ust as I thought would happen, the hubbub surrounding the issue of U.S. companies locating facilities abroad diminished markedly following the November 2004 general election. It turns out that even though corporations do site plants where it is most cost effective to do so — which frequently means outside the U.S. — plenty of them […]

ncertainty is the enemy of healthy markets. This observation has been confirmed by a controversial Federal court ruling that a broad range of economic-development incentives are unconstitutional. That ruling was issued in October 2004 by a three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Ohio, and, to the surprise of many, the full […]

From Site Selection magazine, May 2005 WORLD REPORTS Middle East Outlook Infrastructure, Research Parks, LNG Plants Among New Projects The incessant turmoil of the Middle East notwithstanding, the region is the scene of many planned major investments that bode well for its economic future. These include historic infrastructure projects, major research parks and a number […]

Dear IAMC Members and Prospective Members,      The core purpose of IAMC is to help members stay on the cutting edge in times of dramatic change. The recently concluded IAMC Spring Professional Forum in Charleston, S.C., was a tremendous reputation builder in that regard, and revealed our sound platform for delivering that level of […]

eographic information systems (GIS) are playing an increasingly integral role in the world of economic development and corporate real estate. Information technology heavyweight Dell Inc. came to appreciate the value of GIS during its 2004 site search for a new customer service center. Dell eventually chose a 60-acre (24-hectare) site in Oklahoma City for a […]

overnors are naturally proud of big economic development wins for their states, and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley is no exception. When MeadWestvaco announced in September 2004 a US$10-million expansion in rural Lanett, on the Alabama-Georgia border, Riley noted, “What makes this expansion even better is knowing that this plant won the competition for these [55] […]

orporate America continues to enjoy Southern hospitality, as evidenced by Site Selection‘s Top Economic Development Groups of 2004.       While this year’s battle for a top group honor was closer than ever, one trend shows no sign of ebbing: When it comes to competing for jobs and capital investment, the region that frequently […]

n December 22, 2004, Dell Inc. and North Carolina officials were gathering at a podium in Winston-Salem to announce the company’s investment of more than $100 million in a new assembly plant. State transportation workers at that moment were on the ground at Alliance Science and Technology Park staking rights-of-way for the project, in preparation […]

he projects considered for Site Selection‘s Top Deals of 2004 ranged far and wide. So did the innovation and creativity behind them.       As always, we started from objective jobs and investment data: total capital investment and number of jobs created. Then we took into account regional economic impact, value of jobs created, […]

ncreasing focus on core competencies is far more than just a pie-in-the-sky ideal for corporations today. A firm’s core business must always be its primary concern for survival in today’s often harsh economic environment. So, frequently, companies seek ways in which to Michael Naughton, executive vice president of New York, N.Y.-based U.S. Realty Advisors free […]

orporate site selectors have known for years that the presence of a major research university can be a determining factor in choosing a business location. The American Electronics Association calls university-related research and development the second most important site selection factor, behind access to capital, for a high-tech company.       However, only recently […]

orporate real estate executives know what they want in a service provider: a listening ear, a capable team and a commitment to deliver on the project.       Two long-time service providers who have worked with hundreds of national clients say that these three qualities are essential to providing superior service to a corporate […]