How to Spot a Community That’s Ready for Your Investment - from Area Development

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.