[share]For the past 27 years, a leading site and facility planning publication, Area Development, has surveyed corporate decision makers regarding their location and expansion plans. Although not the final word in new facility development, the survey results provide excellent insights into key factors that influence site selection decisions.

Let’s take a look at the Top 26 Site Selection Factors Rankings of 2012:

1. Labor costs
2. Highway accessibility
3. Availability of skilled labor
4. Availability of advanced ICT (Information and Communication Technology) services
5. Occupancy or construction costs

   

6. Energy availability and costs
7. Corporate tax rate
8. Available buildings
9. Tax exemptions
10. Low union profile
11. Right-to-work state
12. Proximity to major markets
13. State and local incentives
14. Environmental regulations
15. Expedited or “fast-track” permitting
16. Inbound/outbound shipping costs
17. Availability of long-term financing
18. Available land
19. Proximity to suppliers
20. Training programs
21. Accessibility to major airport
22. Proximity to technical college/training
23. Raw materials availability
24. Railroad services
25. Availability of unskilled labor
26. Waterway or ocean port accessibility

So what do these rankings mean for our region?

These factors are important in developing the message that GREDF will use to aggressively market the Quincy and Adams County region for new investment. We must capitalize on and communicate our strengths including highway accessibility, available land, proximity to technical college/training and waterway accessibility, among others. According to the survey results, most companies are not planning significant movement to new plant and other facility locations until the later part of 2014/early 2015. This gives GREDF and our region time to research, craft and broadcast our message.

What about our existing businesses?

It is important to recognize that these site selection factors are also key as we continue to grow our business retention and expansion program. Most new investment will come in the form of growth by existing businesses. The companies in Quincy and Adams County are likely facing the same challenges as those corporations surveyed – including uneven growth and a lackluster national economic recovery. GREDF staff needs to be able to provide the support, linkages and potential resources to our existing companies so when they are ready to grow, they decide to stay in our community.

Since starting last Monday I’ve had the opportunity to meet with new friends who are dedicated to the success and future growth of the region. I want to personally thank GREDF Board Chairman, Tim Finlay, the Search Committee and the GREDF Board for this opportunity. My wife Karen and I are excited about becoming a part of a great place to live and work.

During my initial time here, my focus will be on meeting with the public and private leadership and doing a lot of listening. I will strive to integrate my 20 years of experience in economic development into the fabric and future of Quincy. As a development organization, priorities will be on workforce development, retention and growth of existing business, enhancing the ability for entrepreneurs to start and build business and to take the message of the environment for business success to the national and international markets.

Economic development is not an endeavor of a single person or single organization… successful economic development is a collaborative and aggressive process. I am enthusiastic about developing and continuing relationships with community leadership to assist in the overall mission of GREDF.

GREDF has an outstanding staff and I am very excited to be on the development team. To those of you I’ve met, thank you for the warm welcome and to those of you who I’ve yet to meet, I look forward to getting to know you.

Sincerely,

Marcel W. Wagner, Jr., CEcD

P.S. My email is wagnerm@gredf.org or you can reach me at the GREDF office at 217.223.4313. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or members of the staff if we can be of service.