Press Release Site Selection Names 2013 Competitiveness Award Winner, Global Best to Invest Locations, Top Economic Development Groups and Top Deals
Atlanta, May 2, 2014: Site Selection magazine has named the Georgia Department of Economic Development the winner of its Competitiveness Award, which recognizes excellence on the part of a state-level economic development group; its Best to Invest rankings of global countries and metros, which includes the Top U.S. Economic Development Groups of 2013; and the Top Deals of 2013. The Competitiveness Award goes to the state with the most points earned in a 10-factor index based mainly on Site Selection publisher Conway Data Inc.’s New Plant Database of new and expanded facilities. For 2013 performance, Georgia scored 426 points. Tennessee (421), Texas (404), Louisiana (394.5) and North Carolina (371) round out the top five. “This is the second time in six months that Georgia has ranked first in one of our key measures of economic development success, the first being the Top Business Climate for 2013,” says Mark Arend, Editor in Chief of Site Selection. “Our data is objective, and it makes a compelling case for recognizing Georgia’s ability to attract capital investment projects.” “Not only are these rankings a testament to our dedication to improving the state’s business climate, but it also speaks to the commitment and support from our industry partners, communities and the citizens of Georgia,” says Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. Site Selection magazine has also named its Global Best to Invest and top non-state-level economic development groups in the U.S. for 2013. The full list of these designees appears below. Coverage of these awards, as well as the Top Deals of the Year (see below) appears in the May 2014 issue. Web editions of the stories will be posted at SiteSelection.com the first week of May. “This year’s Best to Invest Top Groups in the U.S. all demonstrated an ability to reach new markets while reaping significant reinvestments from their existing industries,” says Ron Starner, general manager and executive vice president of Conway Data Inc. and Site Selection magazine, who authored the Top Groups report. “Energy and advanced manufacturing projects dominated the activity in these communities, but several groups also recorded big wins in life sciences, automotive manufacturing and data centers.” Local economic development groups were first ranked according to four objective categories: new jobs, new jobs per 10,000 residents, new investment amount and new investment per 10,000 residents. Then they were scrutinized for more subjective attributes, among them innovation, leadership and customer service. The Top Deals of 2013 (see lists below) were determined by level of capital investment, degree of high-value jobs, creativity in negotiations and incentives, regional economic impact, competition for the project and speed to market. “Trends among this elite group of projects include a penchant for free trade zones and an awareness that sometimes facility reuse is as good as brand new,” says Adam Bruns, managing editor, noting that the Top Deals once again seem to fall mostly in the US South and in the southern hemisphere. “These deals show the power of investing for the long haul, and appear poised to help both companies and communities prosper.” Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc. since 1954, delivers expansion planning information to 48,000 subscribers, many of them employed by fast-growing firms. Site Selection is also available via online (www.siteselection.com). Site Selection’s growing family of e-newsletters includes the weekly Site Selection Dispatch; The Site Selection Energy Report, The Site Selection Life Sciences Report and Site Selection International (monthlies); The Site Selection Aerospace Report (bimonthly); and The FDI Report from Red Hot Locations. Conway Data is an international publishing, consulting, association management and events company headquartered in Atlanta. The firm manages the Industrial Asset Management Council, the leading association of industrial asset management and corporate real estate executives, their suppliers and service providers and economic developers. Conway Data also owns and manages London-based Red Hot Locations, an events firm focused on foreign direct investment and global corporate location trends; Berlin, Germany-based Terrain Global, a site selection consulting firm specializing in foreign direct investment; and New York–based The PONT Group, an international public relations and marketing agency specializing in economic development, inward investment, trade and macro-tourism. Global Best to Invest Western Europe Eastern Europe Africa & Middle East Latin America Asia-Pacific Best to Invest Top U.S. Groups of 2013 Best to Invest U.S. Honorable Mention Groups of 2013 Best to Invest Top Micropolitan Groups of 2013: Top North American Deals of 2013 (in alphabetical order by company) North American Honorable Mention Top International Deals of 2012 International Honorable Mention
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