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Site Selection + Incentives

Strategic growth begins with the right location

As businesses navigate rising costs, labor shortages, geopolitical shifts, and supply chain disruptions, location strategy has become a critical driver of long-term success, not just a logistical decision. Smith + Howard’s Site Selection + Incentives (SSI) team helps businesses make informed, data-driven decisions while securing valuable incentives that reduce costs and support operational efficiency and growth.

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How we help

Our Site Selection + Incentives team guides companies through the complexities of location strategy and incentive optimization. Whether launching a new facility or headquarters, expanding existing operations, or relocating, we align site decisions with core business goals to help reduce costs, access talent, minimize risk, and maximize economic development opportunities that drive long-term success.

We take an integrated, data-informed approach to location strategy, combining labor market insights, logistics data, and infrastructure analysis to help businesses evaluate location and incentive options with clarity and confidence. Our services include:

  • Supply Chain Optimization: Assess and align location decisions with transportation networks, supplier proximity, and distribution efficiency.
  • Speed to Market + Risk Mitigation: Streamline site selection and due diligence to uncover risks early, reduce delays, and accelerate project timelines.
  • Industrial Real Estate:  Leverage our national network of brokers and developers to secure competitive sites with deep local insight into permitting, infrastructure, and market dynamics.
  • Incentives Negotiation: Maximize federal, state, and local incentives, including tax credits, grants, and workforce development funding.
  • Market Entry Analysis: Evaluate new markets with insight into labor dynamics, cost structures, regulatory requirements, and competitive positioning.
  • Labor Analytics Reports: Provide detailed workforce intelligence including wage benchmarks, talent availability, and hiring competitiveness.
  • Talent Strategy Integration: Support post-selection workforce planning through talent acquisition, organizational readiness, and execution support.
  • Tax Credit Strategy: Identify and assist in capturing federal, state and local tax credits whether tied to expansion, job creation, location or ongoing operations.
  • ROI-Driven Decision Making: Financial modeling to evaluate tax structure, incentives impact, and long-term cost drivers for maximum return.
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Who We Serve

We support a diverse group of industrial clients nationwide, including manufacturers, agricultural technology firms, logistics and distribution providers, clean energy companies, and others navigating growth and expansion. Whether you’re investing in a single site or pursuing a multi-market strategy, we offer the insight and structure needed to evaluate options and move forward with confidence.

Our services are ideal for businesses that are:

  • Planning new facility investments
  • Expanding operations
  • Relocating or consolidating facilities
  • Launching a new headquarters
  • Investing in automation, equipment or new technologies
  • Creating new jobs that may qualify for incentives
  • Implementing employee training or upskilling programs
  • Pursuing initial U.S. market entry
  • Optimizing distribution networks

With national project experience, analytics expertise, and strong relationships with economic development officials, we take a collaborative approach tailored to each client’s unique needs. Our team evaluates key location drivers such as labor availability, infrastructure readiness, logistics alignment, tax policy, and incentive potential, using the most current and relevant data available. This comprehensive and customized process ensures your project is matched with communities that support long-term success and align with your operational goals.

Guidance Grounded in Data and Partnership+

If you’re considering a new location, facility investment, or workforce expansion, our team is here to offer insight grounded in data, experience, and strategy. We welcome the opportunity to serve as a sounding board as you shape your next move, helping you evaluate options, avoid costly missteps, and uncover opportunities others may overlook.

Let’s connect to explore how we can support your goals. Contact us today using the brief form below.