Chamber holds site consultant tour of QC and multiplies our region’s reach

Last week the Chamber team hosted four national site consultants who spent two days immersed in the region, learning more about our targeted industries, businesses, workforce higher education programs and partnerships, plentiful natural resources and the QC’s innovative spirit.

We work closely with our partners to promote the region’s strengths and the land and sites available for businesses – new and expanding – seeking a Midwest location. Site consultants request information and proposals to identify the best location for their client’s operations.

This time, as the Chamber has done in the past, instead of waiting for a site consultant to approach us with a specific project, we invited a group here to see, feel and hear why the QC is a great place for business, for workers and families.

The site consultants: Amy Gerber, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield, Atlanta; Scott Kupperman, Founder, Kupperman Location Solutions, Chicago; Garet Tomlinson, Business Development Associate, Mohr Partners, Dallas; and Shazan Rizvi, Senior Director-Credits and Incentives Leader, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand, LLC., Chicago, left Thursday after taking part in panel and roundtable discussions.

In just 48 hours, the group engaged with more than 50 business executives, economic development professionals and higher education partners. They learned about the region’s workforce characteristics, infrastructure, available properties, low cost of living and the QC’s progress and momentum. They experienced our downtowns, restaurants and attractions, and our welcoming community.

What they took home with them is the knowledge that our region makes a great impression, is alive with revitalization and new development, actively works in partnership to build a skilled workforce and most importantly, we are aligned in our goals to grow the QC.

During the panel discussion, held in a room overlooking the river and I-74 bridge, Tomlinson said sometimes it is easy to take for granted what you see in front of you every day, but to people new to the community, it makes a significant impact.

“We need to take the opportunity to market our region because we are on the cusp of realizing strong economic growth,” said Chamber Vice President, Business & Economic Growth, Tami Petsche. “The site consultants all recognized how well we collaborate and how deeply we believe that what is good for one is good for the entire region. That is an important element prospective companies want to see.”

The consultants offered feedback on the region’s strengths and opportunities. During the panel discussion, the site consultants referenced revitalized downtowns, healthy neighborhoods and clean, green communities as advantages. They stated very clearly the benefit of regionalism; being a bi-state area gives our community added strengths, assets and resources.

Tomlinson noted many states have set clean energy goals for the future. But here, MidAmerican Energy already has wind farms up and running. “That is a huge thing. You are way ahead of the curve and I would absolutely put that on everything you send out. You also have the Mississippi River just sitting at your doorstep,” he said.

Kupperman said the QC’s regional mindset is evident. “And you have competent people who are representing the region, who are able to articulate the benefits very clearly. You can tell they are connected within the community and closely to people in business, workforce and education. They are the resource brokers who are there to connect consultants with the answers. For site consultants, that is very important.”

The QC workforce is skilled, something the consultants encouraged promoting more. They suggested the region provide more comprehensive information on buildings and sites, including current and future capacity for water and wastewater. They also advised highlighting the flexibility of buildings and sites for different uses and having all infrastructure already in place. Speed to market is essential for businesses seeking a new location, Gerber said.

Chris Caves, Chamber Vice President, Business & Economic Growth, said city and county partners often ask for guidance on greenfield sites. “Does our community invest in gas and electric or do we put a spec building on it? These are legitimate questions and Gerber encouraged the group to ‘take site development as far forward as possible and document every detail.’ It’s important to get the infrastructure to a property we’re interested in moving so it is ready to go when site selectors call. I know everyone walked away from the panel discussion considering their advice,” said Caves.

The consultants were able to ask questions and get real-time answers first-hand from companies operating here, “which gives them confidence about all the positives of doing business in the QC. It is a boots-on-the-ground experience,” Petsche said.

“It was invaluable,” Caves said. “It's one thing to be introduced to a community in print or digital media format, but it's a completely different experience to come here and meet the people and personalities that give our community its unique culture. The site selectors said economic development is all about creating relationships. We wanted to make a great impression, so they would promote our region to others in their network. They may not have a project right now, but they are going to tell others in their network about all the positive things happening in our region. They have essentially become influential multipliers for the Quad Cities,” Caves said.