Trade & Industry Development Magazine

So much has been written about alternative energy and the "green economy" that it becomes easy to get lost in a sea of information under clouds of catchphrases. It's equally easy to get carried away by possibilities and grand visions of the future (especially if one was raised on silicon wafers). But our mission at Trade & Industry Development is not simply to cheer on these growing industries, nor to rehash what is already well-known. Our focus remains on how these things impact industry from an expansion and site location point of view, and how decisions in this arena can help companies maximize profit and minimize risk going forward.

Winston Churchill once said: "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." These are definitely interesting times for the aerospace and defense industries. The U.S. defense industry is evolving to meet the needs of a military force faced with the 21st century challenge of asymmetric warfare, while simultaneously maintaining the leading-edge in conventional weaponry to best equip our soldiers for combat in two ongoing wars and hopefully discourage any others from breaking out. And the aerospace industry, in its critical role as a cornerstone of national security, is facing those same issues while also witnessing the retirement of the space shuttle program and facing economic headwinds in general aviation.

This issue of Trade & Industry Development presents 30 different success stories via our Corporate Investment & Community Impact (CiCi) Awards article. We are excited about these awards as they recognize those economic development agencies that "did what it took to get the job done." Seldom an easy task!

Well, the H1N1 Virus seems to continue to wreck havoc with some people. At the time of this writing, the vaccine is still hard to come by. When I called my pharmacy the other day to refill a prescription, there was a recorded message explaining they were still out of the vaccine. And while shopping in a department store, I heard a message over the public address system explaining how to avoid coming in contact with, or spreading, the germs. Thinking about all of this hit home with me as I was contemplating this issue of Trade & Industry Development. This issue has a heavy concentration on health-related topics. And why not? The subject of health absolutely affects each and every one of us.

As I was contemplating this issue's 'Letter,' I was thinking about our Feature articles and how those industries being covered (metals and plastics) have actually become a part of my life without me realizing it.

While having a relaxed dinner the other night, my husband and I had another one of our little "dream sessions" - we chatted about some of the things we're looking forward to doing when we retire. One of the things at the top of my (long) list is travel...but with a twist! I would love to make a trip that centers around visiting different manufacturing facilities. To be honest, I really don't care what they're manufacturing; I just find it fascinating to watch all of those machines turning raw materials into finished products.

I have always been concerned about the future of our children, but have become even more so since I, myself, became a grandmother a year ago. I have a precious grandson, Connor, who is a healthy and energetic "little man" - my dream is for him to remain healthy and energetic. Fortunately, I'm not the only one who feels this way. I'm excited about the direction in which this great Nation is headed; we're headed for a much cleaner nation. Wouldn't our forefathers be proud? I am. And I'm excited about this particular issue - we consider it our "Clean Industries" issue.

At Trade & Industry Development, we have decided to take the positive approach to these challenges and we encourage everyone else to do the same. Sometimes we just need to step back for a moment and re-evaluate the situation. That's exactly what we strive to do with our editorials and we hope you'll look to us as your 'solutions provider.'

Another year has come and gone and we are both proud and excited to present our 4th anniversary edition of the Corporate Investment & Community Impact (CiCi) Awards....and from a personal standpoint, not a moment too soon. I'm exhausted - what a grueling task! After receiving over 1,000 submissions from across the country, we had the difficult mission of narrowing the list down to only 30 winners - 15 for Corporate Investment and 15 for Community Impact.

Well I never thought I'd see the day that the price of gas would drop so much...and so quickly. It wasn't long ago I paid $4.09 for a gallon of gas; last night I filled my tank for $1.59 per gallon. Amazing! Looks like the New Year is going to be great - I just hope we don't become complacent when it comes to finding alternative fuel sources.

In our Feature article on metals, William Hearn discusses how the metals industry is a broad manufacturing industry; he also cites other niche metals opportunity markets. If you're in the plastics industry, you'll definitely want to read our Feature article written by Michael P. Hickey. In his article, Mike discusses key drivers and factors for success in location strategies for the plastics industry. Then Kevin Mayer's Special Report, "The Vital Many," explains the basic structure of the polymer industry - one sector produces resins or raw plastics, the other sector processes raw plastics into finished products. If you're more into logistics, our Feature article by Leslie Rubin and Sarah Rubin is a must read. These two ladies teamed up to explain how you can impact your bottom line with economic incentives. This issue also boasts three Industry Outlooks: the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), and the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA).

Welcome to our Manufacturing issue, where we dispel the myth about manufacturing in the U.S. – its heyday is not in the past! In fact, U.S. manufacturing is the eighth largest economy in the world. And yes, while the manufacturing industry has many strengths, it, too, has challenges. As with any challenge, the first step in handling the challenge is to identify it. Once identified, a solution can then be determined and acted upon. You’ll find these ideas, and more, in the pages that follow.

Welcome to our “Clean Industries” Issue!   This is our “Clean Industries” issue and I believe this issue is particularly interesting due to the variety of topics covered. From Technology to Retail to Alternative Energy to Technology Incubators – it’s all here!   In our Technology Feature article, John Rhodes describes technology life cycle stages vs. location selection parameters. Jim Renzas explains how the Retail industry deviates significantly from other types of industry location projects in another Feature article. John Sisson discusses the four phases of siting wind and solar facilities in another Feature article.  And Kevin Mayer, in his Special Report, explains how technology incubators may not grab the biggest headlines, but hold an important role in economic development.   We think you’ll enjoy reading the Industry Outlook articles from AeA and AWEA.  And be sure to read our Spotlights on California, Florida, Louisiana and Pennsylvania to learn what each of those states has to...

Site Location – Small or Large   Summer is just around the corner – this is usually a peak season for selling/buying a home. Think back to when you bought your last home. What was the first thing you did? Did you make a “must have” list? You know, that list of those things your new home “must have” – four bedrooms, two-car garage, large yard, in good school district, etc. The list may have been long, but chances are, at the top were size, location and amenities.   Site selection when buying a home is a very similar process to that of locating (or relocating) a business or industry – small or large. Whether that business is in the automotive industry, the aerospace industry, or the fuel cell industry, there are definite site selection parameters to be considered.   Read this issue to get important information concerning site selection for these industries, as well as learning what the USFCC, SAE and AIA are doing to help promote these industries. Also read what Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky...

CiCi Awards – 3rd Year!   We’re celebrating the 3rd anniversary for The Corporate Investment and Community Impact (CiCi) Awards and we are as excited this year as we were the first…or even more so.  Everyone likes to be recognized for a “job well done” – and corporations, states and communities are no different.    After receiving over 1,000 submissions from across the nation, we had the grueling task of narrowing the list down to the Top 16 Corporate Investment projects and the Top 15 Community Impact projects.   There may be plenty of excitement in our CiCi Awards, but don’t overlook our feature articles:  Dennis Donovan’s “Nearshoring: A Competitive Advantage in a Global Economy;” Ed McCallum’s “Community Commitment & Corporate Responsibility;” and Jane Mather’s “Site Selection Portfolios: Optimal Today but What About Tomorrow?”  These articles are bursting with insightful words and important information from these three professionals.  And speaking of...

Alternative Fuels and Bioconvergence…Hot Topics  We are extremely excited about adding Alternative Fuels to the list of topics we cover.  Not a day goes by that we don’t hear something on the subject…and for good reason.  With the price of gas on the rise, anyone driving a car can understand why the BioFuels industry is among the hottest industries in the U.S.  BioFuels development is popular nationwide, therefore industry executives should think strategically about expansions.  In our Feature article on Alternative Fuels, Justin Sabrsula not only covers important site selection factors, but also the origins of the biofuels industry and trends that are shaping the industry.

Both plastics and metals have become a part of our everyday lives. With these industries growing, relocations and expansions are inevitable. Read our articles, “Plastics – from Bags to Medical Devices to Rockets” and “New Technology and Specialized Products Keep Metal Fabrication Companies on the Economic Development Radar Screen,” to gather some insight into making the best location decisions.   “Setting Your Sights on Shovel-Ready Sites” will offer some insight into why these are so important in selecting a new location. And “The Plastic Fork in the Road” explains how polymer clusters are formed and the advantages they provide.   You’ll also find articles from SPI and AMT. SPI recently launched an innovative program that uses the next generation of search technology to connect plastics industry buyers and sellers. AMT has begun to develop MTConnect – a communication protocol that helps machines, controls and sensors from different suppliers to communicate with each other.   Our...

Manufacturing has been an important component of the U.S. economy for decades, but global competition has changed the face of manufacturing throughout the country. Now, more than ever, companies are faced with complex decisions about where to maintain operations, where to downsize and where to expand, along with the most difficult element of evaluating the labor force. Our “Feature” articles give tremendous insight into evaluating your labor force and tax credits and incentives for manufacturers.   There is also an article on ports and an article on FTZs that you’ll find most interesting.  “Industry Outlook” highlights two industry associations: NAM and NMMI. The area “Spotlights” include Alabama, Kansas, Tennessee and Utah. They provide additional information to influence your next site location decision.   We, at Trade & Industry Development, hope the articles included in this issue will give you valuable information to proceed with plans that will help grow your company to the heights in...

According to AEA’s recent Cyberstate report, the high tech industry in the U.S. grew by 150,000 jobs in 2006. While this growth is positive, several challenges still face the U.S. technology sector. Within this report and our feature articles, several factors are addressed, including the challenge of recruiting qualified workers for this field, and locating operations in areas in which appropriate talent is accessible.   Within the logistics field, similar trends are occurring. According to IWLA, the 3PL community has experienced positive growth over the past year, with an increase in revenues. However, uncertain costs still trouble the industry. To learn how to negotiate these obstacles, be sure to read “The Power of the Pack.”   In an effort to provide you with solutions to your site selection needs, we looked to the aforementioned experts, as well as several key state organizations. North Carolina, California, Maryland and Florida put forth their initiatives designed to entice your next site...

A concerted effort has been made to aid you in your next site location decision.  Starting with our “Industry Outlook” presented by AIA and OESA, we have tried to show you where the industries have been, and where they’re going.  Another “Outlook,” presented by NMMI, showcases their efforts and how they can help you manage your supply chains.    Explore the relatively new trend of certified “ready sites” and what benefits you can reap.  There are in-depth features focusing on the automotive and aerospace industries and advice from specialized consultants that can go a long way in determining the success of your next site location decision.   For specific site locations don’t miss our “Spotlights” on Arkansas, Georgia, Ohio and Louisiana.  Each of these states has made significant progress over the past few years. Especially Louisiana, which has rebounded from Katrina with a bevy of programs designed for companies interested in their area.