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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Logistics / Infrastructure

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
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

Editor’s Note: Thriving at the Intersection of Change

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q3 2025)

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
data-center-supply-chains-whats-next-shtml

Around the Horn: Data Center Supply Chains — What's Next?

Area Development Research Desk (Q3 2025)

Area Development magazine caught up with its Q2 guest editors, Ford Graham and Steven Pearce from McGuireWoods consulting, to talk about their reporting on data center supply chains. We also invited Ermengarde Jabir Director of Economic Research at Moody’s to join the discussion. 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
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
how-canada-stays-competitive

How Canada Stays Competitive

Marc Beauchamp, President, SCI Global (Q3 2025)

As trade tensions mount, Canada’s supply chain reboot aims to retain foreign investment and reduce risk exposure. More
manufacturings-new-risk-game-for-site-selection

Manufacturing’s New Risk Game for Site Selection

Alexandra Segers, General Manager, Tochi Advisors and Michael Johnson, Shareholder, Baker Donelson (Q2 2025)

Companies face growing challenges as tariffs, political shifts, and trade policies disrupt location strategies. 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

Editor’s Note: Making Sense of the Shifts

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q2 2025)

If you’re reading this magazine, you’re likely grappling with questions that don’t have easy answers: Where will the next constraint show up? What will this election cycle do to capital flows? How do you build resilience without losing speed? More
why-cold-storage-may-defy-the-tariff-crunch-

Why Cold Storage May Defy the Tariff Crunch

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q2 2025)

Food related projects remain resilient as tariff pressures shake other sectors of commercial real estate More
michigan-builds-for-resilience-global-infrastructure-and-smart-investments-power-future-supply-chain

Michigan Resilience: Global Infrastructure and Smart Investments Power Future Supply Chains

Michigan Economic Development Corporation (Q2 2025)

Michigan upgrades ports, invests in tech, and links talent to global trade for smarter, resilient supply chains. More
all-roads-lead-to-kansas-logistics-and-distribution-thrive-at-the-center

All Roads Lead to Kansas: Logistics and Distribution Thrive at the Center

Kansas Department of Commerce  (Q2 2025)

Location, logistics parks, and workforce are a dominant force in this state’s distribution strategy. More
the-quest-for-logistics-supremacy

The Quest for Logistics Supremacy

Greg Canfield , Managing Director of Economic Development, Burr & Forman (Q2 2025)

With supply chain pressures mounting, America’s logistics network is being rebuilt from the ground up and states are competing for the infrastructure edge by investing in ports, air cargo, and cold storage. More
the-new-math-behind-mexico-and-us-manufacturing-decisions

The New Math Behind Mexico and U.S. Manufacturing Decisions

Jenna Hassam, Senior Associate, Business Consulting and Site Selection, JLL (Q2 2025)

Rising wages, grid strain, and policy shifts are changing the calculus for manufacturers in North America. 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

Around the Horn: North America’s Trade Tensions

Area Development Research Desk (Q1 2025)

Charlie Smith, managing director of geopolitical strategy at Newmark Global Strategy discusses the current trade tensions across North America and their implications with his colleagues, managing director Carlos Sanchez (based in Mexico) and senior managing director Gregg Wassmansdorf (based in Canada). 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

Editor’s Note: The Future Is Now

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q1 2025)

More
navigating-the-new-era-of-scif-construction

Navigating the new era of SCIF construction

Brian Metras, Senior Vice President, Secure Environments Group Lead, Project Development Services, JLL  and Tom Taylor, Managing Director, Aerospace and Defense Group, JLL (Q1 2025)

Changing compliance standards, heightened geopolitical threats drive SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities) construction boom. More
us-tariff-outlook-key-signals-to-watch-in-2025

U.S. Tariff Outlook: Key Signals to Watch in 2025

Charlie Smith, Managing Director, Geopolitical Strategy at Newmark (Q1 2025)

How economic developers, manufacturers, and policymakers can prepare for potential trade shifts. More

A Tale of Two Industrial Winds

Ermengarde Jabir PhD, Director of Economic Research, Moody’s (Q1 2025)

Shifting supply chains, evolving trade policies, and new investment trends are reshaping the industrial real estate landscape. More

Power, Policy, and Site Selection in 2025

Tracey Hyatt Bosman, Managing Director, BLS & Co. (Q1 2025)

Energy, tariffs, and trade are going to be a moving target in the coming months. More

The Battle to Break China’s Rare Earth Supply Chain Dominance

Catherine Tymkiw (Q4 2024)

U.S. faces challenges in reducing reliance on China for rare earths. More

The Role of Rail in Industrial Development

Area Development Research Desk (Q4 2024)

Area Development talked with Norfolk Southern’s GVP of Industrial Development, Craig Hudson, about the evolving importance of rail in site selection, supply chain sustainability, and emerging sectors like metals and advanced materials. More

Why Decarbonization Goals Start with Site Selection

Mac Farr, Principal, Strategic Development Group (Q4 2024)

Decarbonization is transforming site selection as companies prioritize sustainability. More

Driving the Future of Domestic Battery Recycling: A Conversation with Steven Wu, COO of ABTC

Area Development Research Desk (Q4 2024)

In this exclusive conversation with Area Development, Steven Wu, the newly minted Chief Operating Officer of American Battery Technology Company (ABTC), discusses ABTC’s strategy to play a pivotal role in the U.S. domestic supply chain. More

How Virginia Develops Sites and Mitigates Risk

Virginia Economic Development Partnership (Q4 2024)

Prepared sites are key to Virginia’s business and economic success. More

Behind the U.S. Virgin Islands Plans to Become a Strategic Hub

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

A Jones Act exemption, Made in America status, and improved shipyard show promise. More

What If the Longshoremen's Strike Had Persisted? Examining the Potential Economic Fallout

Katherine Webster, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2024)

Could a prolonged strike have disrupted U.S. supply chains further? More

Around the Horn: A Discussion About the Cost, Sustainability, and Innovation in Rail Infrastructure for Modern Supply Chains

Area Development Research Desk (Q3 2024)

A discussion with JC Renshaw (Savills), Joe Dunlap (Legacy Investing) and Matt Powers (OnPace Partners), about the state of rail infrastructure for site selectors. More

Cold Storage: The Next Big Thing in Industrial Real Estate

Amy Gerber, Executive Managing Director, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield (Q3 2024)

Cold storage is emerging as a vital part of industrial real estate, driven by food safety, diversified supply chains, and the rise of online grocery shopping. More

Permitted Power Capacity Foreshadows Health of Regional Economies

Courtland Robinson, Director of Business Development, Brasfield & Gorrie (Q3 2024)

Diverse energy projects are addressing unique resource and climate considerations, with solar and wind power leading the charge in the transformation of America's energy landscape. More

Top States for Doing Business in 2024: A Continued Legacy of Excellence

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q3 2024)

Certain states just have the right ingredients for attracting and nurturing business growth. The 2024 Top States for Doing Business rankings are in, and guess what? The Southern states are shining bright once again. More

The Critical Role of Real Estate in Site Selection Projects

Devin Hillsdon-Smith, Principal, Hyphen Strategies (Q3 2024)

Strategically selecting sites that optimize economic, logistical, and sustainability factors, not only enhances operational efficiency but also secures a robust foundation for future growth and success. More

Emerging Markets in Aerospace: Navigating Federal Funding and Strategic Expansion

Tom Taylor, Managing Director, Aerospace and Defense Group, JLL (Q3 2024)

Strategic federal funding shifts are creating new growth opportunities in the aerospace sector. Here's how companies can navigate real estate choices, talent acquisition, and supply chain management to stay competitive. More

Understanding AI’s Place in Capital Construction

Brian Gallagher, Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development, PPC Partners, Inc. (Q3 2024)

Adopting AI in capital projects could revolutionize planning, design, and construction, driving efficiency and sustainability while addressing challenges like limited expertise and data complexity. More

Burns & McDonnell’s Role in Intuitive Machines' Lunar Production and Operations Center

Area Development Research Desk (Q3 2024)

The partnership highlights how collaboration and visionary facility design are reshaping the future of space exploration. More

Welcome to The Great Electron Race

Bradley Migdal, Executive Managing Director, Americas Strategic Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield (Q2 2024)

The great electron race is underway, and those who innovate and adapt will shape the future of our continually evolving digital society. More

Exclusive Research