The Pinnacle of the Profession: Top 10 Development Groups

W
hen you want results, you go to the top.

That?s what site-seeking companies like Compaq Computer, Dana Corp., Georgia Pacific and IBM did last year. They sought location expertise from the pinnacle of the development profession: Site Selection?s 1997 top development groups. In forging that site-seeking partnership, those firms found competitive sites from Upstate New York to Florida to Oklahoma.

Taking those groups to the top are the same qualities that bring business success: detailed planning and research, strong customer focus, good teamwork and an intense, competitive desire to win.

And win they did. This year?s group of 10 top development organizations attracted an average of US$490 million in corporate capital investments and 7,200 new jobs in 1997.

To evaluate the many nominations received this year for the top development groups honor, Site Selection weighed new corporate capital investments and new jobs, plus per-capita capital investment and per-capita jobs. The per-capita measures were utilized to provide a balanced perspective on the success of development organizations serving smaller service areas, such as a single city or county.

We also reviewed each nomination for evidence of new, value-adding services and programs to benefit both prospective new companies and existing firms, as well as economic development leadership, cooperation, innovation and creativity.

Here, then, are the 10 organizations that reached the zenith of the profession: Site Selection?s 1997 top development groups.

Bryan-College Station Economic Development Corp., Bryan, Texas

Community Development Foundation, Tupelo, Miss.

Empire State Development, New York

Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma City

Greater Richmond Partnership, Richmond, Va.

Greater Washington Initiative, Washington, D.C.

Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Orlando, Fla.

Michigan Jobs Commission, Lansing, Mich.

St. Louis Regional Commerce & Growth Association, St. Louis

Tri-County Economic Development Corp., Covington, Ky.

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