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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Site Selection Factors / Strategy

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

Editor's Note: The Year Site Selection Grew Up

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q4 2025)

Energy availability takes center stage as companies compete for grid capacity and rethink growth strategies More
leading-metro-locations-2025-smaller-markets-stronger-momentum

Leading Metro Locations 2025: Smaller Markets, Stronger Momentum

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q4 2025)

Smaller and mid-sized U.S. metros are outpacing big cities, leveraging workforce agility, affordability, and livability to redefine competitiveness and attract investment in 2025. More
strategy-driven-location-decisions

Strategy Driven Location Decisions

Tommy Hyde, Chief of Staff, AdvanceCT (Q4 2025)

How aligning operations with regional strengths drives better long-term performance than cost-focused site selection. More
navigating-generational-differences-in-location-and-workplace-strategy

Navigating Generational Differences in Location and Workplace Strategy

Chris Volney, Managing Director, Americas Consulting, CBRE (Q4 2025)

Workforce demographics are reshaping how and where companies design and locate their offices. More
smart-executives-are-paying-attention-to-rural-opportunity-zones

Last Word: Smart Executives Are Paying Attention to Rural Opportunity Zones

Kate Crowley, Principal, CapCivic (Q4 2025)

The permanent extension of Opportunity Zones under the 2025 OBBBA creates a rare opening for business leaders to shape where federal investment flows — and rural America may hold the strongest opportunities for long-term strategic growth. More
koreas-blueprint-for-sustainable-us-expansion

In Focus: Korea’s Blueprint for Sustainable U.S. Expansion

Eric Stavriotis, Vice Chairman, CBRE (Q4 2025)

Why advanced manufacturers are treating site selection as a long-term business strategy, not a transaction. 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
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
site-readiness-is-broken-what-manufacturers-should-demand-from-their-locations

Site Readiness Is Broken: What Manufacturers Should Demand From Their Locations

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

Manufacturers can’t afford delays—here’s what to ask for before picking your next site. More
where-medtech-grows-best

Where MedTech Grows Best

Matt Jackson, Executive Managing Director , JLL (Q3 2025)

How data, labor, and logistics drive location decisions for next-gen MedTech manufacturing. More
your-next-factory-might-already-be-built

Your Next Factory Might Already Be Built

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

Vacant factories might be the smartest place to expand—if you know what to look for. 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
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
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
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

Around the Horn: Advanced Manufacturing’s Next Move

Greg Matter, Vice Chair, Industrials , JLL and Meaghan Elwell, President, Industrials Division, Work Dynamics, JLL (Q3 2025)

JLL recently launched an Advanced Manufacturing group to meet the moment, and Area Development spoke with group leaders Greg Matter, Vice Chair, Industrials, and Meaghan Elwell, Division President of Global Industrials, to get their real estate playbook for the new era. This conversation has been edited for space and style. More
the-site-selection-corporate-checklist

The Site Selection Corporate Checklist

Ramya Gowda, Managing Director, Global Strategy Consulting, Newmark (Q3 2025)

Site selection doesn’t start with “where” — it starts with alignment, clarity and structure. 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
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

Front Line: Building the Nation's First AI-Ready Workforce

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2025)

“Charm City” is forging technology partnerships to build an AI workforce equipped to serve every industry. 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
summits-of-significance-why-pittsburghs-ai-and-energy-event-could-set-a-national-precedent

Summits of Significance: Why Pittsburgh’s AI and Energy Event Could Set a National Precedent

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q3 2025)

AI. Energy. $90 billion. Pittsburgh’s high-profile summit wasn’t just a photo op—it was a coordinated move to signal site readiness and sector leadership. Here’s why states are turning summits into strategy. More

First Person: Astrobotic CEO on Building the Lunar Economy

Area Development Research Desk (Q3 2025)

Astrobotic CEO John Thornton says the race to establish sites on the Moon is already underway—and location matters as much as it does on Earth. More
lead-with-facts-land-the-deal

Lead with Facts, Land the Deal

Ben Worrell , Principal, McGuire Sponsel (Q3 2025)

Site selection starts with infrastructure, not charm — here’s how EDOs can prepare. More
optimizing-your-rail-served-transportation-network-strategy-before-steel

Optimizing Your Rail-Served Transportation Network: Strategy Before Steel

Rob Russell, Managing Partner, Russell-Kroese Partners and Shawntell Kroese, Managing Partner, Russell-Kroese Partners (Q2 2025)

Infrastructure can power your supply chain—but only when planned with foresight. More
rethinking-life-sciences-site-selection-in-a-resilient-and-dynamic-market

Rethinking Life Sciences Site Selection in a Resilient and Dynamic Market

Alan Reeves, Senior Managing Director, Global Strategy, Newmark (Q2 2025)

Planning new facilities now requires deeper segmentation, faster timelines, and more nuanced incentive approaches. More
assessing-risk-assessment

Assessing Risk Assessment

John Bourdeaux, President & CEO, AdvanceCT (Q2 2025)

Companies are looking beyond cost and factoring in culture, politics, and community fit for resilience. More
how-to-choose-the-right-site-for-your-factory-in-2025s-volatile-landscape

How to Choose the Right Site for Your Factory in 2025’s Volatile Landscape

Chris Urchell, Consulting Manager, Baker Tilly (Q2 2025)

Why manufacturers should treat site selection as a form of risk management — not just opportunity hunting. More
scaling-up-without-falling-short

Scaling Up Without Falling Short

David Verner, Director, Energy Strategy, Gresham Smith (Q2 2025)

Scaling a pilot into full production requires smart planning, the right team, and constant flexibility. More

First Person: Meaghan Elwell, Division President for JLL’s Industrials

Area Development Research Desk (Q2 2025)

Meaghan Elwell serves as the President of the Industrials Division at JLL Work Dynamics, where she oversees global outsourcing relationships across various sectors, including Manufacturing, Aviation, Automotive, Logistics, Oil & Gas, and Utilities. With over 20 years at JLL, she has extensive experience in managing corporate relationships and large real estate portfolios. More

First Person: René Buck, President & CEO, BCI Global

Area Development Research Desk (Q2 2025)

As founder and CEO of BCI Global, René Buck has led site selection projects and supply chain projects across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. We caught up with Buck to talk about the evolution of site selection, the impact of tariffs and geopolitics, and the advice he’s giving manufacturing executives right now. 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

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