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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Logistics / Infrastructure

Future-Proofing Food & Beverage Facilities: Why Site Selection Matters

Brian Miller, Executive Vice President - Industrial, Gresham Smith (Q4 2023)

Access, utilities, workforce, regulatory issues and future-proofing are all key considerations for choosing the right location for a long-term investment. More

Clustering Distribution Near Manufacturing Operations: An Old Idea Gaining New Traction

Bruce Herbert, Strategic Advisor, TMX Transform (Q4 2023)

Real estate, labor, and transportation needs must be considered by companies considering a clustering strategy if they are to reap its full benefits. More

Kentucky’s Logistics Industry is Creating Current & Future Economic Success

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (Q4 2023)

Kentucky sits at the center of a 34-state distribution area in the eastern U.S., giving it proximity to key populations and centers of international commerce. More

2023 Top States for Doing Business Meet the Needs of Site Selectors

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2023)

The states considered the best locations for doing business according to an expert panel of location consultants are the highest performers in more than a dozen categories upon which companies make their site selection decisions. More

E-Commerce and the Struggle Against Space Challenges

Matt Powers, Executive Vice President, Retail/E-Commerce Distribution, JLL (Q3 2023)

In the age of online shopping, retail brand decision-makers must strike a balance between their immediate space requirements and long-term sustainability. More

First Person: Establishing a Robust Rare Earth Magnet Supply Chain

Tom Schneberger, CEO, USA Rare Earth (Q3 2023)

Rare earth magnets are critical to keeping America’s economy strong and protecting our way of life. With this in mind, Area Development’s staff editor Lisa Bastian asked Tom Schneberger, CEO of USA Rare Earth, to share his perspective on this issue. More

EV Impacts to Watch in 2023 and 2024

Lauren Berry, Senior Manager, Location Analysis and Incentives, Maxis Advisors (2023 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

The long-term impact of the shift to EVs — including challenges sourcing battery materials and the increased demand on utility capacity — will be far-reaching. More

First Person: Labor Crunch in the Construction Industry

Joseph Natarelli, National Leader, Construction Services, Marcum LLP (Q2 2023)

The construction industry continues to face a skilled labor shortage, with worker scarcity worsening since the beginning of the pandemic. With this in mind, Area Development’s staff editor Lisa Bastian asked Joseph Natarelli, Marcum’s National Construction Leader, to share his perspective on this issue. More

19th Annual Consultants Survey: Clients Challenged by Tight Labor Market, Energy Availability

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2023)

Consultants responding to our survey say economic conditions are affecting their clients’ expansion/investment plans, with labor and energy availability and costs of prime concern. More

Federal Legislation Affects Companies’ Investment Plans

Jacob Everett , Founder, Corsa Strategies (Q1 2023)

Companies looking to grow are facing an historically tight labor market and rising costs, but their plans to invest may be buoyed by recent government legislation. More

Corporate Decision-Makers Face a Challenging Environment

Larry Gigerich, Executive Managing Director , Ginovus (Q1 2023)

The rankings clearly reflect the impact of geopolitical and economic instability, as well as technology. More

Labor Related Factors Are Key

Bradley Migdal, Executive Managing Director, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. and Matt Niehoff, Senior Consulting Analyst, Location & Labor Analytics, Cushman & Wakefield (Q1 2023)

Companies are searching for the right balance of labor — at all skill levels — that can satisfy their needs not only now but also into the future. More

Energy Costs Come to the Forefront

Lauren Berry, Senior Manager, Location Analysis and Incentives, Maxis Advisors (Q1 2023)

The shift away from carbon-emitting fuels and the unexpected spikes in natural gas pricing in 2022 have made industrial customers increasingly sensitive to energy costs in their location decisions. More

Companies Are Recalibrating Their Priorities

Eric Stavriotis, Vice Chairman, CBRE (Q1 2023)

In recent years many companies have been propelled to recalibrate priorities for their location strategies and resulting real estate footprints. The top site selection factors for occupiers today include the following: More

Industrial Update: Did the Market Overshoot the Equilibrium?

Thomas LaSalvia, Director of Economic Research, Moody's Analytics (Q1 2023)

Although the economic slowdown has some wondering about the health of the industrial real estate sector, the need for shorter shipping times will spur companies to continue to look for space around the country. More

Fixing the Supply Chain with AI and Robotics

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2022)

Automation, industrial robots, and other technology solutions have allowed manufacturers to shorten their supply chains, while also making them more efficient and reducing labor costs. More

Food Processors’ Optimal Location Decision

Chris Copenhaver, Director, Co-Lead Food & Beverage Advisory Group, Cushman & Wakefield (Q4 2022)

Whether evaluating existing buildings or finding a location for a new facility, food processors must make sure all the variables involved align to support the final decision. More

Factoring Mexico Into a Solution to the Global Supply Chain Crisis

Bob Cook, Senior Vice President, Latin America, Site Selection Group, LLC (Q4 2022)

While its proximity to the U.S. and lower labor costs make Mexico a good location for a manufacturing operation, other costs may be higher, and its supplier base still lacks maturity. More

Amid Rebound, U.S. Regains Position as World Leader in FDI

Brian Jones, President & CEO, Gray Construction (Q4 2022)

Traditional and rapidly emerging industries alike are choosing the U.S. for its stable and innovative market, skilled workforce, and favorable tax and regulatory climate. More

Higher Borrowing and Construction Costs Impacting Industrial Users

David Welch, CEO & President, Robinson Weeks Partners (Q4 2022)

As interest rates rise, industrial developers are prepping for a ramp-down of new projects. More

The Power of Location

City of St Albert (Location Canada 2022)

As companies seek to find a location that will achieve the right mix of size, price, accessibility, and time to market, having an optimal logistics location is paramount to cultivating a corporate competitive advantage. Highway access, proximity to all modes of transportation networks, and a qualified work force are also factors that can affect location decisions. More

Location Factors in the EV Industry — “Mission Critical” or “Nice to Have”?

Joseph Gioino, Senior Managing Director, Newmark and Alan Reeves, Senior Managing Director, Newmark (2022 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

Understanding the impact of both quantitative and qualitative factors is critically important to the operational efficiency and long-term success of your EV-related project. More

Major Projects Embrace Wide Open Rural Spaces

John W. McCurry (Q3 2022)

Available land, lower costs, and the desire to co-locate with suppliers and customers draw companies to rural locations, but satisfying infrastructure needs and access to talent shouldn’t be overlooked. More

First Person: Global Trade and Development Face Big Challenges in 2022

Robin van Puyenbroeck, Executive Director, Business Development, World Trade Centers Association (Q3 2022)

Area Development’s editor recently asked Robin van Puyenbroeck, executive director of business development for the WTCA, about trends in global trade and investment, top challenges, supply chain woes, and how to prepare for the next global crisis. More

Gaining Community Approval for Your Next Big-Box Project

Benton Blaine, Vice President, Infrastructure & Economic Development, McGuireWoods Consulting and Joseph Beasley, Assistant Vice President, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC (Q3 2022)

Partnerships with local economic developers and other community stakeholders are key to a company getting approval to site a big-box distribution center. More

Front Line: U.S. Seeks to Manufacture Critical Rare Earth Materials

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2022)

Reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign imports of rare earth materials is critical to the production of energy-efficient as well as other high-tech products. More

The New Industrial Ecosystem

Amy Fobes, Managing Director , Savills (Q3 2022)

Resiliency in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution requires a robust, data-driven approach to understanding the financial and operational influences across the new and ever-evolving industrial ecosystem. More

In Focus: “Golden Age” of Spec Development

Josh Wheeler, Senior Vice President , Stonemont Financial Group (Q3 2022)

The e-commerce revolution and its related supply chain challenges have created a surge in spec development of industrial and logistics space. More

Supply Chain Mix and Match

Derek Cutler, Chief Economist, EBP-US and Christopher Steele, President & CEO, EBP-US (Q3 2022)

Global trade imbalances have been created by systems designed pre-pandemic to handle JIT manufacturing that were not adaptable to sourcing and moving goods. More

Five Ways for Manufacturers to Manage Global Market Volatility

Bryan Allen, EPC Project Manager, Burns & McDonnell and Charles Clinton, National Development Leader of Industrial Manufacturing Facilities, Burns & McDonnell (Q2 2022)

To survive and advance in manufacturing, it’s critical to have future-proof, flexible facilities. More

Foreign-Trade Zones: The Best, Zero-Cost Incentive for Your Business

Curtis Spencer, President, IMS Worldwide, Inc. (Q2 2022)

FTZs can bring in millions of dollars in additional profits and cost very little to maintain relative to the investment. More

In Focus: The Impact of E-Commerce on Industrial Real Estate

Carolyn Salzer, Director, Logistics & Industrial Services, Cushman & Wakefield (Q2 2022)

E-commerce fulfillment often demands three to four times the logistics space of traditional brick-and-mortar retail replenishment. More

Rail Gains Advantage Amidst Supply Chain Snarls

Rich Thompson, International Director, Supply Chain & Logistics Solutions, JLL (Q2 2022)

Rail lines, which link international cargo gateways to U.S. population centers, offer companies a cost-effective, sustainable transportation option. More

36th Annual Corporate Survey: Executives Focus on Labor, Energy, Shipping Costs

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2022)

A tight labor market, supply chain challenges, and rising costs have resulted in some surprising changes in corporate respondents’ location priorities. More

18th Annual Consultants Survey: Access to Major Markets and Skilled Labor Are Clients’ Primary Concerns

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q1 2022)

Supply chain considerations, the shortage of skilled workers, and a lack of industrial space are top of mind for their clients, according to consultants responding to our annual survey. More

Supply of Warehouse Space Yet to Meet Demand

A.J. Washeleski, Business Development, Kirco Manix (Q1 2022)

A lack of warehouse space in growth markets — driven by the surge in e-commerce — is being exacerbated by a scarcity of building materials and their skyrocketing costs. More

How to Choose a 3PL Warehouse Provider

Will Schneider, Founder, WarehousingAndFulfillment.com (Q1 2022)

Given the complexity of the 3PL selection process, it is imperative to begin with a thoroughly planned strategy. More

In Focus: Redefining the “Smart” in Smart Cities

Karen Lightman, Executive Director, Metro21: Smart Cities Institute, Carnegie Mellon University (Q1 2022)

Emerging robotics and AI technologies can help meet critical goals of connectivity, equity, and sustainability. More

Location Factors for Cell and Gene Therapy Companies

Catherine Scangarella , Chief Business Development Officer, Choose New Jersey (Q4 2021)

The rise of cell and gene therapy (CGT) demands a strong supply chain, manufacturing operations, and specialized talent. More

No Easy Fix for Supply Chain Struggles

Thomas Galvin, Research Manager, Transwestern (Q4 2021)

Labor shortages intertwined with other supply chain issues are creating gridlock at the nation’s ports. More

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