In our continuous effort to keep clients and industry leaders apprised of developments, BLS provides regular updates on incentives programs, new or pending changes in legislature and changes in state or local budgets. BLS partners and alliances have also written for several industry publications on a variety of topics including incentives programs, economic development strategies, workforce issues, among others.
Biggins Lacy Shapiro Announces Nine 'Data Center Qualified Sites' for American Electric Power
News
Princeton, NJ --- June 4, 2013 – Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company, LLC (BLS & Co.) announced today the rollout of nine “Data Center Qualified Sites†for American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), one of the nation’s largest utilities. After a comprehensive review of locations across AEP’s 11-state territory, BLS qualified sites with reliable and redundant power supply, strong fiber networks, low disaster risks and a business friendly climate. [
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More On The Midwest Manufacturing Renaissance
Biggins Lacy Shapiro quoted in an article addressing a midwest manufacturing. [
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State Launches Strategic State Planning Process (2011)
Articles
Panelists Discuss Appropriate Circumstances for Greenfield Development [
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Designing a Roadmap for Headquarters Relocation (2011)
Articles
Relocating a company headquarters is a major decision. Follow a thorough and logical methodology to ensure the best site choice for your business. [
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Connecting the Dots: The New Definition of Client for Economic Developers (2010)
Announcement
The conundrum for economic developers "to whom should I spend time, energy, money to establish relationships to achieve the greatest benefit and ROI, the end users, brokers or site selection consultants?" [
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Incentives
Please Don't Go: State incentives to retain jobs evolve with the times, but defining "at risk" can be tricky
News
As the global economy struggles to recover from the worst recession in recent memory, persistent high unemployment and low investment have begun to redefine the way economic development policy makers think about employment goals. The simple but harsh math of economic development starts with a basic premise: There can be no job growth before first retaining existing employment.
A growing number of states have modified
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Sealing The Deal
News
Why states are incorporating deal closing funds into economic development strategy.
States trying to get a big corporate facility project across the goal line sometimes have to call special legislative sessions to approve
incentive packages or other special statutory measures designed to cinch the deal. But in the interest of speed, recent years have seen an increase in discretionary incentive funds established for just this purpose. Ben Weisfuse, an associate in the New
York City office of Biggins Lacy Shapiro and Co., offers his analysis. [
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Winning incentives: Government help may be available for your business
News
Businesses often qualify for government incentives to expand or relocate, but it often takes specialized help to get them. [
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Governor Christie signs legislation that makes important changes to New Jerseys game changing incentives program
E-blast
Newly signed NJ legislation (S-2972) addresses practical financial and market challenges that had inhibited the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program (UTHTC) from fulfilling its potential. [
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NJ Legislature enacts new incentives package to stimulate jobs/investment, part 1 (2011)
E-blast
Two legislative acts, the Business Retention and Relocation Assistance Grant (BRRAG) Tax credit and a new Closing Fund just passed. [
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Q&A with Andy Shapiro - Business Facilities (2010)
Articles
Business Facilities Magazine asks Andy Shapiro [
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River Crossing for the Ages (2010)
Articles
The relocation of 1,600 high-salaried jobs from Manhattan to Jersey City may change perceptions of the New Jersey business climate. [
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Special Presentation to the Maryland Tax Reform Commission (2009)
Presentation
BLS presented to the Maryland Tax Reform Commission, as part of their on-going review of business incentives and regulatory issues.
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Unlocking the Solution to Accessing Capital (2011)
Articles
Investment experts detail some of today's sources of financing that businesses are using and share advice and best practices for those looking to access capital. [
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Governor Chris Christie Releases Subcommittee Reports (2010)
Report
Report released by the Subcommittee of Economic Development & Job Growth to Governor Christie's Transition Team. [
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Highlight of New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act (2009)
Report
Highlight of New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009 [
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New Regulations - Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit (2008)
Report
Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act is a powerful new incentive for urban redevelopment but contains ambiguities and limitations. [
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NJ Biz Real Estate Qtrly: The Real Deal (2009)
Articles
The real deal - State''s creative incentives help lure major tenant from Manhattan to Jersey City. [
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Not Your Father's Workforce: Reimagining Job Creation Incentives (2008)
Articles
Highly skilled and highly specialized workers are opting out of their father's work force, and into alternative arrangements. [
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Presentation on the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Program (2008)
Presentation
Presentation on the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Program to NJ NAIOP's chapter [
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The Incentives Game - A Work In Progress (2008)
Articles
New Jersey boasts a fairly robust set of business incentive programs [
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An Eye on the Bottom Line (2008)
Articles
A new tax credit program and an ambitious plan to restructure the NJ state's finances are being met with some caution. [
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Cash-Strapped State and Biopharma Growth do not halt Project Competition (2008)
Articles
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals specifically, are still one of the best bets in future economic growth. [
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Catching the Sino Wave (2008)
Articles
As foreign capital pours into China, little attention is being paid to the growing stream of Chinese overseas direct investment (ODI) that has begun to flow in the opposite direction, including into North America. [
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Dirty secret of gubernatorial campaign: Tax incentives for business won't be going away (2010)
Articles
No company offering to bring hundreds of new jobs here is going to do so unless state government throws in a tax incentive sweetener to seal the deal. [
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Maryland's Competitive Strengths, Challenges Will Be Focus of MEDA Annual Conference (2010)
Announcement
This is a special announcement from The Maryland Economic Development Association. BLS Managing Directors are frequently called upon to participate at special events and conferences as panelists and moderators, providing insight on economic development strategies, economic development incentives, site selection and land use strategies. Jay Biggins, Executive Managing Director, participated as a panelists for this event. [
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Marylands sales force debates state competitiveness (2010)
Articles
Jay Biggins, Executive Managing Director, discusses Maryland's competitive strengths and disadvantages [
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New Jersey Economic Development Legislative Update (2007)
New Jersey Economic Development Legislative Update, including New Tax Credit Program for Businesses Located Near Urban Rail Transit Hubs and reporting requirements for economic development Subsidies [
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NJ EDA Approves First UTHTC Application (2008)
News
BLS served as consultant to Verizon, the first approved recipient of the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit (UTHTC). [
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BLS & Moffitt Cancer Center Announcement (2007)
News
BLS congratulates its client, Moffitt Cancer Center, on the successful funding of its cooperative venture with Merck. [
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CT Campaign Finance Reform (2006)
News
Recent campaign finance "reforms" in Connecticut, which have serious and immediate implications for companies doing business in CT [
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Take the Money and Don't Run: Encouraging More Job Creation (2006)
Articles
Incentives aren't the free ride they used to be. Now governments are making sure that their incentive plans come with a catch.
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Corporate Incentives face Legal Challenges (2006)
Articles
Recent developments in the courts and legislation merit attention from all senior manager involved in their company''s location decisions. [
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Important Update for NJ Data Center users (2006)
News
Potential new cost burdens could negatively impact New Jersey''s ability to attract Data Center Projects. [
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Incentives after Cuno - Uncertainties Continue for States & Businesses (2006)
Articles
Uncertainties after a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court overturned a decision by the Federal Court of Appeals. Reviews the path of this dispute, where it has taken us, and its important implications for state economic development policy and corporate location strategies. [
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BLS Announcement (2006)
News
SBB becomes Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company, LLC. Going forward, you will be seeing us most often as BLS Location Economics, or, more simply, BLS. [
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Bristol-Myers Squibb choses Deven (2006)
News
Bristol-Myers Squibb Chooses Devens for $660-million Plant, converting World War II barracks into modern biologics lab and manufacturing space. [
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Economic Development
A key to economic development? Make manufacturing cool again
News
A skilled, flexible work force can be as valuable an economic development tool as interstate access and shovel-ready sites, a site selection. What's needed to build that type of a work force? Help make manufacturing cool again, by building apprenticeship programs, creating school curriculums that line up with industry needs and forming more partnerships between industry and the educational community, said Andy Shapiro, managing director with Princeton, N.J.-based Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co.
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Clean Energy: An Ultra-Dynamic Game of Chess
News
championing clean energy is like playing chess with the pieces AND the squares constantly moving around. Multiple forces are at work shaping, pushing, and pulling the industry. Legislation is ephemeral. Polysilicon prices have been extremely volatile over the past five years. Cheap natural gas complements wind power as a backup source when the wind stops but also competes with it for market share. Game-changing technology is an ongoing occurrence. The game pieces (or in this case, industry sectors) all have their unique strengths and limitations. [
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Knowledge-Based Economic Development: Measuring the Talent Pool For Innovation Capacity
With the growing attention to the competitive advantages of a knowledge-based economy has come a renewed focus on innovation as the process that can transform information into value and thus spur growth and development. This pursuit of knowledge-based economic development has intensified the focus on localized assets and resources -- and in particular the human capital dimensions of innovation. [
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An Economic Developers Guide to Social Media (2010)
Report
Whitepaper on how to execute a successful social media campaign, sharing the core do's and don'ts for economic developers. [
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Donald Fry on Northrop Grumman: Economic Development is a Contact Sport (2010)
Articles
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Economic Development Roundtable (2010)
Presentation
CoreNet Global's interactive economic development roundtable discusses Incentives, Internet marketing strategies and growth industries [
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Energy sector momentum picking up speed (2010)
Articles
Energy has powerful potential in our region. From conservation to generation, the 180 energy-related companies in our 16 counties employ more than 21,000 people, with 1,000 new energy jobs created on average each year. A Georgia Tech/Duke University study that came out last week shows how to tap even more of energy's potential. [
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Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Analysis on Economic Development Incentive Programs and Strategies (2011)
Announcement
Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Releases Analysis on Economic Development Incentive Programs and Strategies: A third in a series of studies conducted on behalf of Greater Fort Lauderdale CEO Council [
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Innovation Factors Drives Decision Making
Presentation
Andy Shapiro participates in CoreNet Global's Panel discussion on How Innovation + Technology Are Driving Economic Development Decisions. [
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New Jersey Future Welcomes Three New Board Members (2010)
Announcement
New Jersey Future announce 3 new members to its Board of Trustees: Jay Biggins, executive managing director of Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company; Gualberto (Gil) Medina, executive managing director of Cushman & Wakefield; and Stefan Pryor, deputy mayor for Economic Development, City of Newark. [
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Proven Marketer to Lead NJ State Investment Promotion Organization (2010)
E-blast
Tracye McDaniel appointed Choose New Jersey's first Chief Executive Officer. Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co advised and helped manage national recruitment effort. [
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Region's prospects for drug firms mixed (2010)
Articles
Charlotte region's labor pool is deep enough to staff a large pharmaceutical manufacturer - but the area still has some work to do to attract companies on a larger scale. [
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The True Value of Workforce Training (2010)
Articles
An article highlighting the importance of Workforce Training programs and key ways any economic development incentive programs should be evaluated for effectiveness. [
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2010 CoreNet Global Economic Development Leadership Awards Application deadline extended (2010)
News
Special Announcement extending deadline for 2010 Corenet Global Economic Development Leadership Awards. [
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Service Providers Developing Innovative Strategies
Announcement
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Current State of Economic Development - Part 1 (2006)
Articles
BLS reviewed recent and pending changes in economic development policies and legislation in the Tri-State region [
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Current State of Economic Development - Part 2 (2006)
Articles
Overview of New York and Connecticut economic development initiatives. [
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Learning Curves Ahead (2007)
Articles
This article address the workplace and how it is being transformed by knowledge-centered and technology-driven skills and occupations. [
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Nascar Incentives Disclosure Ruling Poses Competitive Risks (2006)
Articles
NASCAR's search for a location for its brand new Hall of Fame, once again pitted Atlanta and Charlotte against each other. [
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2009 CoreNet Economic Development Leadership Awards Announced.
Announcement
2009 CoreNet Economic Development Leadership Awards Announced. BLS Sponsors Awards for 5th Consecutive Year
[
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2010 CoreNet Economic Development Leadership Awards Announced
Announcement
2010 CoreNet Economic Development Leadership Awards Announced [
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Site Selection
Location Strategies in the Life Sciences Industries: Trends, Factors and Process
Geography may not seem to be an obvious element in the success of a bio-science enterprise. Yet consider all of the cities, regions, states and countries that promote themselves as the "right" locations for specialized research, development, commercialization and advanced manufacturing to enterprises, big and small, across the spectrum of the life sciences industry sector. [
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Selecting a Site: Howard County With Andrew Shapiro
News
An Interview The Business Monthly about how Howard County as a business location. [
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The Importance (or Non-Importance?) of Right-to-Work in Location Decisions
News
Many companies refuse to consider locations that are not in right-to-work states, but should it be a threshold criterion?
The pros and cons of right-to-work (RTW) laws have been debated for decades. Indiana's recent conversion to RTW has given fresh life to the debate, especially in the Midwest. Do RTW laws increase job creation? Do they lower wages? Are they good for states? Will other Midwestern states be forced to follow suit to compete for new jobs and investment?
While there is a body of research dedicated to the effect of RTW on economic prosperity... [
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The Role Of The Site Selector
The modern site selector is a one-person decision support
system: part mediator, part guide, and all-around confidant to harried senior managers who are unfamiliar with and too busy for the responsibilities thrust upon them. The role of the site selector has changed profoundly over the last century, a change shaped largely by greater access to better information, stunning technological advances, and the rapid global migration of human and financial capital. This article maps the origins of this fascinating profession, outlines the process by which companies make location decisions, describes the varied roles that site selectors play in this process, and offers one practitioner's opinion on what the future holds. [
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Global Location Partners Presentation on Research & Development Trends in CoreNet New Orleans (2010)
Presentation
Global Location Partners (GLP) Presentation on Research & Development Trends in CoreNet New Orleans (2010) [
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Keys to Locating the Right Community for your Data Center Project (2011)
Articles
Tim Comerford, BLS Energy Specialists addresses how companies should find suitable data center sites that meet their infrastructure and security requirements. [
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Location Strategies in the Life Sciences Industries: Trends, Factors and Process (2011)
Articles
This article defines the life sciences and highlights the importance of workplace geography and the process of site selection in light of core trends. [
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Site Selection and Incentives Negotiation: A Multinational Case Study - Part 1 (2010)
Articles
Provides readers with a practical understanding of how the site selection process is employed around the globe with a hypothetical case study. This article provides an in-depth examination of two case study "projects," evaluating the impact of incentives offered in three different destinations, both domestic and international (i.e., the U.S., Europe, and Asia). [
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Top Global Site Location Consultants Form Site Selectors Guild (2011)
Announcement
site selection consultants form guild, to facilitate direct contact between corporations seeking guidance and qualified site selection companies; also serves Economic development organizations (EDOs) by offering access to a network of contacts. [
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Global Location Partners Presentation on Alternative Energy in CoreNet Las Vegas (2009)
Presentation
Global Location Partners (GLP) Presentation on Alternative Energy in CoreNet Las Vegas (2009) [
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The Next Pharmaceuticals Giant: Is China Overrated? (2008)
Articles
Reviews the status of India and China in the global pharmaceutical market, discussing the benefits and pitfalls of doing business in these markets [
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Top 10 Overrated Investment Destinations (2008)
Articles
You Think They're Hot, But They're Not. Top 10 Overrated Investment Destinations. [
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Energy Services
Bright Future For Solar Power
Tim Comerford, Vice President for Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company and Managing Director of Sugarloaf Associates discusses the future of solar power in this article from the Sept/Oct Issue of Expansion Solutions Magazine. [
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Announcing the launch of New Energy Sector Practice (2011)
Announcement
Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company announces new Energy Services, led by Tim Comerford. Tim will assist with energy procurement, renewable energy installation, utility relocation and infrastructure assessments, with a special focus on mission-critical facilities. [
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How Green Are We Really? (2011)
Articles
NJ and Company asks industry professionals for their insight on the question, how green are we really?
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Location Strategies: Corporate Sustainability's New Sweet Spot (2011)
Articles
"Corporate sustainability is here to stay and the reason for this kind of traction is that a focus on sustainability generates tangible benefits across multiple disciplines." [
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Smart Ventures - Comerford Helps Energize BLS (2011)
Articles
Former head of PSEG Area Development now assists Princeton Firm that specializes in Location Economics. [
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