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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Logistics / Infrastructure

Infrastructure Investment: Shifting the Focus from Cost to Opportunity

Stephen Gray, CEO, Gray Construction (Q4 2018)

The cost of upgrading and maintaining U.S. infrastructure is an investment that will pay off for industry and the nation as a whole, resulting in job creation and increased GDP. More

The Impact of Tariffs on Supply Chain Costs

Dan Levine, Practice Leader, Location Strategies and Economic Development, Oxford Economics, Inc. (Q4 2018)

The worsening tariff situation will affect prices throughout the international supply chain that supports companies’ operations both in the U.S. and abroad — and ultimately affect their bottom line. More

The Surprising Impact of E-Commerce on Urban Real Estate Markets

Joe Mikes, Head of Real Estate Solutions, Americas, DHL Supply Chain (Q4 2018)

Distribution is moving closer to end customers, and that means more distribution centers in urban environments. More

Is the Automotive Aftermarket Immune to E-Commerce?

Jeffrey Green, Managing Director, Global Occupier Services, Cushman & Wakefield and Ben Conwell, Senior Managing Director and Practice Leader, eCommerce Advisory Group , Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. (2018 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Auto parts suppliers are responding to the growth in e-commerce with a multi-pronged strategy, from the expansion of retail locations to the addition of regional and “mega” distribution hubs. More

For Industrial Development, Rail Is the Gravy Train

Jennifer Harris, Account Director, Akrete (Q3 2018)

Rail development has driven economic opportunity across the United States, opening up new markets and efficiently moving freight. More

How Innovation and Tourism Work Side By Side in Orlando

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2018)

The success of Orlando’s theme park industry and cross-disciplinary technology innovation have led to the region becoming a leading destination for high-tech companies. More

In Focus: Steel Tariffs to Prevent U.S. Economic Growth

Stephen Gray, CEO, Gray Construction (Q2 2018)

The recently enacted tariffs on steel and aluminum have created an uncertain investment climate for both domestic and foreign firms, causing companies to rethink their supply chain strategies and put their expansion plans on hold. More

In Focus: E-Tail Creating Demand for Urban Warehouses

Joseph Panepinto, Panepinto Properties (Q2 2018)

In order to be close to their target markets, e-retailers are locating warehouses in urban locations and taking advantage of these densely populated areas’ built-in employee bases. More

The New Aluminum and Steel Tariffs: Implementation, Consequences, and Next Steps

Doreen M. Edelman, Co-Leader, Global Business Team, Baker Donelson and Julius Bodie, Law Clerk, Baker Donelson (Q2 2018)

Businesses that use steel and/or aluminum need to understand how the recently enacted tariffs will affect their supply chain as well as their bottom line. More

Why Top Consulting Firms Are Choosing This Location

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2018)

An educated labor pool, top-notch international airport, and a unified community of governmental and business leaders facilitated the selection of Orlando by several high-profile professional consulting firms. More

Get On Track With a Rail-Served Site

Colby Tanner, Assistant Vice President, Economic Development, BNSF (Q1 2018)

The economic and environmental benefits of freight rail transportation should be considered when developing your next facility. More

Front Line: A New Age for Trucking

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2018)

High driver turnover, the new mandate limiting drivers’ hours on the road, and the boom in e-commerce are spurring the adoption of driverless trucks. More

Infrastructure and Its Role in the U.S. Economy

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2018)

The federal government is leaning toward the creation of public-private partnerships to finance much-needed improvements to the nation’s infrastructure, which is vital to the manufacturing sector as well as national security. More

In Focus: The ELD Mandate - How It Will Change Your Business Operations

Brian Fielkow, CEO, Jetco Delivery (Q1 2018)

The ELD Mandate, which will change how truckers operate, will ultimately benefit both the trucking industry and the shippers/manufacturers that utilize the industry’s services. More

Dinner on the Front Porch: How E-Commerce Is Affecting the Food Industry

Jeff Dearduff, Corporate Director, Baking & Snack, The Austin Company (2017 Food Processing)

As consumers receive more and more of their food through e-commerce, food manufacturers, assemblers, and distribution networks are going to have to think differently. More

Location Notebook: Kentucky Is Prime Ground for Logistics and Distribution

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2017)

Companies like UPS, DHL, Amazon, and others are taking advantage of Kentucky’s centralized location and highly developed infrastructure to move freight by air, water, rail, and road. More

Technological and Other Changes Steering Logistics Decisions

Bill Luttrell, Senior Locations Strategist, Werner Global Logistics, Werner Enterprises (Q4 2017)

For manufacturing and distribution…it’s logistics, logistics, logistics, which is revolutionizing the supply chain — including the location decision process. More

Industry Sea Changes Affecting U.S. Shipping Gateways

Walter Kemmsies, Ph.D., Managing Director, Economist and Chief Strategist, U.S. Ports, Airports and Global Infrastructure Group, JLL (Q4 2017)

Damage from recent hurricanes could have a ripple effect across U.S. seaports, underscoring the rising demand for more sophisticated industrial real estate and infrastructure. More

First Person: A 20-Year Take on the Supply Chain Revolution

Rich Thompson, International Director and Leader, Supply Chain & Logistics Solutions, JLL (Q3 2017)

Supply chain and logistics activities have become a much more visible part of the real estate industry and crucial among developers over the past 20 years. As the Trump administration prepares to renegotiate NAFTA and possibly other free trade agreements, Rich Thompson, JLL’s Global Head of Supply Chain and Logistics Solutions, has been consulting with the firm’s clients about what the future might bring. In this interview, Thompson discusses how supply chain and logistics has been a major driver of industrial development over the last couple of decades — and where it’s headed next. More

Advanced Manufacturing Drives Iowa’s Economy

Iowa Economic Development Authority (Q3 2017)

Supply chain mapping, data on autonomous fleets, and low-cost renewable energy can all be found in Iowa…surprised? You shouldn’t be. More

The Factors Fueling a Resurgence in U.S. Multimodal Freight

Kevin Mohoney , Vice President, Ridge Development Company (Q3 2017)

Whether or not a facility takes immediate advantage of a site’s access, intermodal proximity has become an increasing priority for many industrial users. More

Special Investment Report: Infrastructure Investment, Educational Resources Support Florida’s Diverse and Growing Economy

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2017)

Florida has a dynamic and diverse economy that spans a wide range of industries and employs some 8.5 million people. More

Location Notebook: Louisville-Southern Indiana Offer Bi-State Regional Advantages

Dale D. Buss, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2017)

Although these two locales compete for business to a certain extent, each benefits from the advantages provided by its neighbor, as do the businesses located there. More

Textile Industry Making a Comeback in the U.S. Southeast

Beth H. Land, Vice President, Site Selection Group (Q2 2017)

As the textile industry becomes transformed by technology, companies are considering highly automated, environmentally conscious production facilities in the U.S. Southeast, where the infrastructure necessary for this industry’s success is already in place. More

31st Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Survey Factor Rankings Borne Out By Location Decisions in Kentucky

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (Q1 2017)

The factors considered most important when making a location decision have been cited by many of the corporate executives who have made the decision to locate or expand facilities in Kentucky. More

In Focus: Why America’s Supply Chain Is Shifting East

KC Conway, Senior Vice President, SunTrust Bank (Q1 2017)

With a vast rail and intermodal network, East Coast ports are well positioned to support the growing e-commerce trend. More

Site Certification Is Not a Substitute for Due Diligence

Courtney Dunbar, Economic Development Leader, Industrial Site Consulting Team, Olsson  (Q1 2017)

While a good amount of information can be obtained through site certification programs, underlying questions with regard to the end-user’s specific timelines and needs as well as how risks will be mitigated still need to be addressed. More

Record Demand Brings New Heights and Challenges to Industrial Real Estate Market

Craig Meyer, President, Logistics and Industrial Services Group for the Americas, JLL (Q1 2017)

The continued growth of e-commerce, promised infrastructure upgrades, and new and creative development are some of the trends affecting the industrial real estate market. More

Frontline: Fourth Industrial Revolution Takes Off, “Localizing” Site Selection Requirements

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2017)

The adoption of new technology — in what’s been called “the fourth industrial revolution” — will benefit the entire manufacturing ecosystem. More

Six Factors to Consider When Selecting a Location for a Mission-Critical Data Center

Mark Bauer, Managing Director and Co-Lead Data Center Solutions , JLL (Data Centers 2017)

When searching for a location for their next data center, companies need to take a holistic view of the process, prioritizing and balancing all the factors involved in site selection. More

In Focus: Has the Moment for Infrastructure Revival Arrived?

Walter Kemmsies, Ph.D., Managing Director, Economist and Chief Strategist, U.S. Ports, Airports and Global Infrastructure Group, JLL (Directory 2017)

The United States has indisputably underfunded infrastructure spending for the past several decades, and the lack of investment has been cited as a key constraint to doing business domestically. If Congress aligns with the White House in support of greater infrastructure funding, many states and cities stand to benefit. More

Real Estate Solutions Needed for Tech-Driven Auto Industry

Jeffrey Green, Managing Director, Global Occupier Services, Cushman & Wakefield and Paul Thurston, Vice President, Development and Pre-Construction, Becknell Industrial (Directory 2017)

On the verge of an automotive revolution, the CRE industry is working to meet the evolving needs of OEMs and parts suppliers in the middle of a short supply real estate market. More

The Coming Battle Over Infrastructure Funding and Investment

Tim Feemster, Managing Principal, Foremost Quality Logistics (Directory 2017)

The Trump administration’s promise to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but one thing is certain: the work is long overdue and will cost a lot more than the promised $1 trillion investment. More

Location Notebook: Indiana Workforce Initiatives Attract and Retain Industry

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Directory 2017)

Indiana is meeting its workforce challenges, while drawing upon its infrastructure and other strengths to attract business. More

Utility Companies: Powerful Economic Development Partners

Josh Bays, Principal, Site Selection Group, LLC (Directory 2017)

Utility economic development organizations can bring a lot to the table during the corporate location process, especially in terms of technical expertise along with strategic and project-level funding. More

In Focus: Digital Transformation in the Manufacturing Sector

Ben Grinnell, Managing Director, North Highland (Directory 2017)

To drive market gains in today’s rapid pace of digitization, organizations must move decisively to align technology and digital with strategy and culture, choosing continuous improvement, agility, automation and transparency over business-as-usual. More

Editor's Note: Food Processors’ Grow Sales, Overcome Challenges

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (2016 Food Processing)

New safety regulations, shifting consumer preferences, and finding the right talent are just some of the challenges food processors are facing as their sales continue to grow. More

Maintaining the “Cold Supply Chain” From Manufacturer to Consumer

Elise Couston, Senior Managing Director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (2016 Food Processing)

Having a food defense plan helps suppliers, distributors, and operators maintain the safety of the food products they handle, as well as helping protect everyone’s business. More

Optimizing Food Processors’ Supply Chain Strategies

Jim Arnold, Executive Vice President–Sales and Operations, Supply Chain, XPO Logistics (2016 Food Processing)

The right distribution center (DC) site selection strategy for food and beverage companies can optimize their entire supply chain. More

Critical Site Selection Factor #2: Highway Accessibility

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2016)

It is, of course, no coincidence that nearly all of the nation’s biggest manufacturing facilities and distribution centers can be found alongside major highways. More

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