< Previous146 MAY 2025 SITE SELECTION ground on the $ million expansion of its Owensboro facility, an investment that’s set to create new jobs for Kentucky residents. e expansion adds approximately , sq. ft. to the plant, bringing the total to nearly million sq. ft. of operational space. e upgrades will support infrastructure improvements, new manufacturing lines, machinery and equipment, IT enhancements and warehousing space. For the fi rst time, the Owensboro plant will produce Holland House cooking wines, Mizkan Asian sauces and vinegars, and Nakano rice vinegar, products that strengthen Mizkan’s position as a leader in the liquid condiment category. “Our factory in Owensboro has been in business for almost years and currently makes around million jars of pasta sauce every day,” said Koichi Yuki, CEO of Mizkan America. “Our Owensboro team has been a huge contributor to Mizkan America’s growth and success over the years. We really believe that the future for our business is bright in Owensboro, and we feel privileged to be part of this wonderful community.” As with Earth Breeze, that community commitment extends far beyond the production fl oor. Over the From the very beginning, the state has demonstrated a clear commitment to fostering growth and innovation, helping us navigate every step with care and effi ciency.” — Ben Smith , COO, Earth Breeze From the very beginning, the SITE SELECTION MAY 2025 147 years, Mizkan America has supported local organizations like the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club (named for the University of Kentucky hoops legend born in Owensboro). Mizkan also has supported events including the GRADSA Buddy Walk and Night to Shine. e company has also provided food donations to God’s Outreach, helping to fi ght hunger at the local level. And through the Ragú brand, made right in Owensboro, Mizkan has partnered with Lasagna Love, an international nonprofi t that helps combat food insecurity, to celebrate National Lasagna Day. “Mizkan has been an invaluable asset to our community,” said Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson, “providing a positive work environment and off ering countless opportunities for their dedicated employees to build a future and support their families. We are incredibly proud to have them as a part of our community.” Both Mizkan and Earth Breeze are proving that the state’s future is more than products rolling off assembly lines. It’s about building relationships, strengthening communities and leaving a legacy that lasts far beyond the products themselves. From its production facility in Paducah, Kentucky, Dippin’ Dots distributes its unique frozen products in all 50 states and 7 countries. Image courtesy of Dippin’ DotsAcienihiSTATE SPOTLIGHT 148 MAY 2025 SITE SELECTION BY THE NUMBERS IOWA Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s: $1,029,549 Number of NCRCs: 138,657 | Percent Improved 2023–24: 1.67% Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: +13 Industrial power cost per kWh: $6.91 Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-22: 104.88% 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.52 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Alliant Energy Corp. / QTS Realty Trust Cedar Rapids 750 International Paper Co. Waterloo 260 Danisco US / Int’l Flavors & Fragrances Cedar Rapids 68 Acadia Healthcare Co. Council Bluff s 65 Amazon Mason City 50 Source: Conway Projects Database D ata center exploration in Iowa’s capital city region dates back to the early s, as developers were on the hunt for locations within a safe zone with reliable, low-cost electricity, cool climates and a data-center-friendly tax environment. ey found just that. Two decades later, these advantages continue to vivify a thriving hyperscale data center market, spearheaded by Apple, Meta and, most notably, Microsoft. e presence of these corporate giants has been pivotal in preparing the region’s workforce. “ e types of jobs at data centers are electrical, mechanical, networking, computer and systems engineers and technicians and other hardware/ equipment type positions,” says Greater Des Moines Partnership Senior Vice President of Economic Development Stacie LoVan. “Data centers have raised awareness for these positions, which are also found in other industries in our area. Having these companies here also helps put us on the map as a great place to work at a tech company.” e next generation of data centers knows how to read that map. In March , sustainable infrastructure company Endeavour’s subsidiary Edged Data Centers announced that it would be the region’s latest arrival. About minutes north of Des Moines, Edged has plans to deliver a ,-sq.-ft. data center on . acres located in the city of Ankeny. e $ million, .-megawatt facility will be designed for high-density AI workloads and built with sustainability in mind. “ e Des Moines region’s strategic by ALEXIS ELMORE alexis.elmore@siteselection.com Future-focused investments advance regional tech industry strengths. DATA CENTER CENTRAL IOWA Photo: Getty Images SITE SELECTION MAY 2025 149 EMPLOYS 37,285 RESIDENTS IN HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES HAS A COST OF DOING BUSINESS 12% LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE PRODUCES 55% OF ITS ELECTRICITY FROM WIND POWER. location near the center of the U.S. with high-speed connections from coast to coast was a big draw for us,” an Edged Data Centers spokesperson tells Site Selection. “In addition, the region boasts abundant, reliable and affordable power, a highly skilled workforce and exceptional fiber connectivity — all critically important factors for us when we consider where to build.” Construction is slated to begin in the latter half of 2025 with completion expected in 2027. The Ankeny project follows a number of recent data center openings for Edged in locations such as Atlanta, Georgia; Kansas City, Missouri; Irving, Texas; and Aurora, Illinois. “We are always looking for new locations for our rapidly expanding portfolio of ultra- efficient, AI-ready data centers,” says Edged. “The city of Ankeny specifically stood out for its commitment to sustainable infrastructure and business-friendly approach. Our hope is to continue building in Iowa for all the reasons we mentioned before — power availability, fiber connectivity, skilled workforce. We are part of the community and here to stay.” LoVan notes two major benefits of the project’s arrival, the first being that it will expand the tax base in Ankeny. In addition, the data center’s focus on AI builds upon the region’s legacy as the birthplace of ChatGPT, housing Microsoft’s Azure supercomputer built for OpenAI. “We are also excited about their focus on sustainability and using technology to reduce water and electricity consumption,” says LoVan. Greater Des Moines supports a workforce of nearly 37,300 employees within its high-tech ecosystem. Market intelligence and advisory firm Baxtel ranked the region as the ninth largest U.S. data center market, housing over 50 data centers and counting. With Meta’s $2.5 billion, 5-million-sq.-ft.-plus data center campus expansion in Altoona set to be complete in 2025, while Apple’s $1.4 billion, 400,000-sq.-ft. data center in Waukee is underway, it’s clear central Iowa is primed for critical tech development. “Iowa and Greater Des Moines are well- recognized as data center locations. Like in so many areas, our region fights above its weight with much larger metros on these projects,” says LoVan. “We will continue to see data center growth in the region.” Running the Rapids About 113 miles northeast of Ankeny, the City of Cedar Rapids, Alliant Energy and digital infrastructure company QTS introduced a new data center development just weeks before Edged Data Centers’ arrival. News of the project first broke in September 2024 as the Cedar Rapid City Council approved a number of tax breaks toward the development, such as a 20-year property tax rebate. At the time, the company’s identity was unknown. Ultimately securing a 612-acre site at Alliant Energy’s 1,391-acre Big Cedar Industrial Center, QTS’ $750 million project marks the city’s largest economic development project investment to date. The site will join Google’s previously announced $576 million data center at the Big Cedar Industrial Center, which is expected to become operational in 2026. The QTS investment will create an initial 30 new jobs over the first two phases, although the company notes this number has the potential to grow down the line. Once construction activity is underway, QTS has committed to providing $18 million over the course of 20 years to the city’s Community Betterment Fund. “This data center campus strengthens our position as a center for emerging technology,” said Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz, “demonstrating the value of our ongoing efforts to build out diverse industry clusters and ensure Cedar Rapids remains innovative, sustainable and future-ready.” GREATER DES MOINES150 MAY 2025 SITE SELECTION A s the U.S. government imposed some tariffs on Canada in early March, reports circulated that Hydro-Québec, the powerful Canadian utility, had stopped exporting electricity to New England. But correlation can be misinterpreted as causation. Conclusions can be misguided. And perception can misconstrue reality. “It’s important to note that we are still exporting energy towards New England in order to meet certain contract obligations,” Hydro-Québec Senior Communications Advisor Lynn St-Laurent says in an email to Site Selection. “Generally speaking, however, our current stance in the market is driven by warmer temperatures and lower prices, as well as the proactive management of our energy reserves. It is not political.” ISO New England, the independent, not-for-profit corporation responsible for the reliable operation of New England’s electric power generation and transmission system, confirms as much and offers further details. “Import levels from Canada have fluctuated in recent days, but this is not unexpected this time of year, when consumer demand and prices are lower,” writes ISO New England Senior Communications Specialist Mary Cate Colapietro. In fact, recent power flows have sometimes been in the opposite direction. “Though once rare, it has become more common in the past year or so for New England to export electricity to Québec as they deal with drought conditions and make strategic decisions regarding their water supply,” Colapietro says. “To provide some historical context, in 2024, Canadian imports met about 5% of New England demand, down from roughly 11% in 2023. This decline was largely attributed to drought conditions in Canada.” Indeed, the ISO’s fall 2024 markets report said energy supply from hydro resources overall decreased by approximately 40% relative to the prior fall season as a result of extended drought conditions in the region. Meanwhile, a planned nuclear generator outage in New Brunswick also meant lower electricity imports from Canada last fall, with New England actually exporting an average of 249 megawatts (MW) per hour to New Brunswick. Most important for industrial end users today: System reliability has not been affected. “The system has been reliable throughout March as well as April,” Colapietro states. “We had surpluses in line with this time of year, and the system remained in normal operating conditions throughout the month.” The Ties That Bind New England has 13 total interconnections to neighboring power systems either across state lines or across the U.S.-Canada border. But the power of Canada’s influence is always there. Case in point: The Cross Sound Cable between Connecticut and Long Island was developed more than 20 years ago by none other than TransÉnergie U.S., a subsidiary of Hydro- Québec. Hydro-Québec has been selling electricity into New England since the 1980s. Further reassurance for power users today comes in the form of new interties in development. Hydro- Québec’s Lynn St-Laurent confirms the utility “is pursuing construction of the new interties which will deliver energy under the Massachusetts and New York contracts.” The New England Clean Energy Connect that runs through Maine and will connect to the New England grid through Lewiston, Maine, will serve the contract with Massachusetts and is expected to be in service by December 2025. The Champlain Hudson Power Express, which will serve the New York contract, is expected to be in service by May 2026. The imported power will be welcome. According to an outlook report from ISO New England, “Over the next 15 years, the region needs to add almost twice as much new generation as it added in the last 25 years,” and offshore wind can only do so much. Moreover, an estimated $620 million to $1 billion in transmission reliability investment will be needed each year through 2050 to support the clean energy transition, the organization says. “By the early 2030s,” says the report, “the annual energy needed to heat buildings and charge electric vehicles is expected to grow to more than 20 times the forecast for 2024. The growth over the next decade is just the beginning.” by ADAM BRUNS adam.bruns@siteselection.com Just like interconnections to neighboring states, electrical power interties to Canada continue to serve the region. The Ties That Bind NEW ENGLAND SITE SELECTION MAY 2025 151 This geographical transmission system map from ISO New England shows the transmission lines, facilities and generators that are currently interconnected to the system and planned. Map courtesy of ISO New EnglandGrand Junction Rides the W hat’s the best way to follow a record-breaking year for economic development? For Grand Junction, Colorado, it was to ink an all-time job- creating deal. In February, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP), in conjunction with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and the Global Business Division of the Colorado Offi ce of Economic Development and International Trade, announced that Tennessee-based Morgan Mining will bring close to jobs to the town of , on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. e new jobs will pay an average of $,, well above the average salary of surrounding Mesa County. “To say it’s a historic win is really an understatement,” GJEP Executive Director Curtis Englehart told Site Selection in March. “When you look at jobs at the salaries they’re talking about, the economic impact for us is just huge. It’s why we’re really optimistic about .” Engelhart describes Morgan as a specialized mining services company. “ ey do everything from mining equipment repair to contract work for mines all over the nation,” he says. “ ey can supply the specialized staff to go out, complete the job and then come back. ey will also be hiring engineers and mechanics and leadership staff .” Offi cials in Colorado and Mesa County had to persuade Morgan that expanding to Grand Junction was a better option than doing so at the company’s current headquarters in by GARY DAUGHTERS gary.daughters@siteselection.com Colorado STATE SPOTLIGHT Workforce and way of life propel a town in Western Colorado. BY THE NUMBERS COLORADO Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s: 1,988,403 Number of NCRCs: 51,298 | Percent Improved 2023–24: 24.31% Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: -5 Industrial power cost per kWh: $8.50 Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-22: 102.14% 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 0.93 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Philip Morris International / Swedish Match AB Aurora 600 Corden Pharma Colorado / Corden Pharma Intl. GmbHBoulder 500 Target Corp. Thornton 231 PDB Sports Denver 175 Elevate Quantum Arvada 127 Source: Conway Projects Database Grand Junction, Colorado Photo: Getty Images/raclro 152 MAY 2025 SITE SELECTION Momentum Momentum SITE SELECTION MAY 2025 153 Knoxville, Tennessee. Helping to tip the scales, the Colorado Economic Development Commission approved a Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit totaling more than $ million. “ ey’re really pleased with what we off er from a workforce perspective and a community perspective, as well,” Englehart says. For the Record Released in late March, GJEP’s Annual Report detailed nine business relocations and expansions projected to deliver a record $ million in total economic impact for the months ending in January. at’s nine times the impact of just two years ago and close to double Grand Junction’s total for . Top investments included a $ million Amazon distribution facility and the headquarters relocation of outdoor equipment company Goose Gear, formerly based in California, which will create about jobs. What accounts for the surge of growth? “Historically,” says Englehart, “the Grand Junction area has been a heavy oil and gas industry [region]. But over the last to years, we’ve seen really great diversifi cation across the board. We see a lot of growth in health care, aerospace and aviation. e outdoor industry has been a huge driver for us, and general manufacturing, as well. “We are centrally located between Salt Lake City and Denver, so you can get to either in three-and-a-half to four hours, which really helps from a freight distribution standpoint,” he says. “We have a very robust workforce, and we’re home to Colorado Mesa University, one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. From a quality-of-life perspective, the possibilities here are endless. And we’re small enough that you can pick up the phone or have lunch with the city council members or county commissioners or the president of the university, but then we have a lot of urban benefi ts, as well.” In a further boon to Mesa County, a public-private partnership between the City of Grand Junction and its Downtown Development Authority continues to develop a former Superfund site on the Colorado River that was ceded to Grand Junction by the federal government. e -acre Riverfront at Las Colonias includes abundant greenspace, ponds, cultural spaces and a high-end amphitheater. On acres of Las Colonias, GJEP is developing a business park whose anchor tenant, Oak Star Bank, broke ground in September on a ,-sq.- ft. facility that’s to feature a restaurant, retail and Class A offi ce space. “We have fi ve shovel-ready sites at the park that are ready to go. It’s very incentivized,” says Englehart, “to spur economic growth in that area.” Boulder Wins the Big One Grand Junction isn’t the only town in Colorado with great cause to celebrate. In a highly awaited announcement delivered on March , the storied Sundance Film Festival unveiled picturesque Boulder as its new home, beginning in . e festival has run for years in Park City, Utah, where it delivered an economic impact in of $ million with an estimated , jobs and $ million in wages. Six cities competed to be the festival’s new site, with Boulder, Salt Lake City and Cincinnati being named as fi nalists. “Boulder is an art town, tech town, mountain town, and college town,” said Sundance Institute Acting CEO Amanda Kelso. “It is a place where the Festival can build and fl ourish. is is the beginning of a bold, new journey as we invite everyone to be part of our community and to be entertained and inspired. We can’t imagine a better fi t than Boulder.” In a statement, the Sundance Institute said that “the heart of the festival” will occur in downtown Boulder, utilizing a wide array of theaters and venues and public spaces around the pedestrian-only Pearl Street Mall. Parts of the University of Colorado Boulder campus will be activated as well. e festival plans to work with the Boulder host committee, it said, to enhance infrastructure and accommodations. e selection of Boulder followed a meticulous, year-long process that included a request for information on locations, request for proposals, meetings and site visits. “Boulder’s welcoming environment,” the festival determined, “aligns with the ethos the Sundance Film Festival developed in Park City — growing with a community rooted in independent thought, artistic exploration and social impact. e city’s convergence of arts, technology, music, food, entrepreneurship and education presents unique and exciting programming opportunities for future iterations of the Festival.” “As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival,” said Sundance Institute President and Founder Robert Redford in a statement. “ is move will ensure that the Festival continues its work of risk taking, supporting innovative storytellers, fostering independence, and entertaining and enlightening audiences. I am grateful to the Boulder community for its support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the Festival there.” We’re seeing arguably the best economy we’ve had in in Mesa County in quite some time.” — Curtis Englehart , GJEP Executive Director nomic growth in that area.” We’re seeing ion ose C ompanies with states’ economic outlooks high on their list of location criteria will want to take a closer look at Utah. It just claimed fi rst place on the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) th annual “Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laff er State Economic Competitiveness Index” — for the th consecutive year. e report is co-authored by Reagan economist Dr. Arthur B. Laff er, policy expert Stephen Moore and ALEC President and Chief Economist Jonathan Williams. e Index is based on equally weighted state policy variables: highest marginal personal income tax rate, highest marginal corporate income tax rate, personal income tax progressivity, property tax burden, sales tax burden, remaining tax burden, estate or inheritance tax, recently legislated tax changes, debt service as a share of tax revenue, public employees per , residents, state liability system costs, state minimum wage, workers’ compensation costs, right-to-work status and tax and expenditure limits. “Each of these factors is infl uenced directly by state lawmakers through the legislative process,” the report explains. “Generally speaking, states that spend less — especially on income transfer by MARK AREND mark.arend@siteselection.com Utah STATE SPOTLIGHT BY THE NUMBERS UTAH Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s: 1,115,929 Number of NCRCs: 4,264 | Percent Improved 2023–24: 0.07% Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: -8 Industrial power cost per kWh: $6.99 Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-22: 112.26% 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: .86 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Nucor Corp. Brigham City 200 CleanJoule Salt Lake City 150 Oxeon Energy North Salt Lake 99 UFP Site Built Tooele Cnty. 66 Utah Flour Milling Cache Cnty. 57 Source: Conway Projects Database 154 MAY 2025 SITE SELECTION State Policies Keep Delivering the Goods Governor Spencer Cox announces Utah’s top ranking in the “Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laff er State Economic Competitiveness Index” on April 16 at the Governor’s Mansion. Image courtesy of the Utah State Offi ce of the Governor SITE SELECTION MAY 2025 155 programs — and states that tax less — particularly on productive activities such as working or investing — experience higher growth rates than states that tax and spend more.” ‘Model for Competitiveness’ ALEC’s April th press release announcing the ranking says Utah’s sustained success is no accident: “Utah’s leaders have consistently championed pro-taxpayer reforms, from enacting fl at personal and corporate income taxes to eliminating estate and death taxes. eir forward-thinking approach to property tax reform has further cemented Utah’s reputation as a national model for economic competitiveness and opportunity.” Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams had this take on his state’s performance on the Index: “Utah’s consistent top ranking is a testament to the principles that have guided our state for nearly two decades —l ow taxes, responsible spending and policies that foster innovation and opportunity. But this isn’t just about rankings; it’s real people and real opportunities. A thriving economy means more jobs, better wages and a higher quality of life for all Utahns.” “Rich States, Poor States ” also includes a -state Economic Performance Ranking for to based on three variables: state gross domestic product, absolute domestic migration and non-farm payroll employment. Utah places third nationally in that ranking. Meanwhile, personal fi nance company WalletHub in April released its ranking of its Best Small Cities for Starting a Business. ree Utah cities made the top fi ve: St. George places fi rst; Cedar City, third; and Washington, fourth. Midvale weighs in at No. . e ranking is based on metrics in three categories: business environment, access to resources and business costs. Incentives Back Expansions A post-performance tax reduction awarded by the Governor’s Offi ce of Economic Opportunity is behind several recently announced Beehive State projects. UFP Site Built, a manufacturer of building materials, is using the incentive, part of Utah’s Rural Economic Development Tax Increment Financing program, to invest nearly $ million in Tooele County, where it will create new jobs. e company is projected to see a % tax reduction over years, thanks to the incentive. For companies locating in more populated areas, Utah’s Economic Development Tax Increment Financing program is often a factor. Coast, a fi nancial services platform for fl eet administrators, is investing $. million over the next years to expand in Salt Lake County. It’s forecast to see a % EDTIF tax credit over that time. Utah’s consistent top ranking is a testament to the principles that have guided our state for nearly two decades — low taxes, responsible spending and policies that foster innovation and opportunity.” — Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams Utah’s consistent top ranking is Next >