Manufacturing’s New Risk Game for Site Selection
Companies face growing challenges as tariffs, political shifts, and trade policies disrupt location strategies.
Companies face growing challenges as tariffs, political shifts, and trade policies disrupt location strategies.
With federal action slowing and market forces accelerating, private firms are finding that the most effective policy responses—on issues like energy, housing, and workforce—are coming from state and local governments with the agility to act.
Energy, tariffs, and trade are going to be a moving target in the coming months.
We are at the dawn of America’s next Industrial Revolution, and it will be shaped in large part by the convergence of technological innovation, climate change and geopolitical pressures.
Infrastructure can power your supply chain—but only when planned with foresight.
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.
How economic developers, manufacturers, and policymakers can prepare for potential trade shifts.
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.
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.
New technologies and improved planning identify and address site issues, saving millions in potential delays and mitigation costs.
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.
New market tax credits offer millions in upfront funding for projects that create jobs and serve underserved communities.
States and cities have tied incentives to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals — such as subcontracting targets or workforce composition — but a new executive order from the Trump administration and related lawsuits are raising the legal stakes. That raises new questions about what’s lawful and what’s not when it comes to DEI, affirmative action, and the use of contracting targets — and how that may impact your next location decision.
SCEDA priority legislation could boost state’s economic development efforts.
Area Development Guest Editors Kathy Mussio and Amy Gerber, rounded up industry leaders to share their best practices for navigating economic development incentives.
How to plan manufacturing facilities with safety in mind.
Although records have been set for massive industrial spaces, the market has been shifting to smaller buildings.
New regulations to expand cybersecurity expertise and reporting requirements can only help to eliminate the very real threats companies are facing on a daily basis.
To find out more about the current cyber threats companies are facing and their responses to such threats, Area Development’s staff writer, Lisa Bastian, interviewed Michael Morris, a managing director in Deloitte’s Cyber Detect & Respond practice.
A surprising encounter reveals why environmental due diligence isn’t just paperwork — it’s protection.
Scaling a pilot into full production requires smart planning, the right team, and constant flexibility.
Collaborative joint ventures spread risk and ensure successful project outcomes.
Retailers must adapt to experiential trends to thrive in today's market.
Sustainability has moved from a buzzword to a critical business practice, driven by government regulations and building codes as well as end-user expectations.
The new frontier in site selection for companies has everything to do with keeping things running during increasingly wild storms and weather patterns.
Innovative measures and legislation propel the adoption of eco-friendly building materials.
Industrial designers are exploring the transformative potential of landscape architecture to harmonize industrial development with environmental sustainability and community well-being.
Could a prolonged strike have disrupted U.S. supply chains further?
Salary transparency in job listings offers new insights into wages.
The new year brings some significant changes that will impact employers who have entry-level workers, with 22 states raising their minimum wages effective January 1st.
According to the experts, respecting and listening to employees’ concerns is key to keeping unionizing efforts at bay.
The booming data center industry urgently needs more skilled workers to sustain growth.
States with top programs share a few elements that make them standout.
Employers turn to untapped talent pools to address workforce gaps.
Use this analysis to address skills gaps and boost retention.
Meaghan Elwell serves as the President of the Industrials Division at JLL Work Dynamics, where she oversees global outsourcing relationships across various sectors, including Manufacturing, Aviation, Automotive, Logistics, Oil & Gas, and Utilities. With over 20 years at JLL, she has extensive experience in managing corporate relationships and large real estate portfolios.
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.
Some AI tools make it easier for recruiters to find top candidates. Here’s the skinny:
Explore the impact of facility management with George Schmidt, who talks about the evolving roles of FM professionals, the integration of AI and sustainability practices, and the future trends that are shaping this critical industry.
Two decades of dealmaking, diversification, and economic momentum — this year’s Shovel Awards celebrate the states digging deepest to build the future.
Economic growth shines at the Area Development Shovel Awards, with states like South Carolina and Louisiana leading the charge. Discover which regions are driving innovation and sustainability in industries from automotive to green technology.
Louisiana leads with green, earning the first-ever Green Shovel for its commitment to renewable energy. The state's significant cleantech investments highlight a national shift toward sustainable development.
With concerns about climate change now supplanting pandemic fears, projects to produce EVs — and the semiconductors used by vehicles and other high-tech goods — come to the forefront in this year’s Shovel Awards report.
The fluidity of digital innovation - and its lack of dependence on a traditional industrial infrastructure - means that tech havens are blooming in newer magnets where tech-savvy workers are prevalent, ranging from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Richmond, Virginia.
A voluntary access road, last-minute land deals, and a workforce-first strategy helped Bowling Green beat 99 other sites for Tyson’s bacon megaproject.
AEP Ohio, the state’s largest power provider, has proposed a controversial new rate structure targeting data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations, prompting strong opposition from tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta.
Mound City emerges as a hub for aerospace investments and jobs.
Nearly four years after COVID locked down the U.S. economy, the top 50 Leading Metro Locations in 2024 still depict the ripple effect of the shift to remote work.
The 2024 metro rankings reflect a number of small metros that have successfully attracted industrial projects in the last five years.
Area Development’s 2024 Leading Metro Locations report reveals shifting dynamics in America’s cities.
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.
Having a workforce with the right skills is an integral part of being a Top State for Doing Business — that’s why training programs are so important.
The top ranked states are leveraging their assets and positioning themselves for future economic development success.
Access to training programs as well as incentives for automation are helping companies meet their workforce needs in the top-ranked states.
Oil and gas industry consolidation will likely lead to increased demands for higher-quality offices in top locations.
Companies prioritize values and mission when choosing modern headquarters locations.
The post-pandemic remote working trend has resulted in “emerging” or “other” metros performing better than the more established tech markets.
Companies are relocating their headquarters for myriad reasons, including to lower costs, access skilled talent, improve accessibility, and burnish their corporate image.
LiquidStack CEO Joe Capes on choosing Texas for expansion, working through AI supply chain shocks, and why hot water is the future of cooling.
What developers need to know about how states are regulating data centers—and utilities are shifting the cost burden.
How suppliers and innovators have powered the explosive growth of America’s data center infrastructure.
With QTS rapidly scaling to meet hyperscaler and enterprise demand across North America and Europe, Co-CEO David Robey shares his perspective on site selection, utilities, incentives, and what’s next for the industry. Robey, who previously served as COO, brings a tactical mindset to an evolving set of location priorities.
Partnerships with local economic developers and other community stakeholders are key to a company getting approval to site a big-box distribution center.
The exponential growth of e-commerce has, in turn, accelerated the need for both warehouse and data center space.
Given the complexity of the 3PL selection process, it is imperative to begin with a thoroughly planned strategy.
Although the pandemic accelerated growth in e-commerce, will companies continue to increase their investment in digital technologies?
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.
Why manufacturers should treat site selection as a form of risk management — not just opportunity hunting.
A return to American manufacturing demands more than factories — it requires coordinated, community-wide ecosystem development
Automation and policy incentives could reshape the future of American textile production.