34th Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Survey Results Reveal Challenges In Today’s Industrial Market

Eric Stavriotis, Senior Vice President, Advisory & Transaction Services, CBRE, Inc. (Q1 2020)

This year’s Corporate Survey results echo the continued strong demand we are seeing in the U.S. industrial sector, as well as the continuing “war for talent.” More

34th Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Search for Skilled Labor to Operate — and Build — the Facility Continues

Bradley Migdal, Senior Managing Director, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. (Q1 2020)

A shortage of skilled workers to not only operate a facility but also to build one is driving up construction and occupancy costs. More

34th Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Workforce Availability Affecting Corporate Strategies, Global Location Decisions

Jacob Everett , Credit & Incentives Practice, McGuire Sponsel (Q1 2020)

With a tight labor market, companies will to attempt to reduce the amount of human resources required to expand their footprints and output. More

34th Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Top Criteria Remain Logistics and Labor

Bill Luttrell, Director of Corporate Real Estate, Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Q1 2020)

With 80 percent of U.S. communities served exclusively by trucks, highway access remains just as critical as accessibility to skilled labor. More

34th Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Robust Information Needed to Satisfy Site Selection Demands

Courtney Dunbar, Site Selection & Economic Development Leader, Burns & McDonnell (Q1 2020)

Companies are utilizing advancements in pre-capital planning to select sites to fit their labor force and logistical needs as well as to design their facilities. More

34th Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Corporate Survey Respondents Give Training Programs Short Shrift

Chris Schwinden, Vice President, Site Selection Group (Q1 2020)

Considering the importance of access to skilled labor at a reasonable cost, why don’t corporate executives give more importance to training and technical programs? More

34th Annual Corporate Survey & the 16th Annual Consultants Survey

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2020)

Plans for new and expanded facilities among the smaller firms (in terms of employment numbers) responding to our Corporate Survey are not as robust as those of larger firms that employ consultants to help in location analysis and site decisions. More

33rd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Corporate Survey Reflects the “Mid-Cap Movement”

Eric Stavriotis, Senior Vice President, Advisory & Transaction Services, CBRE, Inc. (Q1 2019)

Mid-cap companies are poised to grow significantly in the next five years, representing a healthy sign for the overall economy as well as diversification for the markets in which they choose to grow. More

33rd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Corporate Strategy and Analysis Critical to Optimizing Site Selection

Kate Crowley, Principal,  Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP (Q1 2019)

In light of the new tax code, corporate tax liability and state and local incentives to reduce that liability have taken on increased importance in the site selection process. More

33rd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Labor — Availability, Costs, and Access to the Workplace — Is Paramount

Brian Corde, Managing Partner, Atlas Insight (Q1 2019)

Finding and retaining top talent at an affordable cost remain top of mind for executives making location and expansion decisions. More

33rd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: New Versus Old Economy: Different Hotspots, Different Strategies

Dan Levine, Practice Leader, Location Strategies and Economic Development, Oxford Economics, Inc. (Q1 2019)

Although manufacturing and technology companies often have divergent needs and cluster in varied geographic locations, both are having trouble finding the workforce they require. More

33rd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: The Role of Public Policymakers and the Private Market in Location Projects

David J. Robinson, Principal, The Montrose Group, LLC (Q1 2019)

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. More

33rd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: The Effects of Tax Cuts, Tariffs, and a Skilled Labor Shortage on Facility Plans

Amy Gerber, Executive Managing Director, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield (Q1 2019)

While the long-term effects of recent tax cuts and increased tariffs on facility plans remain to be seen, difficulty in finding a workforce with the required skill sets is a continuing problem. More

33rd Annual Corporate Survey & the 15th Annual Consultants Survey

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2019)

Our survey Results indicate that despite an uncertain operating environment and continuing concerns about the availability of skilled labor, plans for new and expanded facilities still are on the horizon. More

32nd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Labor Is Paramount

Doug Rasmussen, President & CEO, Steadfast City Economic & Community Partners (Q1 2018)

A community that does not have the adequate labor profile is devastating to a project’s success in that location. More

32nd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Loosening the Reins on Pent-Up Capital

Thomas J. Stringer, Esq., Managing Director & Practice Leader, Site Selection and Business Incentives Group, BDO USA (Q1 2018)

Last year saw an increase in capital investment, which has continued through the first quarter of 2018. More

32nd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Managing the EDO Investment Portfolio to Maximize Job Growth

Von Hatley, Managing Director, Jones Walker Consulting, LLC (Q1 2018)

The investment conversation has to start somewhere, and when companies are seeking new locations, the conversation begins with site inventory. More

32nd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Corporate Survey Rankings Weighted Toward Manufacturing Functions

Les Cranmer, Senior Managing Director, Savills  and Art M. Wegfahrt, Corporate Managing Director, Savills (Q1 2018)

Recognizing that the respondents are heavily weighted with manufacturing functions, the top location factors make a great deal of sense. More

32nd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Investment Decisions - A Complex Evaluation in an Uncertain Environment

Marc Beauchamp, President & CEO, The CAI Global Group (Q1 2018)

The Corporate Survey results illustrate a level of uncertainty by investors — a clear indication of how challenging the investment project decision-making process has become. More

32nd Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: 2018 - A Decisive Year for Corporate Investment in the U.S.

Dan Breen, Executive Vice President, Location Economics, JLL and Jubal Smith, Managing Director, Location Economics, JLL (Q1 2018)

In response to a limited supply of quality sites, tight labor pools, and a rapidly-shifting economic policy environment, businesses must move quickly and strategically. More

32nd Annual Corporate Survey & the 14th Annual Consultants Survey

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2018)

Although the U.S. economy is strong, there may still be some hesitancy in investment decisions brought about by an uncertain legislative environment. More

31st Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Survey Factor Rankings Borne Out By Location Decisions in Kentucky

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (Q1 2017)

The factors considered most important when making a location decision have been cited by many of the corporate executives who have made the decision to locate or expand facilities in Kentucky. More

31st Annual Survey of Corporate Executives: Confidence in U.S. Economy, Need for Investment in Infrastructure Reflected

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2017)

The Corporate Survey respondents feel confident about the economy under President Trump, but highway accessibility and skilled labor are still their primary concerns. More

13th Annual Consultants Survey: Confidence in U.S. Economy, Concern Over Proposed Trump Policies

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2017)

The responding consultants are confident that economic conditions under the Trump administration will be favorable to their clients moving ahead with new facilities plans, but also believe potential penalties for moving offshore will affect those plans. In fact, nearly two thirds believe there will be financial inducements to reshore operations. And 100 percent say finding skilled labor is the number-one priority. More

31st Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Economic Incentives Necessary to Mitigate Increasing Project Costs

Bradley Migdal, Senior Managing Director, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. (Q1 2017)

The lack of available buildings in certain markets, as well as rising rental and labor costs, has made expansions more expensive than ever and heightened the need for economic incentives in order to make projects a reality. More

31st Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Highway Accessibility Tops List of Corporate Site Selection Factors

Charles L. Ruby, Director, Deloitte Tax LLP (Q1 2017)

Communities with good highway accessibility and top-notch talent will continue to emphasize their unique quality of life as a differentiator to both attract and retain employers and employees alike. More

31st Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Highway Access, Labor Skills and Costs Remain Primary Concerns

Don Moss, Partner, Colliers International and Grant Miller, Partner, Colliers International (Q1 2017)

Our findings align with those of the Corporate Survey; not only are highway access and labor skills and costs of the utmost importance in siting new facilities, but so are permitting and regulatory issues. More

31st Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: U.S. Will Remain a Prime Area of Expansion

Christopher Steele, Global COO and North American President, Investment Consulting Associates (ICA) (Q1 2017)

While a favorable reaction to the Trump administration’s policies may result in the U.S. being a prime area for corporate expansion, proposed protectionist measures could cause corporate investors to hold off on making decisions until the dust settles. More

31st Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Political Risk Comes to the United States

Dan Levine, Practice Leader, Location Strategies and Economic Development, Oxford Economics, Inc. (Q1 2017)

International site selection is already changing in response to our new era of presidential tweeting. To last year’s rankings must now be added the challenges presented by major shifts in federal policies and tactics. More

Editor’s Note: Manufacturing Execs Offer Insights on the Effect of Trump Administration’s Policies on Growth

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2017)

75% of C-level manufacturing executives surveyed believe that economic conditions under the new Trump administration will be favorable to moving ahead with new facility or facility expansion plans. More

12th Annual Consultants Survey: Clients’ Robust New Facility/Expansion Plans Revealed

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2016)

Two thirds of the consultants believe the economy is on a continuous growth track, and nearly all are busy helping clients with new facility and expansion plans. The primary recipient of these new facilities will be the Southern states. More

Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: What Should Be Included in the EDO Toolkit?

Von Hatley, Managing Director, Jones Walker Consulting, LLC (Q1 2016)

EDOs with a mix of sites, manufacturing/distribution experience, strong business retention programs, and proven training solutions will prove valuable to the corporate decision-maker. More

Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: Determining a Location’s Value Proposition

Thomas J. Stringer, Esq., Managing Director & Practice Leader, Site Selection and Business Incentives Group, BDO USA (Q1 2016)

As low cost alone is no longer the driving competitive advantage in the site selection process, successful locations are those that have developed their skill set niches. More

Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: Logistics Still Drives Location for Manufacturers

Bill Luttrell, Director of Corporate Real Estate, Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Q1 2016)

With manufacturers representing only 35 percent of the 2015 Corporate Survey respondents (as compared to 77 percent in 200), highway accessibility has slipped from its number-one spot in the rankings. More

Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: Which Location Factors Are Top of Mind?

Brad Lindquist, Senior Managing Director, Newmark Knight Frank (Q1 2016)

Labor, costs, and accessibility always take precedence, but as the war for talent continues, quality of life has gained in importance, while unionization rates are less of an issue for knowledge workers. More

Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: Integrating Advanced Technology Into the Site Selection Process

Gary Marx, Managing Director, BlueCap Economic Advisors, LLC (Q1 2016)

Although training programs and technical colleges are viewed as important, many companies look to find the workforce skills they require readily available in their chosen locations. More

Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: Finding Optimal Tradeoffs While Achieving Competitive Advantage

Gene DePrez, Managing Partner, Global Innovation Partners (Q1 2016)

Although no single factor reflects the needs of all businesses, there is an increase focus on talent and other qualitative factors, which must be weighed against costs. More

Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: Labor Skills and Costs - Inversely Proportional

Gregory Burkart, Managing Director and City Leader, Site Selection & Incentives Advisory , Duff & Phelps, LLC (Q1 2016)

As the importance of skilled labor has increased, the concern about labor costs has fallen, and companies are increasingly locating in the places where millennials live, which tend to have a higher quality of life. More

30th Annual Survey of Corporate Executives: Cautious Optimism Reflected

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2016)

New facility and expansion plans are up slightly on a year-over-year basis, although finding skilled labor is once again top of mind. Nearly half the respondents believe the U.S. economy is on a continuous growth track. More

Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: Midwest Benefits From Its Manufacturing Heritage

Bradley Migdal, Senior Managing Director, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. (Q1 2015)

Sweeping changes in tax codes and business regulations, as well as investment in infrastructure and the work force have put the Midwest back on site selectors’ maps. More

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