Happy Monday! Last week in Dayton proved enlightening and challenging. Focus groups and interviews associated with the City of Moraine Economic Development Strategy showed outstanding innovation in the areas of workforce development, regional attraction/retention, and utility delivery (especially for heavy water users). However we saw real challenges, particularly the lack of large competitive industrial sites; a glut of industrial buildings (including the almost 4 million square feet of GM space), and the future of electric power delivery with Ohio’s renewable energy mandates and potential cap and trade legislation. One overriding positive theme was cooperation and a dedicated focus on helping the laid-off auto workers (and others) find new jobs!
This week in Dallas at the CoreNet Global Summit, I am observing much lower attendance due to travel budgets, but a fighting spirit among attendees that says: “We can make it through this recession and start building again soon.” I learned at one session today that a major Japanese auto maker is rapidly adjusting its domestic facility strategy due to the drastic market changes. For instance, they are mouthballing a plant expansion, postponing some plant maintenence work in favor of cost savings, yet responding to a booming parts/repair surge which is requiring new regional distribution capacity. New challenges bring new opportunity. Hey, there is plenty of space in the Dayton area! More soon…Deane