Is Your Community Prepared for Site Selector Requests?

As onshoring becomes a reality for many locations across the country, property managers, economic developers and other community leaders need to be prepared to grasp the opportunity to attract new manufacturing companies. Site selectors have been issuing requests for information as companies throughout the United States and the world seek to protect their supply chain from future disruptions caused by pandemics like COVID-19 and the growing number of natural disasters. Those who prepare will have the opportunity to compete, and hopefully win new business for their communities. 

What the Site Selectors Guild had to say about onshoring in 2020 and 2021 -

“Guild members predict COVID-19 will accelerate the regionalization of supply chains, with 81 percent of respondents saying COVID-19 will have a major impact on global supply chain strategies.

Members pointed out that the previous focus on the lowest cost scenario, which led to growth in China and Southeast Asia, will now become more balanced as companies look to reduce risk. This could benefit North American locations as more companies look to locate production facilities close to the customers they serve and increase redundancy. Many Guild members predict an uptick in on-shoring to the United States, Canada and Mexico – especially in the pharma and life sciences industries.”

Be aware of new executive orders

Communities should also be aware of recent executive orders that put pressure on U.S. agencies to purchase PPE, medical equipment and drugs from U.S. manufacturing companies, and to do so quickly. For example, the executive order signed on August 8th gives agencies 90 days to present a plan for how they will procure medical supplies and drugs from U.S. manufacturers. This is putting significant pressure on companies who want to continue to supply U.S. agencies like Medicare. As companies come home, and current ones expand, there will be communities who win contracts and grow. 

How Stutsman County can prepare to attract new businesses

Stutsman County communities should prepare for the opportunity to work with site selectors and executives by preparing information on their communities assets, available properties, location advantages and workforce. Doing so will make it possible to respond quickly to requests for information, because time is of the essence. Companies will need to make location decisions quicker than before, as they adjust to changing rules and regulations and new demand within the United States. Leaders and property owners should be aware of this and put in the effort up front so they are ready when a site selectors calls.

Specific information to prepare can include:

Community Assets

Many communities have rail access and an airport. These location advantages, along with interstate access, need to be quantified and placed into easily read marketing materials. Prepare information on utility availability, rate advantages and broadband access.

Available Commercial Sites

Communities should prepare information on property listings that includes proximity to infrastructure and the availability of utilities. Be sure to include information on how quickly permits could be issued and building commence. 

Strong workforce

The strength of educational institutions and the local workforce need to be captured in marketing material that can easily be shared with site selectors and executives. 

GrowingJamestown.com already has many of these tools

Much of this information is already available on the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation website. Examples of community assets include a central location within North America, with a transportation system made of easily accessible air, rail and ground options. Three industrial parks, the Airport Business Park, Bloom Business Park and the Spiritwood Energy Park are all close to Jamestown with available properties now.

This information and more can be found in a search on sites and regional resources, and combine them into a report that can be shared with site selectors. To do so, simply click the icon on the page that says “Add to report”. Once each page has been added, click “View custom report” to generate it. Since we know that site selectors and executives are making fast decisions, the ability to create this report immediately could be very useful. 

References and further reading

https://siteselectorsguild.com/news/covid-19-impact-on-site-selection/ 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-ensuring-essential-medicines-medical-countermeasures-critical-inputs-made-united-states/