Economic Development

Economic Development Services

Helping developers, cities, states and countries bring to market a project or locale is similar to representing a seller in a real estate transaction. The seller (or economic development entity) wants to entice qualified people to view their property and make a positive decision. We can help...

We understand that there is a great need to emphasize the site location attributes to prospective "buyers", however, our real expertise is in understanding all the nuisances of the project - property and professionally marketing those features and benefits. We are able to "get the message out" via our offices and consultant relationships in 41 cities across the United States and 18 internationally.

Some of our economic development representation success is directly attributable to our GAIN (Grants, Abatements, Incentives – Negotiations) program being exclusively endorsed by so many industry associations. The associations that endorse GAIN have over 120,000 companies as members. Being able to reach out to 120,000 corporate entities provides our clients with an invaluable forum to introduce their properties and projects. A list of industry Associations that endorse and promote our GAIN services is noted below:

Each member of our team (providing Economic Development services) has a minimum of 20 years experience in this field. Prior Economic Development engagements include:

• Performed Certified Sites program for the State of Oklahoma, evaluating over 200 potential sites and prepared certifications for 20 available sites for new corporate development.
• Conducted target industry analysis for the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. Evaluated western and central Kentucky, conducted labor study, recommended industry targets by region.
• Prepared industry profile of the back office industry for Louisville, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Project included description of customer service and administrative office functions, estimate of market potential and recommended marketing processes and plans.
• Project manager for Illinois Power Company on multi-county economic development study. Evaluated community benefits and liabilities, recommended remedial actions, and prepared six target industry profiles which were used successfully in company's marketing efforts
• Conducted economic development study for Memphis, Tennessee. One-year assignment included evaluation of strengths and weaknesses, selection of industry targets, and development of marketing plan for Memphis Chamber of Commerce.
• Conducted back office location study for Joplin, Missouri. Evaluated locational benefits and weaknesses, made remedial recommendations, suggested targeted industries, and developed marketing program.
• Project manager for aerospace study of San Antonio, Texas on behalf of the City of San Antonio Department of Economic Development.
• Conducted skills survey for McHenry County, Illinois commuter population. Results of this survey were used, in part, to convince Motorola to locate a 3,000 employee cellular telephone manufacturing plant in Harvard, Illinois.
• Project manager for economic development study of Rockford, Illinois. Project included analysis of locational benefits and liabilities, remedial actions, and target industry studies. As a result of this study Rockford was able to attract thousands of new jobs and solve a chronic unemployment problem.
• Conducted major study for the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs with regard to the environmental technologies industry. Project included defining industry, evaluating state programs affecting industry and making recommendations to enhance development of this industry. As a result of this study, the industry in the State of Illinois is one of the fastest growing in the county.
• Provided economic development consulting services to the Mid-South Common Market in Mississippi, including identification of target industries, key market identification, and target companies.
• Provided economic development services to Plumas County, California, including evaluation of location benefits and liabilities, selection of target industries and recommended marketing plan.
• Had primary responsibility for major study of the industrial development potential of the City of Sacramento.
• Project manager for a major study of rural location potential for the State of Utah. Project included evaluation of locational benefits of rural Utah, recommendation of target industries, preparation of industry profiles and marketing recommendations.

Because we also represent companies seeking new locations, we fully understand the issues of importance to them. This experience has enabled us to have a unique and long term economic development business cycle perspective. Some of our site selection engagements are noted below:

• Negotiated incentive package and coordinated site selection study for Sears Logistics Services in Delano, California for the expansion of Sears 1.25 million square foot Retail Replenishment Facility. Obtained $4.8 million package of incentives on behalf of Sears, including 147 acres of land valued at $3.1 million for $1 per acre.
• Negotiated incentives from the State of California and the City of San Diego on behalf of Cox Communications for the establishment of a centralized video hub facility to service the new Cox@Home internet cable modem service.
• Evaluated 14 major metropolitan areas on behalf of a Heinz Pet Products for the relocation of its 75,000 square foot headquarters operation. Performed on-site field investigation of two finalist communities, Dallas and Cincinnati, in order to determine which offered optimal operating conditions for headquarters operation.
• Negotiated incentives on behalf of Bank of America for the re-occupancy and conversion of its 640,000 square foot facility in Brea, California from a formerly unoccupied data center to a fully occupied loan processing and administrative center. Prepared economic impact analysis, negotiated with city redevelopment agency and recommended strategy to senior management.
• Assisted Carnation Company with the consolidation of its distribution facilities in both Northern and Southern California. Developed computer-based model of Carnation Dairies distribution patterns. Recommended optimal configuration of distribution facilities based on current and project market demand.
• Conducted preliminary site selection study for Kinko's corporate headquarters. Assisted with the evaluation of sites, development of criteria, and strategic positioning for incentives negotiations.
• Conducted site selection study for Shell Oil for a Ghosting Facility, which is to be sited on the Atlantic Basin in order to product 1,000 foot long legs for off-shore oil rigs. This project contains one of the two plants of this type in the world.
• Conducted site selection study for Sherwin-Williams' new 750,000 square foot, H3 distribution facility in Sparks, Nevada. Evaluated alternative locations, negotiated incentive package, and recommended sites to corporate management.
• Conducted site selection study for Columbia/HCA on behalf of ERS in Los Angeles, California for a major call and administrative center. Evaluated multi-state search zone, conducted labor market studies in finalist locations, negotiated state and local incentives in Bedford, Texas and White Settlement, Texas.
• Provided TRW with advice related to relocation of certain classified facilities from California, including evaluation of alternative locations.
• Assisted Connecticut General Insurance (now CIGNA) in relocating several claims processing facilities in California and Florida. Established successful operations in Visalia, California and Fresno, California.
• Lead site selection study for Standard Homeopathic in the selection of Gardenia, California as the site for its consolidated manufacturing and distribution facilities. Retained over 100 jobs in Southern California.
• Conducted site selection studies and incentives negotiations for RSI Home Products new kitchen cabinet manufacturing facility on the West Coast of the United States.
• Conducted site selection study for Smorgen Steel, one of Australia's largest steel makers, leading to the selection of the state of Virginia as the location for its new rolling mill, to be built in 2007, a $500 million investment.
• Conducted incentive negotiations for WestFarm Foods, a Seattle-based cooperative for the establishment of a $80 million cheese factory in the Magic Valley region of Idaho. Created tax increment financing district and negotiated energy cost reductions. Benefits of $5 million.
• Negotiated incentive on behalf of The Great Indoors a Sears, Roebuck and Company subsidiary in Chino Hills, California. Evaluated alternative locations and conducted incentives negotiations resulting in $5.9 million incentive package for a 120,000 square foot home center store.
• Conducted site selection and incentive negotiations for Streater Industries, Inc. in upper Midwest. Identified available buildings, surveyed sites, negotiated with state and local officials and coordinated construction of a 200,000 square foot distribution facility.
• Negotiated incentive package for Rapid Rack Industries in South Carolina and Virginia. Conducted preliminary site selection study, including definition of requirements, available building search and labor market studies in four (4) U.S. locations. Negotiated $7.7 million incentive package on behalf of company.
• Conducted site selection assignment for Taiyo-Unden for $80 million multi-layer capacitor manufacturing facility throughout West.
• Evaluated alternative locations for SMI Joist Corporation and assisted with the negotiations for land and tax incentives in Fallon, Nevada for the establishment of a 110,000 square foot steel joist manufacturing facility.
• Assisted Maruchan with the negotiation of incentives in Irvine, California and Chesapeake, Virginia for expansion of food processing facilities to manufacture dried noodle soups. Developed negotiating strategy, conducted economic analysis of alternatives and helped to identify high-quality, low cost vendors of electric power service under a deregulated environment.
• Conducted multiple assignments for Panasonic Corporation including site selection, tax incentives negotiations, employment training program development, and tariff re-engineering. Company has established a 65,000 square foot DVD manufacturing facility in Torrance, California.
• Provided project management services for Daewoo Motor America during the roll-out of its automobile line in the United States. Assisted with the negotiation of incentives at new store locations, developed state employment training plans, and helped to introduce other services to the company.
• Site selection consultant for Sovay Pharmaceuticals' new $200+ million vaccine production facility on the East Coast of the United States.
• Verified labor markets for First USA Management Services in Dallas, Texas. Evaluated labor availability in Las Colinas, Stemmons Corridor, and Galleria areas for major telebanking center employing over 1,000 personnel.
• Evaluated consolidation options for Catalina Cylinders' aluminum cylinder plant in Eastlake, Ohio and Trumann, Arkansas. Conducted scenario analysis and recommended location strategy based on available options.
• Provided expert testimony and witness for Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon, a major Los Angeles law firm in a trial related to relocation costs and disruption compensation due to environmental contamination.
• Conducted site selection study for Tenneco Shared Services, Inc. in the evaluation of alternative sites for the establishment of a 300 person back office processing facility to meet the needs of Tenneco, USA in The Woodlands, Texas. Negotiated property tax abatement, expansion, and job training incentives in excess of $1 million.
• Negotiated local incentives in Fresno, California for Medaphis Physician Services, Inc. including inclusion in Enterprise Zone, tax benefits, job hiring tax credits, fast track permitting, free moving and storage services, reduced hotel and rental car rates, and job training assistance.
• Conducted labor market analysis for GRE Insurance Group in Indianapolis, Indiana area in order to help company determine overall operating costs resulting from a consolidation with new acquisition from Cincinnati area.
• Performed feasibility study and site selection study for Global Van Lines' proposed relocation of its corporate headquarters from Orange, California. Negotiated incentives from state and local officials in order to retain company in California.
• Project manager for a 100,000 square foot distribution and manufacturing facility for Ferrero Candy Company in Mexico. Projected distribution costs, evaluated infrastructure requirements, and estimated operating costs at 10 alternative locations in central Mexico.
• Project manager for a Gatorade manufacturing and distribution facility in Guadalajara, Mexico on behalf of The Quaker Oats Company. Created co-packing decision matrix, identified and evaluated co-packing partners, and made final recommendations to senior Gatorade management in order to secure successful co-packing operation.
• Conducted feasibility analysis for Cessna Finance Company for a relocation from Long Beach, California to Ontario, California. Work included projections of one-time operating costs as well as probable relocation costs.
• Project manager of major headquarters relocation of CARE International from New York City to Atlanta, Georgia. Evaluated alternative locations, estimated relocation costs, prepared relocation plan, and negotiated incentives in Atlanta and Baltimore areas.
• Project manager for relocation of Campus Crusade for Christ's relocation from San Bernardino to Orlando, Florida. Evaluated alternative locations, estimated relocation costs, prepared relocation plans and negotiated incentives in Colorado Springs and Orlando.
• Conducted site selection study for Electric Power Research Institute. Evaluated relocation of research facilities from Palo Alto, California to Washington, D.C. Estimated relocation costs, employee attrition, and impact on productivity for probable relocation.
• Provided multiple site selection studies for Weyerhaeuser Mortgage Company for a proposed move from Woodland Hills, California to one of three alternative locations. Conducted site selection analysis, evaluated options, conducted labor market assessment, and site tours with senior management team.
• Performed site selection and transition planning assignments for Polymetrics, Inc. corporate headquarters relocation from San Jose, California to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Analyzed operating cost and conditions criteria, living conditions, and relocation costs. Developed group move policy in conjunction with senior management team. Coordinated personnel relocation activities.
• Conducted logistics and site selection study for Poonsan Corp. (Seoul, Korea) for the establishment of a 200 K ton brass and copper milling facility, investment of $127 million.
• Conducted site selection study for Hardee's Food Systems, Inc. relocation from Rocky Mount, North Carolina to Cary, North Carolina. Evaluated multi-state alternatives, conducted on-site analysis, evaluated real estate alternatives in each area, helped to secure options on real estate, managed facilities planning team, and help to negotiate build-to-suit contract. Project included 120,000 square foot corporate headquarters campus.
• Conducted site selection study for Johanson Dielectrics during its relocation from Burbank, California to Sylmar, California. Evaluated out-of-state alternatives, conducted incentives negations, and recommended alternative locations to senior management.
• Conducted labor market study for Kids "R" Us in the San Grabriel Valley area of Los Angeles as well as the Ontario Airport area of San Bernardino County, prior to the location of a 335,000 square foot pick & pack distribution facility.
• Conducted site selection feasibility study for Utilicorp United in Kansas City, Missouri for the establishment of a new customer service center to serve a multi-state region.
• Project manager of successful relocation of Sargent Controls (a Dover-Sargent Company) from Huntington Park, California to Tucson, Arizona. Services included feasibility analysis, relocation planning, site selection and incentive negotiations. Responsible for facilities planning and management team as they prepared move plan and budget.
• Obtained major training grant from the state of California for Household Credit Services for training of new hire customer service representatives. Grant provides up to $3,400 per employee.
• Assisted Calreco, Incorporated, the human foods research and development arm of Carnation Company with the analysis of several potential sites for a new R&D complex in Northern Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
• Project Manager for Allergan Optical's relocation of contact lens wetting solution manufacturing plant from Irvine, California to Waco, Texas.
• Managed study of relocation of Smith International's southern California oil tool manufacturing facility. Developed technology-based solution for relocation of labor-intensive product lines to Oklahoma while retaining capital-intensive product lines in southern California using flexible manufacturing cell technology.
• Relocation feasibility study conducted for R&G Sloane evaluating the operating cost savings versus one-time relocation cost associated with relocation from Burbank, California to a consolidated location more centrally oriented to its markets. Company successfully relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Managed site location project for Weyerhaeuser Company's branded diaper facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Gathered project specifications, developed computer-based distribution model, managed available building search, managed project team in the field, developed presentation of results, and had primary responsibility for final presentation to Weyerhaeuser management team.
• Primary consultant in site location project for establishment of a 400,000 square foot distribution center for Volume Shoe Corporation ("Payless Shoes") in southern California. Met with client to gather project specifications, managed available building search, and presented results to top Volume Shoe management.
• Assisted senior management in the selection of a location for Sumitomo Electric Company, Ltd's first U.S. research and development facility in the Research Triangle Park, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.