How to Spot a Community That’s Ready for Your Investment

As a site selector, I have seen promising projects fail, not due to any one major factor, but because communities weren’t truly aligned and ready to solve problems that come with large industrial projects. Communities are not just the ZIP codes where we invest capital; they are our workforce, regulators, business development partners, and advocates. In today’s hypercompetitive environment where project timelines are shorter, incentives are more complex, and workforce issues are top of mind, choosing the right site is only half the battle. Choosing the right community partner can mean the difference between a thriving investment and a stalled, costly disappointment. Having a true community partner can help a facility weather storms (literal and physical), solve problems, and continue growth. Comparatively, a community not equipped to handle your project could break your investment. The good news is there are clear red flags and green flags that help you separate the real partners from the pretenders. Here’s how I separate the real community partners from the community pretenders before making my recommendations to my clients.

Pretenders Have Questions, Partners Have Answers
“So where exactly is the water line?” an executive asks matter-of-factly while looking over a site map. Expecting a simple answer, the executive is surprised to hear, “We’ll have to get back to you on that,” from the local economic developer. The development representative continues, “We are pretty sure it is roughly within a given area,” while drawing an imaginary circle around a field. When you hear comments like these, they are telltale signs you are dealing with a pretender. For communities, your site visit is their Super Bowl. This response shows that they did not go through the game plan or perform due diligence to educate themselves. If they don’t value you now, will they when your facility is operational?

Click here to read the original article from Area Development.