HELLO, TEXAS: WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE THE LONE STAR STATE AND THE TEXAS ELITE CITIES

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HELLO, TEXAS: WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE THE LONE STAR STATE AND THE TEXAS ELITE CITIES

January 18th, 2021 Taylor Girardi Leave a comment

When it comes to business, some choices are easier to make than others, but one choice that makes sense is choosing Texas for your business operations. That’s why site location assistance firm, Global Site Location Industries, launched its Choose Texas initiative.

The Choose Texas program helps companies ensure a smooth facility expansion within the State of Texas by connecting growing companies to local economic development corporations with opportunities. Communities part of the program are prepared to offer strategic sites, economic incentives, and competitive assets to businesses looking to relocate.

But why Choose Texas? After all, you have many choices for your business location. Let the member communities of the Choose Texas program tell you why the choice to relocate your business to the great state of Texas may be the easiest—and best—decision you’ll ever make.

DUMAS

Mike Running, executive director of the Dumas Economic Development Corporation, says that companies have relocated to Dumas because of the city’s business diversity. Dumas, whose leading industries are education, healthcare, and social services, is also known for its logistics sector and the largest rail car park in the United States.

According to Running, site selectors considering larger cities in Texas such as San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, can benefit from relocation to smaller cities like Dumas because Dumas in particular offers unique partnerships to businesses in their targeted industries that simply aren’t possible in other communities.

As for businesses that have recently benefited from Dumas’ pro-business climate, Running says premium pet food manufacturer Life’s Abundance recently moved to Dumas and is almost finished building a 20,000-square-foot warehouse in the city’s business park. According to Running, the city was able to offer Life’s Abundance discounted space, a sales tax rebate, and land. The company is now considering plans to expand in Dumas.

But it isn’t just land and incentives that make doing business in Dumas an attractive offer for businesses, it’s the willingness of organizations like the Dumas Economic Development Corporation to nurture new businesses long after they’ve settled in the community. Says Running, “There is no other state that compares to our pro-business and servants attitude when it comes to business recruitment and retention. We sincerely care for our businesses and are willing to go out of the way to help them succeed.”

BOERNE / KENDALL COUNTY

Home to the world’s largest dairy and a thriving energy and agribusiness sector, not far north of San Antonio sits Boerne / Kendall County, Texas. When you ask Alison Church, COO of the Boerne / Kendall County Economic Development Corporation why businesses should consider relocating to Boerne / Kendall County, she first cites the city’s “unmatched quality of life and proximity to larger markets.” In fact, according to Church, the city benefits from the workforce of larger cities such as San Antonio because employees headed to the county don’t have to deal with the traffic of the larger metropolitan areas.

Church says this has also benefited businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic because many business leaders have learned that it’s no longer necessary to do business in larger cities and can downsize to locations that have a smaller footprint and are less expensive. Workers can work remotely, and businesses can downsize their workforce if need be. In Boerne / Kendall County, the community has a large fiber optic presence, making remote work easier for businesses.

Boerne / Kendall County has a thriving agricultural technology sector, as well as construction and design sectors. O.W. Lee, a high-end patio furniture manufacturer, recently relocated to Boerne / Kendall County from out of state, and according to Church, this opens doors for complementary businesses to move to the area. Says Church, “We can coordinate with [business] owners to find out what other industries or types of businesses they will need to help them be more successful.”

As for why businesses should choose Texas, Church cites the state’s largely rural atmosphere as a benefit, as it enables businesses to expand while having access to an abundance of economic development incentives.

ANDREWS

About 30 miles east of the New Mexico border sits Andrews, Texas. The small city has a population of just over 14,000, but while it may seem small, Andrews’ size works in its favor when it comes to business. Much like its fellow Choose Texas counterparts, Andrews avoids the congestion and higher fees of nearby major metropolitan areas. The city’s highly skilled workforce is also a big draw, says Andrews Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Morse Haynes. “Andrews has a quality workforce, and we provide a great quality of life for a rural community,” says Haynes.

That workforce combined with the city’s oil-adjacent location makes it a hidden gem in East Texas. Seated in the Permian Basin, Andrews is well-equipped to host businesses that serve the oil and gas industry. According to Haynes, the city has recently welcomed two oilfield services companies into their Business Park West location, and they have recently inked a deal with a meat processing facility.

Haynes says land is available at either of the city’s business parks, and relocation assistance is available with job-based incentives. He adds that negotiations are under way for a third business park in Andrews.

“Texas is a business-friendly state with low taxes, communities that are preparing for growth (such as Andrews), and a great place to live and do business,” says Haynes.

TEXAMERICAS CENTER

Located just West of Texarkana, Texas, TexAmericas Center is a Redevelopment Authority that operates as a traditional development and management company but has the capabilities of a municipality. TexAmericas Center offers many benefits including the lowest cost structure for taxes, in the state of Texas. Additionally, their tax savings, real estate prices, utilities, and labor rates are some of the lowest in Texas, says Texamericas Center Customer Engagement Specialist, Ruthie Jackson.

According to Jackson, TexAmericas Center is well equipped to host “both light and heavy manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, food and beverage processing, paper and wood products manufacturing and defense.” TexAmericas Center is especially ideal for defense, as it is seated adjacent to the Red River Army Depot.

Another benefit of rural site selection? According to Jackson, the COVID-19 pandemic plays a big role. “With the global pandemic, rural areas are at a lower risk,” she explains.

Recent additions to TexAmericas Center include Lockheed Martin, Rowe Casa, a local organics company, Project Safe Harbor, a 177,000-square-foot warehouse for a component part manufacturer, and a warehouse expansion for Loc Performance, an existing tenant who in addition to expanding their warehouse added 20 jobs to their previous workforce of 25.

So, what makes choosing Texas such an excellent decision for site selectors? “As the ninth-largest economy among the nations of the world and home to 50 Fortune 500 headquarters, the State of Texas offers companies one of the most favorable business climates in the nation,” says Jackson.

ORANGE COUNTY

Positioned between Houston and New Orleans, Louisiana, Orange County, Texas, offers unprecedented access to major waterways, ports and Interstate 10. The county, which is not far from major oil, gas and manufacturing markets along the Gulf Coast, boasts of thriving retail, construction and hospitality sectors.

Orange County is also home to Lamar State College Orange, which helps create the skilled workforce the region is known for. The county offers workforce development resources to assist businesses and workers by training them on the skills they need to make area businesses a success. Says Orange County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jessica Hill, “When locating in a smaller community versus a large metropolitan area, not only will the company be lowering operating costs, but they will also be providing quality jobs for the citizens of the community. Orange County citizens place a very high value on jobs, and they realize the importance of bringing good companies with great jobs to the community.”

Recent additions to the business community in Orange County include an incoming H-E-B grocery store, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, clothing and retail establishments and even a winery.

According to Hill, these businesses have chosen Texas and more specifically, Orange County, because of the county and state’s absence of both corporate and individual income tax, as well as their “highly-skilled, well-educated workforce, and simplified state regulations.”

Says Hill, “The Texas economy continues to grow and diversify each year, strongly in part to the lack of red tape giving companies an opportunity to strategize for faster growth.”

BOWIE

Just an hour northwest of the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex, Bowie, Texas, is situated halfway between DFW and Wichita Falls, Texas. Despite a rural setting, Bowie offers all of the amenities of larger nearby cities, without the traffic and stress of big city living. In fact, according to Janis Crawley, Executive Director of the Bowie Economic Development Corporation, that reduction of stress makes a big difference when it comes to the workforce, as less-stressed workers means higher productivity. Lower stress, combined with a highly skilled labor force at lower employment wages, makes Bowie the perfect alternative to big city business operations.

Another benefit of small towns like Bowie is their lower overall cost of doing business. According to Crawley, businesses relocating to Bowie benefit from lower front-end costs due to ample land availability, lower wages, lower energy costs and the same infrastructure and incentives as larger cities. “We also offer additional incentives that most larger communities will not consider,” says Crawley.

She says Bowie works well for companies with fewer than 100 employees, and the city’s current projects include a $2.2 million expansion at one of the town’s existing manufacturing companies, a downtown expansion that includes office buildings, retail and restaurant space, and a $600,000 office complex.

“We are looking to attract professionals—from the metroplex and other larger communities—who want to lower their overhead cost and increase their ROI,” Crawley says.

SUNNYVALE

Just 15 minutes east of Downtown Dallas sits Sunnyvale, Texas. This up-and-coming suburban community isn’t just a great place to do business, it’s a great place to live, too, says Burton Barr, Director of Economic Development for the Sunnyvale Economic Development Corporation. The city was acknowledged as one of the “Best Suburbs of 2014” by D Magazine.

As far as doing business in Sunnyvale goes, the city offers a small-town environment with a strong industrial presence, including manufacturing centers, a Baylor Scott & White hospital and medical center, and retail and commercial sites. The city is poised for future growth, with available space along Highway 80, Collins Road, Clay Road and Belt Line Road. The city is also preparing for more growth with the expansions of roadways, waterways and wastewater improvements.

New projects in Sunnyvale include an incoming 643,000-square-foot light industrial / logistics center, as well as incoming restaurants including Chick-Fil-A and Whataburger.

Barr believes the success of Texas in attracting new business is its pro-business attitude. “In addition to local incentives, we have many economic development tools and incentives offered through the Office of the Governor,” says Barr. “Texas also enjoys a diverse workforce and lower cost of living than many other states.”

SULPHUR SPRINGS

Located between the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area and Texarkana, Texas, Sulphur Springs is providing what they call “the best of both worlds” – close enough for the fun of city life, but in a peaceful rural setting.

With six build-to-suit business parks (some within city limits), the Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corporation recently completed several roads and updated the infrastructure in two of those parks.

The city is also invested in its workforce, with job training through the Higher Education Center, which can offer immediate training for employees and continuous programs for staff.

Sulphur Springs is already home to businesses such as Diversified Food Systems, Plant Process, Ocean Spray, Saputo and BEF Foods. Raven Industries recently began construction on an expansion to their existing facility.

FLOYDADA

The “pumpkin capital of Texas,” as it is sometimes referred to, Floydada is a heavily agricultural community located in West Texas. This rural community is home to ample cropland, farming pumpkins, grain sorghum, wheat and cotton.

The town has a population of just 3,038 but offers a strong workforce development program through the Floydada Professional Development Center and the Floydada Economic Development Corporation. Other education incentives include financial assistance for programs such as the Skills Development Fund and the Self-Sufficiency Fund, provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Floydada is currently planning a business park that will host both retail and office space.

NORTHLAKE

Located in Denton County, Texas, not far from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Northlake is seated along Highway 35W, which runs from Laredo, Texas, to Minnesota and offers easy access throughout the DFW metropolitan area.

Former ranchland, Northlake has experienced tremendous growth since the city was established in 1960. The city’s Pathway to 2040 plans for more growth, including more agricultural development in keeping with the city’s agricultural roots. There are hopes to attract businesses that serve agricultural communities such as tractor repair and commercial green housing operations.

According to the Pathway to 2040 plan, the city would also like an esteemed university to establish an agricultural program within the fringes of the city, such as along FM 156.

LEANDER

Not far from the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area, Leander sits in the state’s Hill Country area, known for its rolling hills and beautiful scenery. With more than 63,000 residents, Leander is the 37th fastest growing city in the United States.

This affordable small city provides award-winning land planning initiatives and is poised for more future growth. Leander is home to businesses such as H-E-B Grocery Co., Leander Independent School District, Casa Costa Bake Shop and HL Chapman Pipeline Construction, Inc. The city’s proximity to Austin also poises them nearby to corporations such as Apple, Dell, IBM and Samsung Semiconductor.

The city also benefits from many nearby colleges and universities, including the University of Texas at Austin and Austin Community College.

GRAPELAND

Halfway between Houston and the Dallas / Fort Worth metro area sits Grapeland, Texas. The small, rural community offers many benefits to incoming businesses that Mayor Balis Dailey says simply can’t be found in larger cities. According to Dailey, just a few of the benefits of doing business in Grapeland include a welcoming community, many logistics options, low risk of adverse risk, and a high-quality labor force.

Grapeland also offers ample space for growth and many shovel-ready sites. The town has access to trucking, air, rail, U.S. highways and Gulf shipping ports.

Grapeland is already home to several major manufacturers, including Nucor-Vulcraft, a steel products manufacturer that makes products Dailey says can be used for construction of facilities for incoming businesses. Furthermore, the company’s trucking operations allow for other businesses to partner with them on backhauling, reducing transportation costs.

Why should businesses avoid selecting sites in larger cities? It’s all about the overcrowding that already exists—and will continue to get worse as growth continues, Dailey says.

“Unfortunately, these locations have expanded to the point of severe infrastructure limitations and extremely high cost for land and development cost. While these problems are now major, they will become worse in the future. This impacts the bottom line,” Dailey says.

“To change the negative impacts of locating in the metro areas, companies should begin to see rural development as the future site locations for industry. The future of a company’s long-range growth will be enhanced by considering the rural areas such as East Texas, specifically Grapeland, Texas.”

WHY CHOOSE TEXAS?

You’re choosing a state with lower taxes, a highly skilled workforce, lower land and utility costs and dedicated economic development organizations that can help you achieve your business goals.

When it comes to making site location decisions for your growing company, the Choose Texas site location team is ready to take your business to the next level.

Partnering with Choose Texas provides you free site location services and a team of area experts ready to maximize Texas’s growth climate for your business. The Choose Texas team has 25 years of partnerships across the state, so if you know what your business needs, the professionals with Choose Texas know where and how to find it.

Get in contact with Choose Texas Project Director, Brooke Edwards, to discuss an upcoming project or specific site needs for a new facility by calling 469-778-2606 or emailing brooke@choose-texas.com.

You can also visit www.Choose-Texas.com for more information.

Archives, Best Cities, Global Trade Daily

AMERICA’S BEST CITIES 2020: A DIFFERENT YEAR MERITS DIFFERENT LISTS, BUT RESILIENCE HOLDS TRUE

January 16th, 2021 Haylle Sok Leave a comment

The time has come once again for our team to identify which cities are leading the way in providing businesses the tools needed to operate successfully and navigate economic disruptions. Cities listed in this year’s cover story represent the level of resilience that keeps Americans moving forward in the hardest of times.

However, in 2020, we decided to do things a little differently. After all, 2020 was a different year for everyone, as it will more than likely go down in history as the “year of COVID.” Thus, for businesses in the U.S. and around the world, we looked at the data for cities leading the way in “soft infrastructure” rather than primarily focusing on the leaders in “hard infrastructure.”

Resources from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and more supported the development of this list. Our goal is to identify the things that help support businesses beyond rail, port and transportation options. According to the economic development leaders we spoke with, the elements of soft infrastructure are often overlooked.

“Not all cities have the same caliber of export and trade support systems,” explains Linda DiMario, an economic development consultant. “If there is not trade ecosystem in place to help build capacity and nurture the transition of export ideas to the act of exporting, that gets in the way for companies. Those companies do not always know where to go for assistance.”

DiMario continues, “Very often, the attention goes to what I like to refer to as ‘hard infrastructure’ rather than understanding exports and trade capacity from a more holistic perspective. Airports, port access, etc. are the more obvious components of hard infrastructure, and although they are important, they’re not the only components. There is an ecosystem that exists that supports companies and their ability to explore markets and provides the ‘soft infrastructure’ to help develop export readiness. Those are crucial elements in any city and deserve recognition.”

On that note, here are the cities that made our list.

Best Cities for Exports by Metropolitan Area

Source: Census.gov Foreign Trade Report

The report highlights leading areas based on “millions of U.S. dollars, not seasonally adjusted” and compares the 2019 final numbers to 2018’s numbers, preceding each yearly period with “Annual.” This report was published on June 16, 2020.

Northeast: New York-Newark-Jersey City, (NY-NJ-PA)

Out of a total of 10 metropolitan areas in the Northeast, the New-York-Newark-Jersey City metro region led by a longshot with just shy of $87 million for Annual 2019. Each quarter recorded by the metro region also led by more than double compared to competing metros in the Northeast. The overall numbers were slightly lower compared to the Annual 2018 breakdown but contributed to a total of 185,492,000 for the region in ’19.

Midwest: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

It was not a surprise to see The Windy City leading the way for the Midwest for top export dollars in Annual 2019. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro region represented a total of $42,493,000 in exports, with the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area right behind it. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin beat Detroit-Warren-Dearborn by $1,056,000 for the Annual 2019 final numbers.

South: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

As we saw in last year’s Best Cities feature, Houston ranked among the top, representing robust numbers for the South with a whopping $128,032,000 in total exports for the Annual 2019 report. Overall, the southern region recorded $367,003,000 in ’19. This confirms the South as the top dog for highest number of exports in dollars throughout the nation.

West: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Heading west, exports were nothing short of abundant; however, the metro regions tallied in fairly close with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, coming in first at $61,859,000 and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, coming in second at $41,334,000 for Annual 2019. The West represents the second-highest in export dollars for the year.

Best Cities for Fastest-Growing Large Cities

Source: Census.gov

When it is time for businesses to expand or relocate, location is critical. For this list, we looked at the fastest-growing large cities over the past decade detailed by the U.S. Census report revised on May 21, 2020. According to this report, the cities researched had a population of at least 50,000 as of April 1, 2010. This is the list of the top 10 fastest-growing cities between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2019, in order. Not surprisingly, the South and West lead the way in this category as well. Be warned: Texas dominates once again.

Frisco, TX

Coming in at No. 1 on the list, Frisco was reported to have a 71.1 percent increase in population, with a total of 200,490 people. Frisco is one of six Texas cities listed among the top 10 nationally for population growth.

Buckeye, AZ

Buckeye finished No. 2 by reporting a total population of 79,620 people at the end of 2019, increasing by 56.6 percent in a decade. Buckeye, AZ, is one of four Western states to make it on the list and is the only Arizona city represented in this report.

New Braunfels, TX

Just behind Buckeye is the second Texas city represented for the fastest-growing large cities report. New Braunfels experienced a 56.4 percent increase, with a total population of 90,209 by the end of 2019. For those of you who are not familiar, New Braunfels is home to arguably one of the best water parks and resorts in Texas. Schlitterbahn, anyone?

McKinney, TX

Just tapping right above the 50 percent mark is the third Texas city on the list. Located in the northeastern region of North Texas, McKinney was reported with a total population of 199,177 in 2019 and experienced a 51.9 percent increase over the past decade. It goes without saying that North Texas is a hot region for growth.

South Jordan, UT

Heading west, the past decade of growth reported in South Jordan put the Utah city in fifth place on the list. Located just a hop, skip, and a ski jump south of Salt Lake City, South Jordan recorded an impressive 51.8 percent population growth in the past decade. Final numbers for 2019 equaled 76,598 people.

Meridian, ID

Just above Utah, Idaho made its place on the list with a 48.3 percent increase reported for Meridian. The city finished 2019 with a robust 114,161 total population. This city represents the fourth highest out of the 10 on the list for the highest population total in 2019.

Cedar Park, TX

Ah, Texas; we meet once again. Cedar Park made its way on the list as No. 7 with a 44.2 percent increase over the past decade and a total of 79,462 population. Neighboring cities include Leander, Round Rock and an interesting place known as Nameless with a reputation for being a “ghost town,” according to Texas Escapes Magazine.

Fort Myers, FL

Going even farther south, Fort Myers makes the eighth place on the list with a 39.8 percent increase over a decade, growing its total population to 87,103 for 2019. Fort Myers represents Florida on the top 10 list for significant growth in population during the period listed.

Conroe, TX

Just when you thought you had read all the Texas cities that made the list, one more pops up. Conroe comes in at No. 9 with a total population of 91,079 and an increase of 39.3 percent. Way to represent, Texas!

Irvine, CA

Coming in at the highest total 2019 population for the fastest-growing large cities on the list, Irvine finished 2019 with an impressive 287,401 population, which represents a 35.5 percent increase over the past decade. Irvine is the only California city to crack the top 10, which speaks volumes to the city’s infrastructure, quality of life and business opportunity.

Best Cities for Federal Banking

Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency report

With any successful business comes the added layer of financial management. And when it comes to protecting your profits, you must choose your banks wisely. In the list below, we present cities offering trusted resources for banking as identified by the Office of the Comptroller Currency report. These cities offer the most options for federal banking, from cross-border banking to investor relations.

New York, NY

The city that never sleeps tops the list for the most federal banks. A robust 32 total federal banks are found in the Big Apple, giving your business more than enough options from which to choose. A few of the big-name banks found here include Arab Banking Corp., Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd., Bank of China, Gulf International Bank and many more.

San Francisco, CA

Although San Francisco (or any other city for that matter) did not come close to offering more than a handful of federal banks compared with the Big Apple, three of the federal banks found here include CMB Wing Lung Bank Ltd., Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., and UBS. If you’re looking for sustainable finance and investment options, this is a great place to start.

Closely behind San Francisco are: Miami, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Chicago, with each having at least two federal banking options and competitive financing for domestic and international businesses.

Best Cities for Civilian Labor Force

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics report

We like to save the best for last. Arguably one of the most important elements in any business is its representing workforce. Cities that made this list showcase skills and growth that not only support efforts in economic development but prepares the next generation of those who will continue to grow the economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report identified metropolitan areas offering robust labor pools. These numbers reflect cities with at least 500,000 civilian workers as of September 2019.

Alabama

Birmingham-Hoover: 551,568

Arizona

Tucson: 503,048

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale: 2,524,737

California

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim: 6,781,917

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario: 2,074,832

Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade: 1,104,416

San Diego-Carlsbad: 1,593,792

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward: 2,603,490

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: 1,088,233

Colorado

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood: 1,694,499

Connecticut

Hartford-East Hartford-West Hartford: 630,118

District of Columbia

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: 3,475,733

Florida

Jacksonville: 797,492

Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: 3,176,775

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: 1,381,556

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater: 1,577,352

Georgia

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell: 3,102,466

Illinois

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin: 4,836,999

Indiana

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson: 1,071,170

Kentucky

Louisville-Jefferson County: 676,110

Louisiana

New Orleans-Metairie: 594,425

Maryland

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson: 1,521,785

Massachusetts

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua: 2,814,506

Michigan

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn: 2,177,102

Grand Rapids-Wyoming: 574,566

Minnesota

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington: 2,033,164

Missouri

Kansas City: 1,135,510

St. Louis: 1,481,679

Nevada

Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise: 1,138,060

New York

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls: 541,098

New York City-Newark-Jersey City: 9,920,695

Rochester: 521,893

North Carolina

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia: 1,375,200

Raleigh: 735,976

Ohio

Cincinnati: 1,132,137

Columbus: 1,101,267

Cleveland-Elyria: 1,045,516

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: 688,813

Oregon

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro: 1,325,943

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington: 3,133,899

Pittsburgh: 1,214,109

Rhode Island

Providence-Warwick: 691,449

Tennessee

Memphis: 644,028

Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin: 1,095,969

Texas

Austin-Round Rock: 1,244,523

Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington: 4,003,204

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land: 3,440,488

San Antonio-New Braunfels: 1,211,007

Utah

Salt Lake City: 671,371

Virginia

Richmond: 688,763

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News: 861,205

Washington

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue: 2,187,696

Wisconsin

Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis: 816,430

GT Podcast Community Connection Episode, Title, & Guest

Archives, GT Podcasts

GT Podcast – Community Connection Series – Episode 1 – Mayor of Ruston, LA – Ronny Walker

January 14th, 2021 GT Staff Leave a comment

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | More

In the first episode of our latest series, Community Connection, GT Podcast’s host Eric Kleinsorge speaks with Ruston, LA Mayor, Ronny Walker, to learn exactly how Ruston is living up to their slogan, Excellence Made Here.

Archives, Global Trade Daily, Special Reports

5 Ways Small Businesses can Grow after Emerging from Disruption

January 11th, 2021 Chris Buitron Leave a comment

The pandemic made 2020 a difficult year for many small businesses, as many closed permanently. But other small companies had success despite the surge in outbreaks and are hoping to build on those achievements in 2021.

How can they keep their momentum going, and what can other companies learn from their struggles to navigate the challenges of the new year?

“To stay afloat, owners adjusted on the fly and creatively found ways to change their operations,” says Chris Buitron, CEO and president of Mosquito Authority® (www.mosquito-authority.com). “Those that survived can use innovations they came up with during the pandemic to generate new opportunities and drive revenue.

“But there is a lot of uncertainty still ahead in the business world, and strategy should be a combination of honest reflection and a deep study of where your industry and audience currently are.”

Buitron has these five tips for small businesses to improve or keep their momentum going in 2021:

Fine-tune your messaging. Research shows that effective branding is connected with a company’s authenticity, so it’s important to coordinate messaging across all channels. “Your branding is your promise to customers,” Buitron says, “so you need to make sure all of your messaging is valid, consistent and on point. Every aspect of your branding should align to show iron-clad authenticity.”

Maximize social media marketing through storytelling. Over half of social media users research brands they’re not familiar with, and keeping their attention is the key. Buitron says storytelling about the company on social media channels resonates with customers and can create a connection that leads to customer loyalty. “It connects to authenticity and its importance to customers,” Buitron says. “Use different forms, long and short, of your company’s story – vignettes and quotes in your social media marketing, a complete version on your website. Humanize; let potential customers see the people behind the brand and the people your company has helped.”

Emphasize customer service. Buitron notes that some companies that did well during the pandemic did so because they went the extra mile for customers. “Now take that lesson another step,” Buitron says. “People expect good customer service from a small business, which has more at stake and fewer resources than a large company. Customer service is how you hold onto them. Sometimes the customer service that has the most impact is that which provides an unexpected solution. Train your people to think outside the box and make it goal No. 1 to make customers much happier than they were before presenting you with a problem.”

Focus on building and improving your team. “A successful company is built on the strength of its employees,” Buitron says. “Leaders need to see their people have passion for their jobs, which is essential to success in small business. If you have a great team, it can always be better, and it’s important they know that. This is no time to coast. Talk to your team leaders about gaps and opportunities. Invite discussion that promotes growth.”

Keep adapting. “If companies big and small learned anything during the pandemic, it was about how to adapt,” Buitron says. “That concept doesn’t figure to change. Adaptability means being prepared to pivot whether you see big change coming or not. For example, a major switch to online sales by many companies was the only way they could survive. Then they learned how to offer more online services. Building on those changes, and finding creative ways to adjust to new customer demands, will continue to grow companies.”

“The pandemic made businesses think about their operations in a very in-depth way,” Buitron says. “Going forward, more small-business owners will be better positioned for success – if they really learned from what it took to survive 2020.”

____________________________________________________________________

Chris Buitron is CEO and president of Mosquito Authority® (www.mosquito-authority.com), a nationwide leader in mosquito control with franchises serving communities across the U.S. and Canada. Buitron has an extensive background in franchise industries. He was chief marketing officer for Senior Helpers, vice president of marketing for Direct Energy (home services division), and director of marketing for Sunoco Inc., where he supported the company’s 4,700 franchised and company-owned rental facilities across 23 states (over $15B in annual revenues).

Archives, Foreign Trade Zones, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily

What the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Means for U.S. and Foreign Companies

January 4th, 2021 Frank Xue and John Scannapieco Leave a comment

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement is a mega free trade agreement signed on November 15, 2020 by 15 Asia-Pacific countries, including Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. The 15 countries represent nearly 30 percent of the world’s GDP and 2.2 billion people. Meanwhile, RCEP brings together China, Japan, and South Korea for the first time under a single free trade agreement. The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates that by 2030, the RCEP could add $186 billion to global national income annually. India originally planned to join RCEP but later pulled out in November 2019.

Summary of RCEP

The RCEP Agreement consists of 20 chapters covering a wide range of areas including trade in goods, rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, intellectual property rights, trade in services, E-commerce, and government procurement. Although the RCEP Agreement does not establish unified standards on labor and environmental protection, many scholars and practitioners believe that RCEP will effectively remove some common trade barriers in Asian countries.

Rules of Origin. Under the RCEP Agreement, the rules of origin will be unified for all member states, which means that companies only need to acquire one certificate of origin for trading in all member states. Surprisingly, only 40 percent of RCEP regional value of content is required for goods to meet the rules of origin requirement.

Trade in Goods. The chapter addressing trade in goods consists of key clauses that implement the member states’ goods-related commitments, including granting national treatment to other member states; reduction or elimination of customs duties, and duty-free temporary admission of goods. For example, tariffs likely will be eliminated on 86 percent of industrial goods exported from Japan to China. Overall, under RCEP the total number of zero-tariff products in trade in goods exceeds 90 percent of total products.

Investment. The chapter addressing investment includes several investment protection standards commonly used in other trade and investment treaties such as most-favored-nation treatment, fair and equitable treatment, and just compensation. Additionally, RCEP stipulates the rules for expropriation and covers both direct and indirect expropriation. In order to rise to the level of indirect expropriation, several factors must be exercised including the economic impact of government actions; whether the government actions violate its prior binding written commitments to the investor; and the nature of the government actions.

E-Commerce. Considering the digitalization of the trade and commerce among the member states, the chapter focused on e-commerce aims to promote e-commerce among the member states and use of e-commerce globally. This chapter requires all member states to adopt legal mechanisms to create a conducive environment for e-commerce transactions and development, including protection of personal data and information, and cross-border information transfer. In addition, all member states are required to maintain the current practice of not imposing duties for electronic transmissions.

What U.S. and Foreign Companies Can Expect

Lenient Rules of Origin. For U.S. and foreign companies doing business and operating in ASEAN, China, and other Asia Pacific region, RCEP probably offers the most lenient rules of origin compared to other major free trade agreements. As discussed above, the basic value of the content rule of 40 percent RCEP content is surprisingly low and is favorable to many U.S. and foreign companies. For example, a U.S. company may manufacture a product with 60 percent U.S. content and then export the product to Indonesia where the remaining 40 percent of content (from any other RCEP member) is added. Once the U.S. company establishes the 40 percent RCEP content, it can label the products as “Made in Indonesia,” and export the products to any RCEP member state, including China, and enjoy low or zero tariffs.

Supply Chain and End Market. In response to the worsening U.S. – China trade relationship, many U.S. companies have started to optimize and diversify their global supply chains throughout Southeast Asia. Because RCEP lowers tariffs, reduces non-tariff trade barriers, and improves market access for goods and services in the region, investment in Southeast Asia becomes even more attractive and economically feasible for those companies looking to sell their products or services in the region. For example, for many U.S. companies, buying Chinese components and/or selling products in China can be an expensive proposition due to the many tariffs and non-tariff barriers that exist between the countries. However, U.S. companies now have an opportunity to avoid these burdens by importing parts from China and completing the manufacturing process in an RCEP member state, and then selling the final products to China’s huge market while taking advantage of the benefits of RCEP.

How Member States and U.S. Companies May Benefit

RCEP will benefit its member states by reducing trade and investment barriers and increasing the economic integration among the members. U.S. companies may also benefit by reconfiguring their global supply chains to include more trade and investment in the region which will allow these companies to avoid many of the currently high tariffs and regulatory burdens that they currently experience.

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Frank Xue and John Scannapieco are attorneys at Baker Donelson and members of the firm’s Global Business Team.

Archives, Global Site Selection, Global Trade Daily

Best Tips for Online Branding Your Global Business

December 22nd, 2020 Ryan Pell Leave a comment

In the wake of the pandemic, it seems that there is no point in talking about expanding a business and going global. Yet, many companies are not scared of the virus that has disrupted the entire business world and still work on bringing their global expansion plans to life.

The poll by Corporate Compliance Insights surveyed over 1,000 tech businesses from the U.S., and all of them confirmed that they are planning to go global despite the fact that the pandemic is still going on.

If you are among those fearless who still plan to go global in the nearest future, you need to start putting your online brand into that perspective as well. Today, we’re going to take a look at a few tips on how you can make that happen.

1. Think about Your Target Audience

It is essential to collect all the details to understand customer behavior when you’re entering the foreign market. But it’s also important to create a marketing strategy with the consideration of that audience’s language and culture. And, if you skip that step, it can undermine all your online branding efforts.

Besides, such negligence can undermine the reputation of your brand even before you enter the foreign market. It happened to KFC during its attempt to enter the Chinese market because of the improper translation of their slogan Finger-Lickin’ Good into Eat Your Fingers Off.

Even though this mishap didn’t ruin the company’s plans to succeed in China, it is still remembered in the business world as a poor practice which you should avoid at all costs. So, when developing the online brand for your global business, show respect to the target audience’s culture by localizing all your branding materials properly.

2. Find Local Influencers to Help Promote Your Global Brand

If you have plans to expand your business to different markets abroad, you need to make an effort to appear relatable to the local audiences. One of the most effective ways to achieve that is to partner with local influencers who can help you promote your brand in the respective market.

Airbnb is a great example of this strategy in action, as it often shows the hosts that sublet the apartments through Airbnb’s services around the world:

Image credit: Airbnb

With this approach, Airbnb tries to make its customers feel more welcome, no matter where they are and where they are coming from.

However, there is a trick with this strategy, as it requires you to find the influencer that has experience in your niche. For instance, if you’re expanding your foreign language school where people can study fluent English to other countries like Italy, Germany, and Russia, you need to find influencers there within the education industry who can help you promote your business locally.

It’s also worth mentioning that partnership with local influencers within your niche will also help you attract the right audience right away.

3. Create a Social Media Profile for Each Market

If you want your foreign audience to recognize you as a brand, when it comes to your digital marketing strategies, you need to speak your audience’s language. They need to have an opportunity to review your products and business updates in their native language to ensure that there is a full understanding between you and them.

And since people mostly use social media for brand updates, it makes sense to have a separate social media account for each country which you are planning to enter. IKEA is a great example in this case, as it has different Instagram profiles for every country where it sells its products:

Image credit: IKEA France

Such an approach also creates an opportunity for you to communicate with your target audience more, let them share their insights, and find out how you can improve your online branding strategy for your global business even more.

Over to You

Of course, going global with your business won’t deliver quick results. There are a lot of points to consider, and online branding is one of them.

That being said, the most important point in online branding for a global business is to understand the target audience and speak its language. If you achieve that, then your online branding efforts will definitely not go to waste.

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Ryan is a passionate blogger and writer who likes sharing his thoughts. Now he works as a content editor and internet researcher, you can check his site. He likes to travel and explore new countries.

Archives, Global Trade Daily, Site Selection

DHL Distribution Center Beefs Up Stafford Workforce with 577 New Jobs

December 19th, 2020 GT Staff Leave a comment

Stafford County’s Venture Business Park will soon be the home of a new 500,000 square-foot high-bay distribution center for DHL Supply Chain. The global logistics provider was confirmed to invest a total of $72 million in the project for its Real Estate Solutions unit at Stafford County’s Venture Business Park. This addition will continue supporting DHL Supply Chain’s initiatives in real estate and logistics engineering for the development of turnkey warehousing solutions.

“This significant investment and the addition of 577 new jobs come at a critical time when we are focused on rebuilding our economy and getting Virginians back to work,” he said. “The ongoing pandemic has underscored the value of supply chain management and delivery services during times of crisis. With our central East Coast location and advanced transportation infrastructure, our Commonwealth offers unparalleled advantages for businesses, and we are proud to support the company’s new high-tech operation in Stafford Country.”

In an announcement this week, Governor Ralph Northam confirmed the win for the project after competing with Maryland. Collaboration between the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Stafford County ultimately secured the success for the state, along with a $1.7 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund for the development of the facility. Additionally, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program will support education and training efforts for the facility’s employee pool, contributing funding and services to further develop the region’s added workforce.

“Virginia has strong transport links catering for all modes of transport, access to a high-quality workforce, and an above-average level of GDP per capita, which contributes to an attractive investment environment for DHL Supply Chain’s Real Estate Solutions unit,” said Carl DeLuca, Head of Real Estate Americas for DHL Supply Chain. “We are excited to build on the company’s presence in this market, and are grateful to Governor Northam and his team, as well as the local authority of Stafford County, for the support they have provided to DHL on this project. We look forward to developing a solution that will deliver 577 jobs to the region and further enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of Virginia as a logistics hub.”

“On behalf of our entire Board, we are eager and excited to have DHL invest in Stafford, and we look forward to a long-term partnership with them in our community,” said Meg Bohmke, Chair of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.

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Brazil’s Electric Power Transmission Auction Paves the Way in Economic Recovery and Foreign Investment

December 16th, 2020 Haylle Sok Leave a comment

On December 17^th, Brazil will kick off its upcoming Electric Power Transmission Auction. This event, which will take place in São Paulo, is critical for Brazil’s forward-movement in economic recovery since the pandemic. ANEEL – the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency, will be hosting the auction to attract investments to the energy sector, and ultimately create jobs. Global Trade Magazine heard directly from Roberto Escoto, Investment Manager of Apex-Brasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) to learn more about the event and its importance in the foreign investment arena.

Discuss the goals for the upcoming Electric Power Transmission Auction and the issues it’s aiming to solve.

The upcoming Electric Power Transmission Auction will be held on December 17, 2020 by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) at B3 S/A – Brasil, headquartered in São Paulo.

There are 11 lots of projects, covering 1,940 km of transmission lines and substations with a transformation capacity of 6,420 MVA. The transmission facilities that will be auctioned involve investments of about BRL $7.4 billion, with the potential of generating 15,434 thousand jobs during construction of the projects.

The term for commercial operation of the facilities varies from 42 to 60 months, for concessions of 30 years valid from the signing date of the contracts. Concessions will be tendered for the construction, operation, and maintenance of 16 transmission lines and 12 substations.

Brazil’s main transmission network, the National Interconnected System (Sistema Interligado Nacional – or SIN), consists of four interconnected subsystems (North, Northeast, Southeast and Center-West, and South). Together, this makes up one of the largest interconnected subsystems in the world. The Brazilian network has interconnections with neighboring Paraguay (through the Itaipu Binational project), as well as with Uruguay, Argentina, and Venezuela.

The system operator (ONS) expects the Brazilian transmission network to grow extensively by 2024. More specifically, ONS envisages an extension of the grid towards the less well-connected regions of Brazil, as well as work to make further improvements to the existing grid in other parts of the country. The upcoming Electric Power Transmission Auction in December 2020 aims to assist in achieving these goals.

How does the region create and maintain a competitive environment for initiatives in the energy sector and foreign investment?

The electricity sector in Brazil – in generation, transmission, and distribution – is now one of the largest destinations of foreign direct investment in the world. The growing interest from foreign investors is driven by strong business opportunities, with private players having the chance to compete in all segments of the sector, combined with the strengthening of Brazil’s regulatory framework.

What major companies are already benefiting from investment opportunities/energy sector in this region?

Companies from all around the world are benefiting from the investment opportunities within Brazil’s energy sector, including but not limited to Iberdrola, Enel, EDP, Engie, EDF, EDP, Statkraft, Equinor, State Grid, China Three Gorges, CGN, Brookfield, Suncor, Canadian Solar, and more.

Discuss how you identify and lead multi-sector business development opportunities?

Apex-Brasil has an extensive international network of partner organizations, associations, and companies. We have offices in the U.S. (Miami and San Francisco), Europe (Brussels), Israel (Jerusalem), Russia (Moscow), China (Shanghai and Beijing), the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), and Colombia (Bogota). Additionally, since we work in close partnership with the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have access to over 100 Embassies around the world. Finally, we have a market intelligence unit that supports our efforts with relevant information on the international economy, business, and key players.

This global reach and intelligence allow us to map and prospect the right investors, as well as introduce Brazilian companies to foreign investors on international business trips.

How is the workforce prepared for incoming investors? How about for current investors?

Brazil is a populous country with a workforce of over 100 million people. The sectors that usually gather the largest number of Brazilian workers, according to IBGE’s statistic report (PNAD), are retail and mechanic workshops, public administration, defense, education, health, social services, information and communications services, financial activities, realty, and administration.

In 2017, Brazil’s Congress approved a reform in the country’s work legislation, known as the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT). The main goal of this reform was to make the laws more flexible, with a specific focus on negotiations between employers and employees.

As a result, new rules have emerged, allowing for outsourcing of labor in a company’s main activity, home-office regulation, and more accountability for employees in lawsuits against employers. That said, collective bargaining agreements between employers and unions may offset some points written in the law, adjusting the terms to the necessities of the workers. Some of these topics include working hours, profit sharing, and sanitary standards (which were previously established only by the employer).

However, this does not mean that workers are left unprotected, as their fundamental rights cannot be negotiated under CLT. These rights include maternity and paternity leave, holidays, minimum wage, 13th salary, retirement, and the Guarantee Fund for Continuing Service (FGTS), which is a type of savings account taken directly from workers’ salaries that aims to protect the worker’s subsistence in case of dismissal but can also be used to buy residential properties.

Also, Brazil has first-rank universities and engineers with expertise in onshore and offshore technologies, as well as in EPC entrepreneurships.

Brazil has a skilled and diversified labor market, as well as favorable labor framework conditions for investors.

Let’s discuss how the region has managed the energy sector climate during the pandemic and other disruptions. What should companies know and how are you addressing it?

Brazil is taking concrete actions to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and still remain globally competitive. Among other measures, the Brazilian government has launched a package to protect both workers, especially the most vulnerable people, and SMEs.

When it comes to the power sector specifically, several initiatives have been introduced since the start of the pandemic. This includes but is not limited to the following measures:

First, a Committee of Crisis and Monitoring, composed of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and other authorities and experts, has been established to map and act quickly on the challenges that the pandemic has imposed.

Second, MME and ANEEL, along with banks, have designed and implemented the “COVID account,” which offers loans of a total of USD $16.1 billion for energy companies, with the goal of providing liquidity to the sector, especially in the key segment of distribution.

Finally, MME has launched the green bonds program, which is favorable for obtaining financing for new energy projects, with an estimated gradual release of USD $250 by 2030. It is envisioned that this particular program will contribute to expanding 25 GW for new wind energy, 8GW for solar and energy, and 3 GW for small hydro plants.

Please share anything else you’d like the readers to know about Brazil’s investment climate.

Brazil has one of the cleanest electric matrices in the world, with over 80% of our electricity coming from renewable sources. Currently, hydro represents 58% of the Brazilian power generation mix, while biomass, wind, and solar have a share of 11%, 9%, and 2%, respectively. In 2029, it is expected that these sources will represent 42%, 10%, 16%, and 8%, respectively, of our power generation mix. With this forecast in mind, it is clear that wind and solar energies are increasing fast and constantly, underscoring their importance now and in the future. That said, this growth is not a surprise: Solar and wind are very competitive areas, and Brazil offers unique differentiators for investors to consider.

For example, Brazil has one of the highest capacity factors for wind energy in the world, with an average above 40%. Brazil also has the highest growth rate for wind in Latin America over the last 10 years. Additionally, our solar irradiation is higher than those of other counties, such as Spain, France, and Germany. What’s more, the power generation segment has opportunities in auctions, free market (Corporate Power Purchase Agreements model), and distributed market (i.e. type of net metering model) – these are all important drivers for the growth of these two sources.

To conclude, Brazil´s energy sector has a successful regulatory framework that is prime for foreign direct investment. Additionally, all of the energy segments in Brazil (generation, transmission, and distribution) are open to private investors. Lastly, Brazil has a solid track record of success and growth in this sector, which is the reason why the power sector attracted so much foreign investment in 2019, as well as why we expect this growth to continue in the coming years.

Archives, Global Trade Daily, Software

How to Bring The Future Faster For Rural Education and Economic Development

December 8th, 2020 Marc Serber Leave a comment

Interview with Thomas P. , Thomas P. Miller & Associates Miller

What lessons did you learn from COVID-19 that TPMA and all companies should take with them and implement for the future even after we overcome the pandemic?

I think the reality is that the pandemic will be with us for a while, so we still have to be adjusting and making adaptations along the way. One thing that has been a lesson learned by all of us was that we all knew that online learning and virtual work would be happening in the near future, but one of the aspects of the pandemic which people overlooked is the fact that it brought the future faster to us. K-12 schools and higher education institutions have all had to adapt to e-Learning. That adaptation has caused parents or caregivers to also adapt.

In rural areas, the pandemic has also heightened attention on issues like broadband. In the past when we talked about broadband, all of us had sympathy for remote and rural locations. Now, however, we’re all impacted because of the heavy demand and reliance on it. When you’ve got five to six people in a house and some are trying to learn while others are trying to do work, the issue of broadband and digital connectivity becomes even more important than we previously considered!

The pandemic has also highlighted the different ways in which we are able to communicate. We used to rely on physical meetings to understand what was happening both, workwise and socially. Since we are now virtual, we’ve all had to sharpen our precision in communication.

From both a workforce and economic development standpoint, we’re really finding that adaptability equals survivability. For companies, and even employees who are able to adapt to the environment around them, I think that they’re not only going to continue finding success during the pandemic, but they will be more successful after it as well. It’s proving to be true more and more every day, especially as we’re looking at going into a second wave.

Do you have any tips for how to develop and cultivate relationships in an increasingly virtual marketplace?

One of the things that I’ve always thought was underappreciated in communication, and I think it’s been heightened in the environment which we find ourselves in now, is listening. Being able to listen in an active, intent way – Not just patiently listening until someone’s finished talking. I think listening in an active way is a skill that’s possible to hone and really develop in this kind of environment.

The other thing that we see is the human nature of this pandemic; that to some degree, there has been certain democratization to it, in the sense that we’re all vulnerable. So, it’s opened up channels and access to thought leaders and other leaders that previously we didn’t have. It’s also going to put additional stress and strain on certain systems, like higher education.

We’ve occasionally talked or written about the agricultural model that we all adopted on learning 140 years ago and that’s clearly an aspect of education that is front and center now. People feel much more comfortable accessing learning in an online way. I think we’re going to see a growth in competency-based learning, which is mastering specific competencies and moving at your own pace. I think that will be accelerated in the workforce world.

As far as the communications environment, I feel like the pandemic has really made the communications environment more casual. We’re seeing into people’s living rooms and their kitchens, with the husbands, wives, and kids running around. It’s just a much more personal environment.

So, I think the pandemic has cut down on some of the business aspects of relationships. It’s opening the door to a lot more comfortable interactions and a lot more personal one on one interactions than what we saw previously, even when we were face to face.

What strategies can teams use to find opportunity zones and foster economic development through crises such as recessions and pandemics?

There remains a lot of work to be done in opportunity zones.

At its core, an opportunity zone really involves a city or community or region, evaluating their own assets and presenting them via a prospectus so that it accentuates those assets and entices investment into the zone and via strategies that the prospectus lays out.

Strategies, in terms of needs that those communities have and the opportunity to develop them.

I think the intensity and uncertainty of the pandemic has been a distraction; it’s been tough for people to do the type of work to optimize their zones.

There’s been some recent news out that home prices in opportunity zones are rising at a slower pace than areas outside of opportunity zones, for example. One of the key things that I think communities are starting to realize is that these opportunity zones aren’t going to develop themselves. In order to do that, many of them have to get a better handle on the demographics, the businesses, what the housing environment is like, the whole nine yards!

Stakeholders need to take stock of what’s in the opportunity zones and come up with a strategy and implementation plan for success, because it’s not going to happen on its own. One of the things we are seeing in this COVID-19 environment is a real emergence of diversity, equity, and inclusion being focal points as to how those zones are developed. Gone are the days, I think, of when people just kind of accepted gentrification and said, “this is the way to go.”

I think people are really trying to look for ways to find inclusive, equitable development in these zones. A lot of communities are reaching out to firms like ours looking for help in doing that.

Where do you see Thomas P. Miller & Associates (TPMA) in the next five years?

We’ve survived the pandemic for eight months so far, knock on wood! After 31 years of operating in a non-pandemic environment, we will continue to live at the intersection of education, workforce, and community development. There’s no shortage of work to be done, and frankly, there’s no shortage of opportunities for individuals and businesses to succeed.

We will continue to look at the future and figure out how we can help individuals, communities, and in some cases whole states, position themselves not for the economy of the future, but the economy of now. That is going to mean more of a focus on skills, not just traditional degrees. It’s going to accentuate lifelong learning in all its various facets. I think TPMA has a vibrant future ahead of it.

It’s all about talent. As we continue to help others, we’ve got to help ourselves and be able to retain and recruit the best talent that has the ‘innovation DNA’ to live on the edge.

We know that right now, as in any moment of disaster or recovery, people are going to be looking out for firms like ours, for that “North Star.” So we work really hard to try and stay ahead of that curve and be innovative while also making sure our work is actionable now and not only actionable in the future.

It’s a holistic approach to recovery where we’re guiding clients through, both for now and in the future.

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1. Think about Your Target Audience

2. Find Local Influencers to Help Promote Your Global Brand

3. Create a Social Media Profile for Each Market

Over to You

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