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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Manufacturing / Industrial

strategic-industries-at-crossroads-defense-aerospace-and-maritime-enter-2026

Strategic Industries at the Crossroads: Defense, Aerospace, and Maritime Enter 2026

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q1 2026)

As industrial policy accelerated, the gap between ambition and execution widened: supply chain security, workforce clearance, and infrastructure bottlenecks revealed the unforgiving realities of building strategic industries at home. 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
preparing-for-the-next-usmca-shake-up

Preparing for the Next USMCA Shake-Up

Charlie Smith, Geopolitical Strategy Consultant,  (Q4 2025)

Business leaders should brace for potential costs and disruptions as North America’s free trade deal heads for review. More
the-new-industrial-revolution-in-biotech

The New Industrial Revolution in Biotech

Courtland Robinson, Director of Business Development, Brasfield & Gorrie (Q4 2025)

Domestic drug production is becoming a matter of national security, not just market strategy. More
the-cold-chain-sector-recalibration

The Cold Chain Sector Recalibration

Amy Binstein, Head of Midwest Research, David Aschenbrand, Strategic Services Advisory Lead, and Lisa DeNight, Managing Director and Head of North American Industrial Research at Newmark (Q4 2025)

A surge of new supply, aging legacy facilities, and shifting operator strategies are creating a widening divide between modern, efficient assets and obsolete space across the nation’s cold storage footprint. More
tariff-shockwaves-hit-the-industrial-sector

Tariff Shockwaves Hit the Industrial Sector

Ermengarde Jabir PhD, Director of Economic Research, Moody’s (Q4 2025)

How rising tariffs, weak sentiment, and slowing e-commerce are shifting warehouse vacancy rates across major U.S. markets. 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
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
a-new-course-for-us-shipbuilding

A New Course for U.S. Shipbuilding

Jeff Troan, Managing Director, Vista Site Selection, LLC (Q3 2025)

Maritime Prosperity Zones could reshape shipbuilding and repair across the U.S. — if defined and used wisely. More
americas-aerospace-reboot

America’s Aerospace Reboot

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

Once dominated by legacy clusters, aerospace site selection is evolving rapidly as companies prioritize speed, workforce specialization, and strategic proximity. 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
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
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
label-wars-how-consumer-trends-are-reshaping-food-facilities

How Consumer Trends Are Reshaping Food Facilities

Scott Kupperman, Founder, Kupperman Location Solutions (Q3 2025)

Consumers want cleaner labels, smaller portions, and local stories—and food brands are racing to keep up. Site consultant Scott Kuppermann explains how these evolving demands are changing everything. 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
nestles-arizona-plant-puts-flexibility-water-innovation-and-robotics-to-work

Front Line: 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
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
where-cold-chain-meets-culture-how-karis-cold-is-blending-art-and-infrastructure-in-chicago

Where Cold Chain Meets Culture: How Karis Cold is blending art and infrastructure in Chicago

Amy Matias, Area Development Staff Writer,  (Q3 2025)

Cold storage with character? Karis Cold’s Stockyards Cold facility in Chicago blends infrastructure with public art—redefining what it means to build a logistics hub in a legacy district. More
karis-colds-ken-verne-on-urban-demand-automation-and-the-infrastructure-gap

First Person: Karis Cold’s Ken Verne on Urban Demand, Automation, and the Infrastructure Gap

Area Development Research Desk (Q3 2025)

Karis Cold’s Ken Verne joins Area Development to talk about urban infill opportunities, automation readiness, ESG strategy, and why facilities need to be designed for 2030—not just today’s needs. 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
rethinking-auto-site-strategy-in-the-age-of-tariffs-and-powertrain-shifts

Rethinking Auto Site Strategy in the Age of Tariffs and Powertrain Shifts

Gregory Burkart, Principal - Site Selection Services, Walbridge  (Q3 2025)

As EV momentum slows and tariffs rise, automotive companies are reworking supply chains, production plans, and location strategies to adapt to a rapidly changing market. More
reshoring-reality-check-from-construction

Reshoring Reality Check from Construction

Brian Gallagher, Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development, PPC Partners, Inc. (Q3 2025)

How tariffs and economic incentives are influencing FDI and location decisions. More
how-energy-storage-solves-grid-challenges

How Energy Storage Solves Grid Challenges

Kyle Smith, Vice President of Energy Storage, McCarthy Construction (Q3 2025)

Rapid deployment of battery storage solutions solves reliability issues and even provides new revenue streams for industrial operations. More
us-textile-manufacturers-are-building-for-the-future

U.S. Textile Manufacturers are Building for the Future

Catherine Tymkiw (Q2 2025)

Automation and policy incentives could reshape the future of American textile production. More
rebuilding-the-industrial-base-requires-a-commitment-to-ecosystem-formation

Rebuilding the Industrial Base Requires a Commitment to Ecosystem Formation

Ken Biberaj, Executive Managing Director, Savills  (Q2 2025)

A return to American manufacturing demands more than factories — it requires coordinated, community-wide ecosystem development More
how-virginia-minimizes-risk-for-new-facilities

How Virginia Minimizes Risk for New Facilities

Virginia Economic Development Partnership (Q2 2025)

How shovel-ready sites and talent programs are helping Virginia win major manufacturing projects. 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
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
what-it-takes-to-power-the-next-generation-of-biomanufacturing

What It Takes to Power the Next Generation of Biomanufacturing

Andy Wozniak, Global Facilities Group Leader, Great Lakes Region, Burns & McDonnell and Courtney Dunbar, Site Selection & Economic Development Leader, Burns & McDonnell (Q2 2025)

Flexible utilities and workforce pipelines are essential to meet growing life sciences manufacturing demand. More
why-art-belongs-in-industrial-spaces

Why Art Belongs in Industrial Spaces

Jennifer Brener Seay, Founder and CEO , Art + Artisans (Q2 2025)

Once dismissed as decorative, workplace art is now being embraced as a powerful tool for improving employee well-being, productivity, and a company’s public image. 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
get-your-mega-site-project-ready

Get Your Mega Site ‘Project Ready’

Ramya Gowda, Managing Director, Global Strategy Consulting, Newmark and Carrie Zethmayr, Managing Director, Global Strategy Consulting, Newmark (Q2 2025)

Preparing a mega site requires more than acreage and ambition—it means aligning zoning, utilities, and documentation to reduce investor risk, compress timelines, and compete for transformative manufacturing and industrial projects. 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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