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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Skilled Labor / STEM

the-compliance-reckoning-is-here

The Compliance Reckoning Is Here

Brooklin Salemi, Senior Managing Director, Economic Incentives Advisory, Newmark and Joseph Gioino, Senior Managing Director, Newmark (Q3 2025)

New challenges—from automation to federal fallout—are testing how companies manage risk in incentive-backed projects. More
site-selection-numbers-vs-reality

Site Selection Numbers vs. Reality

Devin Hillsdon-Smith, Principal, Hyphen Strategies (Q3 2025)

Why You Should Question Every Stat in a Site Proposal. 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
tariffs-talent-and-us-expansion

Tariffs, Talent, and U.S. Expansion

Hector Ibarra, Associated Professional; Azad Khan, Consultant; Sven Gerzer, Consultant on Parker Poe’s Business Expansion + Location Solutions Team (Q3 2025)

International executives reveal what’s driving their U.S. site decisions amid policy changes and workforce pressure More

Front Line: Reclaiming the Launchpad

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

How Mississippi is turning a federal legacy into a commercial space hub. More
how-muskogee-aligned-to-win-1-billion-lithium-refinery

Front Line: How Muskogee Aligned to Win a $1 Billion Lithium Refinery

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

Targeted infrastructure, homegrown workforce strategies, and transparent community engagement helped bring Stardust Power to town. More
how-to-manage-the-surge-in-building-costs

How to Manage the Surge in Building Costs

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

Construction firms are navigating supply shocks, labor shortages and policy pressures with smarter, early-stage coordination. More
rewriting-the-rules-of-warehouse-roi

Rewriting the Rules of Warehouse ROI

Joe Dunlap, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Legacy Investing (Q3 2025)

Embedding automation into leases may offer companies a smarter way to balance risk, cost and productivity. More
what-were-getting-wrong-about-genzs-future-in-the-skilled-trades

What We’re Getting Wrong About Gen Z’s Future in the Skilled Trades

Bartholomew Jae, Director of Training and Certifications, NFPA (Q3 2025)

Employers must modernize their training programs if they want to attract and retain the next generation. 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
wisconsin-a-launchpad-for-innovation-and-industry

Wisconsin: A Launchpad for Innovation and Industry

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (Q2 2025)

From AI and fusion to biomanufacturing, Wisconsin’s tech economy is attracting global and local bets. More
how-innovation-and-investment-are-reshaping-life-sciences-in-2025

How Innovation and Investment Are Reshaping Life Sciences in 2025

Connor Barnes, Vice Chair, Cushman & Wakefield and Sandy Romero, Head of Life Sciences and Healthcare Insights, Global Research, Cushman & Wakefield (Q2 2025)

Talent shortages, financing volatility, and supply chain shifts define the life sciences outlook. More
ai-is-changing-incentives-math

In Focus: AI Is Changing Incentives Math

Brian Eddow, Area Development Staff (Q2 2025)

Headcount-focused incentives punish evolving companies, payroll helps reward a different kind of growth. 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
what-you-need-to-know-about-nmtcs

What You Need to Know About NMTCs

Thane Hutcheson, President, Five Points Strategic Advisors (Q2 2025)

New market tax credits offer millions in upfront funding for projects that create jobs and serve underserved communities. 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

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
the-second-space-race

The Second Space Race

Garrison Partridge, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q2 2025)

How spaceport development could drive economic growth in new places. More

First Person: Brent Omdahl, SVP Government Affairs for Global Wafers

Area Development Research Desk (Q1 2025)

The EVP for Government Affairs at GlobalWafers shares insights on a $3.5 billion investment in Sherman, Texas, workforce development, and how the CHIPS Act has reshaped semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. More
kansas-helping-transition-service-members-families-into-new-careers

Kansas Helping Transition Service Members, Families into New Careers

Kansas Department of Commerce  (Q1 2025)

With innovative programs such as SkillBridge — and dedicated workforce development professionals at KANSASWORKS — Kansas is a strong player in assisting and placing veterans and their families into promising careers. More
training-them-up

Why Workforce Readiness Can’t Wait

Jeff Troan, Managing Director, Vista Site Selection, LLC (Q1 2025)

The training program for the new facility can no longer be delayed until the new facility is nearing completion. It should be instituted the day after the site selection decision is announced More
ohios-dynamic-approach-to-economic-development-empowers-inclusive-prosperity

Ohio’s Dynamic Approach to Economic Development Empowers Inclusive Prosperity

JobsOhio (Q1 2025)

Ohio’s big cities and small towns thrive with a mix of economic development initiatives that drive momentum. More

How Automation Is Actually Closing the Labor Gap

Courtney Dunbar, Site Selection & Economic Development Leader, Burns & McDonnell and Alfredo Valadez, Automation Consultant and Project Manager, Burns & McDonnell (Q4 2024)

Robotics and automation offer solutions to the critical labor shortage in the U.S., enhancing efficiency and worker safety and preparing the workforce for the future. More

Run a Job Task Analysis

Dan Pickel, Director of Certification and Accreditation, NFPA (Q4 2024)

Use this analysis to address skills gaps and boost retention. More

Kentucky’s Investment in Quality Sites is an Investment in its Future

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (Q4 2024)

We prioritize development-ready sites to attract businesses and jobs. More

The Workforce Factor: How States Are Competing to Build Tomorrow's Talent

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q4 2024)

States with top programs share a few elements that make them standout. More

Industries Look for Employees in Nontraditional Spaces Amid Labor Shortage

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

Employers turn to untapped talent pools to address workforce gaps. More

Brooklyn Navy Yard’s CNC Training Fuels Its Resurgence

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

Workforce investments drive modern manufacturing innovation. More

What to Make of the Rising Trend of Salary Transparency in Job Descriptions

Vince Giovannini, Senior Consultant, Deloitte (Q4 2024)

Salary transparency in job listings offers new insights into wages. More

Five Strategies to Tackle the Data Center Talent Shortage

Matt Landek, Managing Director, U.S. Data Center Work Dynamics and Project Development and Services Lead, JLL (Q4 2024)

The booming data center industry urgently needs more skilled workers to sustain growth. 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

The Cost of Labor and Workforce Skills Necessary for the Transition to an Electrified Auto Industry

Raymond Perez, Of Counsel, Fisher & Phillips LLP (Q3 2024)

Why executives must prioritize workforce skills for the electric vehicle transition. More

Green Jobs Boom in 2023: Is the IRA a Leading Factor?

Mike Chmura, Economist, Chmura Economics (Q3 2024)

Is the IRA driving a surge in green jobs, or is it part of a broader clean energy movement? More

Which AI Tools Work for Job Recruiters?

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2024)

Some AI tools make it easier for recruiters to find top candidates. Here’s the skinny: 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

The War on Talent in Aerospace: Strategies for Attracting and Retaining a Skilled Workforce

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

Effective talent management is essential in today's aerospace and defense industry. By focusing on competitive compensation, modern facilities, and professional development, companies can secure the skilled workforce needed to thrive. More

Creative Recruiting Might Help Close the Manufacturing Skills Gap

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

Faced with a dearth of skilled workers, some companies are looking to high schools and community centers to find manufacturing labor. More

Mitigating Labor Challenges in Life Sciences Manufacturing

Adam Bloom, President, Stevenson Search Partners (Q2 2024)

Why executives facing manpower shortages must consider a menu of location planning, automation, and fostering a learning culture to meet current challenges and drive efficiency. More

Navigating the Digital Transformation

Courtney Dunbar, Site Selection & Economic Development Leader, Burns & McDonnell and Matt Olson, Chief Innovation Officer, Burns & McDonnell (Q1 2024)

Courtney Dunbar, site selection lead at Burns & McDonnell, recently asked Matt Olson, Burns & McDonnell’s chief innovation officer, about how companies are navigating the digital transformation and its potential of fostering sustainable, resilient manufacturing practices. More

In Focus: Rethinking Industrial Site Selection: A Retail Perspective

Evan L. Stair, Managing Director, Analytics, Vista Site Selection (Q1 2024)

The idea of putting the needs of the potential workforce first when making the location decision mirrors retail’s tradition of prioritizing customer satisfaction. More

Exclusive Research