Building successful special economic zones (SEZs) is extremely difficult, writes exclusive contributor Thibault Serlet in the first in a forthcoming print and online series on free zones. It’s a good time, he says, for those zones to become as well known for e-government as they are for tax incentives.
After introductions to the City of Riverside and UC-Riverside from County of Riverside Office of Economic Development, global vehicle innovators Ohmio (from New Zealand) and Voltu Motor (from Argentina) have set up shop in the county. They’re just part of this Inland Empire success story.
At 53 stories tall, the future Salesforce Tower Sydney will be located in Sydney’s iconic Circular Quay. The company ranks No. 1 in a new scorecard examining corporate collaboration with startups.
Photo courtesy of Salesforce
Yesterday, StartupBlink, creators of the Global Startup Ecosystem Index that in turn forms part of Site Selection’s annual index each July, unveiled a new index even more directly relevant to major corporations looking to light that entrepreneurial spark. The Corporate Startup Activity Index 2025 ranks 372 corporations across 30 countries, 11 major industries and 10 sub-industries, offering, the organization says, “the most comprehensive snapshot to date of corporate-startup collaboration worldwide.”
Salesforce, Intel and Google top the rankings, followed by Qualcomm, Comcast and Microsoft. Fourteen of the top 20 are based in the United States, with the highest-ranked non-U.S. companies No. 8 Samsung of South Korea and No. 11 Telefonica of Spain.
The newest Salesforce tower in Sydney, Australia, will join a family of Salesforce towers in such well known entrepreneurial cities as Chicago, Atlanta, Dublin, New York, Indianapolis, London and its hometown of San Francisco. Watch for a more precise geographic breakdown, on-the-ground reporting from the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Indianapolis and exclusive data insights on which of these corporations are the most active facility investors in the July issue of Site Selection. (Want to place your organization’s advertising message in the July issue or the imminent May issue? Click here.)
Find a bright future for your company in Wisconsin. Our state offers a business-friendly environment, invaluable climate resilience, and a highly skilled—and growing—workforce. It’s a safe and exciting place to invest and grow
An environment for success.
Well-developed infrastructure and thriving industry ecosystems for biohealth; manufacturing; food and beverage; and more
A stable, low-tax, low-regulation, business-friendly location near Chicago and Minneapolis
Leading climate resiliency.
Nationally ranked in the Lowest Climate Vulnerability on the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index
Direct access to 20% of the earth’s freshwater
An enviable workforce.
An education system ranked 5th in the nation
Net migration outpacing the rest of the Midwest
Thriving neighbors.
Microsoft, Eli Lilly, and more are establishing presences in Wisconsin, joining names like Generac, Fiserv, and Kikkoman who are already thriving here
Wisconsin has the momentum and environment to help you advance your company vision. Let’s look forward, together.
Georgia-Pacific in September announced plans to transform its iconic 51-story world headquarters in Atlanta and the surrounding city block “into a dynamic mix of residential living, modern office spaces, retail, restaurants and a landscaped central plaza for gathering.” The project, scheduled for completion in 2027, “reaffirms Georgia-Pacific’s commitment to the future of downtown Atlanta and promises to set a new standard for adaptive reuse.”
Rendering courtesy of Georgia-Pacific
NAIOP last week broadcast a message noting the organization’s instrumental role in developing the bipartisan Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act to incentivize the conversion of existing vacant and underutilized commercial properties into new housing. The measure was reintroduced by U.S. Reps. Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34). It includes:
A 20% tax credit for expenses incurred during the conversion of an eligible underutilized or vacant commercial property that is older than 20 years and is capable of being repurposed for residential use.
Affordable housing for those with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income designated for 20% of converted residential units.
Additional incentives for rural and economically distressed areas to ensure that all communities can benefit from the legislation.
The ability to combine existing historic tax credits and other incentives offered by municipalities and states.
Those frustrated by the persistence of winter but hopeful nevertheless will identify with this photo made by Site Selection Publisher Laura Lyne this week near her home in Montana. As she describes it, the image captures “the green of the coming spring, and the snow of the winter that’s dragging its feet getting out.”
