Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: A Continued Cautious Approach
Due to economic volatility, company decision-makers are continuing to wait as long as possible to invest capital and hire employees.
Q1 2014
The cost and availability of real estate, utilities, and infrastructure, along with tax structure, remain very important in the site selection process. Utilities and infrastructure are of vital importance to manufacturing and distribution projects. This trend has held consistent for many years.
Quality-of-life factors can also play a role in the site selection process, particularly for professional and technical-laden companies. However, the importance of these factors has generally declined during the past five years due to economic conditions in the United States and around the world. In this year's survey, the highest ranked quality-of-life factor would only rank tenth if included on the list of site selection factors.
The 2013 survey reflects the continued vital role of executive management in the site selection process. At 60 percent, the percentage of senior executives significantly involved in the process dwarves the participation of real estate (18 percent) and operations/business unit management (15 percent).
It is also interesting to note the continued cautious approach of corporate decision-makers in terms of the economy. Sixty percent of the respondents to this year's Corporate Survey indicate that their number of company facilities has not changed during the past year. In addition, many of the respondents have put facility projects on hold (21 percent), closed or consolidated facilities (10 percent), and/or reduced employment at facilities (13 percent). Finally, 59 percent of the respondents do not expect the economy to grow at a faster pace until 2015 or 2016. This suggests that company decision-makers will continue to wait as long as they can to invest capital and hire employees, due to economic volatility.
For those companies planning to open new facilities, the South and Midwest appear to be the favored locations. Corporate decision-makers indicate that 16 percent of new facilities will be opened in the South, while 14 percent will be opened in the Midwest. This trend mirrors what we are seeing from clients and also reflects well on the changes made to improve the business climate in these regions.
Project Announcements
Wyandot Snacks Expands Marion, Ohio, Production Operations
08/29/2025
Trane Technologies Expands Fort Smith, Arkansas, Operations
08/29/2025
BioMADE Plans Boone, Iowa, Bioindustrial Manufacturing Operations
08/29/2025
Choice Fabricators Expands Rainbow City, Alabama, Production Operations
08/29/2025
Ranovus Expands Ottawa, Ontario, Semiconductor Operations
08/29/2025
Belgium-Based Stow Group Plans Gordon County, Georgia, Manufacturing Operations
08/28/2025
Most Read
-
Tariffs, Talent, and U.S. Expansion
Q3 2025
-
What We’re Getting Wrong About Gen Z’s Future in the Skilled Trades
Q3 2025
-
Data Center Demand Stabilizes Amid Changing Market Forces
Q3 2025
-
A New Course for U.S. Shipbuilding
Q3 2025
-
Optimizing Your Rail-Served Transportation Network: Strategy Before Steel
Q2 2025
-
In Focus: AI Is Changing Incentives Math
Q2 2025
-
Rewriting the Rules of Warehouse ROI
Q3 2025