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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Manufacturing / Industrial

Industrial Space Continues Boon for Greater Richmond

Greater Richmond Partnership (Q2 2024)

The region’s advantages — including available industrial real estate, low electric rates, and a strategic location — are drawing manufacturing, distribution, and data center operations to Greater Richmond. More

First Person: Making Facilities “Fit” for the Digital Future

Stephanie Dorsey, CEO, Siemens Real Estate Services, Americas (Q1 2024)

Area Development’s staff editor, Lisa Bastian, interviewed Stephanie Dorsey, CEO of Siemens Real Estate in the Americas, about the changing real estate needs of today’s innovative and growth companies. More

Why Smaller May Be Better for Some Businesses

Tim-Logan, Partner, Parker Poe (Q1 2024)

Although records have been set for massive industrial spaces, the market has been shifting to smaller buildings. More

Last Word: Striking a Balance - Prioritizing Electric Infrastructure While Preparing for the Next Wave of Industrial Expansion

Courtney Dunbar, Site Selection & Economic Development Leader, Burns & McDonnell and Courtland Robinson, Energy & Location Strategist (Q1 2024)

As constraints on power availability become more acute, embracing a utility-first approach emerges as imperative. More

38th Annual Corporate Survey: Are Unrealized Predictions of an Economic Slump Leading Small to Mid-Size Companies to Put Off Expansion Plans?

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2024)

Small and mid-size firms — which account for most of our Corporate Survey respondents — are holding their plans for new and expanded facilities in check despite economic news being better than what had been predicted. More

20th Annual Consultants Survey: Clients Prioritize Access to Skilled Labor, Responsive State & Local Government

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q1 2024)

The responding consultants say economic pressures are creating the biggest potential impact for their clients’ location and expansion plans, with finding available skilled labor being the most important concern. More

Consultants Survey Reflects Shift in Ranking of Site Selection Factors

Kathy Mussio, Managing Partner, Atlas Insight, LLC (Q1 2024)

A responsive state and local government, incentives offerings, and site readiness now outweigh costs in the location decision. More

Skilled Labor, Ample Energy, and Speed to Market Take Priority

Gregg Healy, Executive Vice President & Head of Industrial Services – North America, Savills (Q1 2024)

A location’s labor availability; responsive, pro-business local partners; and ability to support a large energy user are often the main drivers of the site selection decision. More

Manufacturing Projects Dominate the Deal Flow

Brett Bayduss, Senior Partner, Site Selection Group (Q1 2024)

The volume of manufacturing projects across the nation is rising, while office activity has been slow to recover from the pandemic. More

Site Selection Evolves

Isabel Cyr, Government Relations & Public Affairs Director, Lithion Technologies Inc. (Q1 2024)

Corporate respondents prioritize workforce talent, environmental factors, and permitting/regulatory ease in their location and expansion decisions. More

Manufacturing Momentum Is Building

Brian Gallagher, Vice President, Corporate Development, Graycor (Q1 2024)

A desire to bring manufacturing closer to the consumer, recent federal funding initiatives, as well as access to a skilled workforce and reliable power among other advantages have converged to spur growth in construction of U.S. manufacturing facilities. More

Up Next for Industrial in 2024

Jason Price, Senior Director of Research for U.S. Industrial Sector, Cushman & Wakefield (Q1 2024)

Here is a look at the normalizing sector’s upcoming supply, demand, and pricing outlook. More

The Logistics Analysis That Drives Industrial Site Selection

Joe Dunlap, Managing Director, Supply Chain Advisory, CBRE Consulting and Grayson Scott, Senior Consultant, Supply Chain Advisory, CBRE (Q4 2023)

Finding the optimal site for a logistics facility often involves trade-offs between transportation, labor, and real estate costs, which may be lowered by incentives offered, as well as the need for speed to market. More

Tennessee’s Ceramics Industry Attracts International Investment

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (Q4 2023)

Its large supply of natural resources for the ceramic tile industry, along with an established industry cluster, continues to attract ceramics makers to Tennessee. More

Front Line: Brownfields Offer Redevelopment Opportunities

Karen Thuermer, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2023)

Found in both urban and rural areas and often with infrastructure in place, brownfield sites can be revitalized and reused with the proper remediation plan in place. More

Front Line: Satisfying the Semiconductor Industry’s Workforce Needs

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2023)

As the semiconductor industry announces plans to grow domestic production, it is facing a workforce shortage. More

U.S. Attracting FDI From European Manufacturers

Michael Johnson, Shareholder, Baker Donelson and Sebastian Meis, Shareholder, Baker Donelson (Q3 2023)

High energy prices and bureaucracy at home, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain demands are among the factors spurring European companies to expand or relocate operations to the United States. More

E-Commerce and the Struggle Against Space Challenges

Matthew R. Powers, Partner, OnPace Partners  (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

Critical Considerations for Siting an EV Manufacturing Project

Shannon O'Hare, Executive Managing Director, Business Incentives Advisory, Total Workplace, Cushman & Wakefield and Matt Niehoff, Senior Consulting Analyst, Location & Labor Analytics, Cushman & Wakefield (2023 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

The location process for EV and battery projects must take into account proximity to supply chains and markets, availability of skilled labor, ample power and water supplies, financial and other incentives, as well as cooperation between community stakeholders. 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

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 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

Manufacturing and Distribution Trends Impact the Value of Credits and Incentives

Jennifer Clement, Strategic Pursuits Leader, Manufacturing & Distribution, CLA and Patrick Hanlon, Director, Business Incentives Consulting, CLA (Q1 2023)

Credits and incentives are just one consideration among many factors that need to be taken into account as your company begins its location search. More

37th Annual Corporate Survey: Economic Pressures Exerting Greatest Effect on Decision-Makers

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (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

Top-Four Location Considerations for EV Battery Plants

Rob Whitson, Senior Civil Engineer, Gresham Smith (Q1 2023)

Prioritizing needs, identifying unique site constraints, and getting the right people involved from the get-go will ensure the long-term success of your operation. More

Strategies to Overcome Intensifying Industrial Real Estate Challenges

Jacob Everett , Founder, Corsa Strategies (Q1 2023)

Companies facing constraints in the industrial real estate market should build extra time into their site searches and widen their geographic areas of search. More

Reprioritize Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives

Terri McClements, Workforce Transformation Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consulting Leader, PwC (Workforce Q4 2022)

Manufacturers must reprioritize their DEI efforts in order to acquire and retain the best talent, which will lead to enhanced employee performance and increased innovation More

In Focus: The CHIPS Act - A Historic Investment in Our Future

Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (Q4 2022)

By helping to provide a critical domestic supply chain, the CHIPS Act represents a new era of American industrial competitiveness. More

Only the Best Is Good Enough: The LEGO Group Chooses Virginia for U.S. Manufacturing Facility

Virginia Economic Development Partnership (Q4 2022)

The Chesterfield County plant will help the global toy icon fulfill customer demand in the Americas without increasing its carbon footprint. 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

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

Mississippi’s Shovel-Ready Sites Are Open for Business

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2022)

Shovel-ready sites give companies a jump-start in getting their operations up and running, while helping communities quickly create jobs. 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

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

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Blue Star Manufacturing Ramps Up PPE Production in Virginia

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

The establishment of a facility for the production of medical-grade gloves in Virginia is an important step in alleviating supply chain issues with Asian-made products. More

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