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
AeroVironment Plans Salt Lake City, Utah, Manufacturing Operations
02/15/2025
Amazon Plans Salina, Kansas, Distribution Operations
02/15/2025
Loukus Technologies Expands Calumet, Michigan, Operations
02/15/2025
Great Lakes Sound & Vibration Expands Franklin Township, Michigan, Operations
02/15/2025
Taiwan-Based Syntec Precision Technology Plans Henderson, North Carolina, Operations
02/15/2025
Key Tronic Plans Springdale, Arkansas, Manufacturing-R&D Operations
02/15/2025
Most Read
-
2024's Leading Metro Locations: U.S. Cities on the Rise Amid an Economic Reshuffling
Q4 2024
-
The Workforce Factor: How States Are Competing to Build Tomorrow's Talent
Q4 2024
-
Best Practices in Incentives Procurement
Q4 2024
-
NEW NIMBYism: A Threat to The U.S. Economy
Q4 2024
-
Five Strategies to Tackle the Data Center Talent Shortage
Q4 2024
-
Microsoft-Three Mile Island Deal Could Signal Path for Nuclear Power to Strengthen Partnerships with Big Tech
Q4 2024
-
Industries Look for Employees in Nontraditional Spaces Amid Labor Shortage
Q4 2024