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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Frontline

amazons-first-mass-timber-delivery-station-tests-the-future-of-low-carbon-logistics

Amazon’s First Mass Timber Delivery Station Tests the Future of Low-Carbon Logistics

Area Development Staff (Q4 2025)

In Elkhart, Indiana, a 171,000-square-foot “wood warehouse” built by Graycor may point the way toward a more sustainable model for industrial construction. 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
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

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
nestles-arizona-plant-puts-flexibility-water-innovation-and-robotics-to-work

Nestlé’s Arizona Plant Puts Flexibility, Water Innovation, and Robotics to Work

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

A lightning-fast build, fully automated systems, and a near-zero-waste water loop make this beverage factory a model for sustainable, high-speed manufacturing. More

Laying the Future’s Foundation in Rowen

Jim Richardson, Area Development Staff Writer,  (Q3 2025)

Georgia’s newest innovation district bets big on climate-ready infrastructure and long-term planning. More
how-greeley-colorado-is-using-aquifers-to-future-proof-its-economy

How Greeley, Colorado Is Using Aquifers to Future-Proof Its Economy

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

Faced with the prospect of building a massive $700 million surface reservoir, Greeley instead pursued something few communities have dared to try. More

Reclaiming the Launchpad

Garrison Partridge, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q3 2025)

How Mississippi is turning a federal legacy into a commercial space hub. More
a-road-to-bacon-production

A Road to Bacon Production

Jim Richardson, Area Development Staff Writer,  (Q1 2025)

A voluntary access road, last-minute land deals, and a workforce-first strategy helped Bowling Green beat 99 other sites for Tyson’s bacon megaproject. More

Dayton, Ohio Poised to Build “Doomsday” Planes

Amy Matias, Area Development Staff Writer,  (Q4 2024)

Dayton, Ohio has long been recognized as the birthplace of aviation, and it is once again proving its strategic importance to the aerospace industry. More

The Colossus of Memphis: Elon Musk’s Supercomputing Investment Transforms the Region

Garrison Partridge, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2024)

More

St. Louis Aerospace Sector Takes Flight with $5 Billion in Investments and New Task Force

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2024)

Mound City emerges as a hub for aerospace investments and jobs. More

AEP Ohio Proposes Controversial Data Center Rate Hike Amid Power Demand Surge

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2024)

AEP Ohio, the state’s largest power provider, has proposed a controversial new rate structure targeting data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations, prompting strong opposition from tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta. More

From Steel to Silicon: Chicago’s South Works Site to Host Largest U.S. Quantum Computing Hub

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2024)

The $2.2 million project will transform the former industrial site into a cutting-edge quantum computing facility, advancing Chicago’s role in the tech industry. More

Red Sea Pharma Crisis Pushing Logistics Advancements

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2024)

Companies need to navigate the stormy waters of the Red Sea amid Houthi threats and global supply chain challenges. More

Solutions Needed for Truck Driver Shortage

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2024)

The supply chain continues to be negatively affected by a shortage of long-haul truckers, in particular, but recruiting more military veterans and women may be part of the solution. More

Impact of the Latest Minimum Wage Increases

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2024)

The new year brings some significant changes that will impact employers who have entry-level workers, with 22 states raising their minimum wages effective January 1st. More

Brownfields Offer Redevelopment Opportunities

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2023)

Found in both urban and rural areas and often with infrastructure in place, brownfield sites can be revitalized and reused with the proper remediation plan in place. More

Electrification of Industrial Processes

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2023)

Reducing the use of fossil fuels in industrial processes will help cut costs while reducing GHG emissions. More

Satisfying the Semiconductor Industry’s Workforce Needs

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2023)

As the semiconductor industry announces plans to grow domestic production, it is facing a workforce shortage. More

Green Energy Companies Building a Qualified Workforce

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2023)

Labor unions and the offshore wind energy industry are working together to advance the transition to clean energy. More

Water Supply Increasingly Affecting Location Decisions

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2023)

Over the last few years, there has been a heightened focus on abundant access to water for companies seeking new locations. More

Expanding the EV Battery Pipeline

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2023)

The need to produce EV batteries is presenting opportunities in lithium battery recycling facility expansions. More

The Growth of Indoor and Vertical Farming

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2023)

In an attempt to deal with the vagaries of weather and changing climate, farmers are turning to vertical and other high-tech indoor farms. More

Taking a Deep Dive into Suppliers’ Labor Force

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2022)

Heightened supply chain visibility will let manufacturers know if their suppliers are using forced labor, which puts them at risk for legal penalties as well as damage to their brand. More

Taking an Expanded View of Climate Change

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2022)

Climate change, corporate sustainability/ESG ratings, and the use of renewables are becoming increasingly important to companies as the planet heats up. More

Is Reshoring Production the Answer to Supply Chain Woes?

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2022)

In light of supply chain challenges post-pandemic, some manufacturers have decided to reshore their production, with varying results. More

Unionization Efforts Trending Upward

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2022)

According to the experts, respecting and listening to employees’ concerns is key to keeping unionizing efforts at bay. More

Performing Physical Tasks Remotely

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Rapid advances in automation are even allowing some tasks in manufacturing facilities to be tackled remotely. More

Extreme Weather Events Factor into Location and Sustainability Decisions

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2022)

The risk of extreme weather events is increasingly being factored into companies’ location decisions, as are sustainability initiatives to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. More

U.S. Automakers Look to Semiconductor Partners

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2022)

In response to supply chain challenges and in order to expand production of AVs and EVs, U.S. automakers are looking to design the highly coveted chips in-house. More

Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Digitization

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2021)

Although the pandemic accelerated growth in e-commerce, will companies continue to increase their investment in digital technologies? More

Infrastructure Investment Faces Hurdles

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2021)

Projects funded by the infrastructure bill are projected to create nearly a million jobs — but filling those jobs may present a challenge. More

Finding, Creating, and Supporting Talent

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2021)

By helping to recruit and train workers, the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program gives companies located in Virginia a competitive edge. More

Changing the Definition of MSAs

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2021)

Will the proposed redefinition of Metropolitan Statistical Areas and subsequent funding communities receive affect your company’s location decision? More

U.S. Supply Chains Face Critical Stage

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2021)

The pandemic accelerated the reexamination of U.S. supply chains, and a new report sets out a path for addressing vulnerabilities. More

Infrastructure Upgrades Vital to U.S. Economy

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

A mediocre grade for U.S. infrastructure indicates there’s much work to be done to bring it up to the safe, sustainable level vitally needed for the supply chain and economic growth. More

U.S. Semiconductor Industry Faces Crises, Opportunities

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

Incentives to encourage U.S. chip manufacturing would help to alleviate the current global semiconductor shortage brought about by the pandemic. More

Reverse Logistics Opportunities, Challenges

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2021)

As online sales have surged so have purchase returns, resulting in reverse logistics challenges for shippers. More

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