Business Facilities - December 2008 - (Page D4)

from further consideration. Once the community list is narrowed down, site visits to view alternative lease facilities, land, or buildings for sale should be made. Before you visit each site, create another checklist. This checklist should cover considerations such as zoning, topography, landscaping requirements, access to site, storm drainage, floor loadings, lighting levels, clear height, and utilities. These considerations should be prioritized and then each site should be graded based on how well it meets the criteria. Many of the items on the list may require extensive investigation before a final evaluation can be made. Now that you know what to evaluate, here are some of the communities vying to be on your shortlist. Mississippi: The Right Location for Success Selecting the right location is a key component of any business’ strategic model. In fact, it can make or break a company’s outlook. Companies have to look for the right blend of resources, workforce, quality of life and business climate. A Mississippi location offers these advantages plus easy access to the top regional, national and international markets. BMW understands the significance of the right location. “There are more than one million BMWs on the road now, and whenever possible, we are committed to providing next-day parts delivery to BMW retailers,” said Hans Duenzl, vice president of service, parts and engineering for BMW, when the company announced the location of its Senatobia regional parts distribution center. That goal is possible because of Mississippi’s central location to major markets in North America. Mississippi has attracted approximately 2,300 warehouse and distribution facilities to the state, employing more than 29,000 workers. D-4 Recently, Creative Logistics and Warehousing announced 133 new jobs and a $2.15-million investment, and Exel, Inc. announced an $11million expansion. Both companies are located in north Mississippi, along with FedEx Ground, Williams-Sonoma, Future Electronics and many more. Central Mississippi also is attracting major distribution concerns. Belk, Inc. invested $20 million in a 174,000square-foot distribution facility in Jackson that will serve 110 Belk department stores. Tim Belk, company chairman and CEO, says, “We expect that our new distribution center in Jackson….will meet our current distribution needs and accommodate our growth over the next five years.” Mississippi is in the heart of one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, which offers warehouse and distribution facilities easy access to much of their market. The state offers distributors a number of location options, including an abundance of land available in industrial and technology parks throughout the state, as well as locations in close proximity to major airports, particularly in the Jackson and Memphis metropolitan areas. With Toyota, Nissan, PACCAR and other automotive manufacturers and suppliers flocking to the South, Mississippi has some major strategic advantages for that industry sector as well. Memphis, home to FedEx and a hub for UPS, is just north of the Mississippi/Tennessee state line. The state’s location, which is central to both U.S. coasts, is within a day’s drive of more than 50% of the U.S. business population. The state’s transportation systems—railways, roadways, airports and waterways—are fully integrated to maximize transport options. Today, 758.6 miles of new four-lane highways are in use by the public. Additionally, Mississippi highways were ranked as the fourth best in the entire country in a national transportation study. Mississippi also is home to 75 airports, and 17 rail systems serve the state with more than 2,800 miles of track. Mississippi’s 15 Mississippi offers the right combination of location, workforce, and business climate for the growing distribution and warehousing sectors ports include two deep water ports on the Gulf Coast that provide access to worldwide commerce. These advantages create significant cost reduction and improved operational control for automotive companies and other manufacturers seeking warehouse and distribution solutions. With a skilled workforce, flexible incentives and on-time, under-budget project management, Mississippi is the right location. Baton Rouge, LA: Outpacing the Nation in Transportation Employment Transportation and warehousing employment activity in the Baton Rouge, LA region far outpaces the trend in the nation as a whole. In the U.S., the logistics industry accounts for just 3% of total employment, while in the Baton Rouge region it accounts for 7% of regional jobs. Perhaps that’s why Kellogg’s North America Company recently A S P E C I A L A D V E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N O F B U S I N E S S FA C I L I T I E S A N D S U P P LY C H A I N M A N A G E M E N T PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF MDA

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Business Facilities - December 2008

Business Facilities - December 2008 Contents First Word Snapshots Corporate Moves: North Carolina Gold Award: New Engine for Growth in Virginia Silver Award: Tennessee Gets the Big Prize Bronze Award: Enrichment in Idaho Falls Honorable Mentions International Reach From America's Heartland Supply Chain Priorities Metro Spotlight: Greenville/ Spartanburg, SC The Magnolia State Has It All A Real Estate Mega-Merger State of the Year Ask the Expert Advertiser Index

Business Facilities - December 2008

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