The Two Big Challenges

There is a saying in business that “time kills all deals”, which means that the longer a project lingers, the higher the risk that it will fall through. Industrial development can be fraught with challenges. The complexities of land assembly, zoning, and incentives are notable; however, the two biggest challenges that can delay decision-making and/or project implementation are public opposition and insufficient infrastructure. Communities that get ahead of these two challenges consistently move projects faster and with far less conflict than those that don’t.

Community Engagement and Communication covers why trust is what actually gets projects approved, and what a real engagement process looks like from first meeting to ribbon cutting. Infrastructure Needs covers what different types of industrial users actually require in water, power, transportation, and utilities, so a community can tell early whether a site is ready or needs investment first. When communities plan ahead, they are more likely to attract the type of development they want, without the pushback from the residents.