New Website

Our new website is finally up and running but still needs a few final touches.

http://www.advanceplanningassociates.com/

Crescent Corridor a maturing concept

Norfolk Southern Caps Rail Yard Plans With Few Objections

Memphis Daily News - TN, USA

Phil Bredesen, Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman and landowner William Adair (from left) at last week's event to announce the site selection....

...The facility will be able to accommodate more than 327,000 containers and trailers annually, and up to 2,177 parked containers and trailers on chasses...

...It will serve as a key component of the railroad’s Crescent Corridor, a 2,500-mile, $2.5 billion public-private rail network linking the southeastern and northeastern U.S. and designed to take 1 million long-haul trucks off the road...

...Construction should begin on the Memphis Regional Intermodal Terminal once a few hurdles are cleared, including rezoning of the land to industrial plus the requisite site plans and building permits. Also, the railroad and the state will need to build an overpass on Tenn. 57 under which the rail spur into the intermodal yard can pass. “This is a great site for us,” Moorman told The Daily News. “The Crescent Corridor is a concept that’s matured over the past six or seven years...

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=43721

Helping Others...

Jobs and Internships - We are associated with a number of individuals and firms representing almost every profession from financial to environmental. From time to time we need help outside our current circle of associates. Submit your resume or letter of interest to us for jobs and internships.

Volunteer – Join a Team – Give Back - We like to help communities and non-profits when we can. If you are an individual that would like to use your professional training or area of expertise to assist as a valuable team volunteer, please let us know by describing what you do, the time you have and any other limitations or skills. Helping others just makes good sense. Please contact us with your information.

Submit Your Project - The need now seems greater than ever before. There are more community projects, non-profits and individuals that need a helping hand. We enjoy helping and help when we can. Do you have a community project? Submit a letter describing your project, how it helps your community and your estimated level of need to our attention.

Data Center and Site Selection - IT IS A PROCESS

Inside Yahoo's Site Selection Process

Data Center Knowledge - Lawrenceville, NJ, USA

July 13, 2009 : Rich Miller

Yahoo officials would ultimately make five site visits to the area before deciding on the Lockport site, which will feature an innovative energy-efficient...It was an effort that involved more than 100 officials from 31 different entities, with Buffalo Niagara Enterprise directing traffic.

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/07/13/inside-yahoos-site-selection-process/

http://ycorpblog.com/2009/06/30/serving-up-greener-data-centers/

http://www.buffalonews.com/145/story/731108.html

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/06/30/its-official-yahoo-building-in-lockport-ny/

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/06/30/yahoos-fresh-air-computing-coop/

Farmers are some of our best clients

A Buffett Turns to Farming in Africa

Wall Street Journal - USA

Africa's geography is so diverse that its population has to depend on far more than two crops for its calories. Many of Africa's farmers are poorer,...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204621904574246440378843148.html

What Advance Planning Associates, LC does...

Advance Planning Associates, LC has expertise that encompasses the design and creation of location strategies for business; industry, government and the growing segment of not-for-profits in the global market and economy of today. Our core area services include:

Site Selection
Business Geography
Planning
Community Development

Site Selection is a designed process that results in the site choice best suited to the environment of the business or industry and that leads to the successful perpetuation of qualities to that particular organization. Site selection is the spatial location of an actual or planned structure or set of structures using criteria defined by the client coupled with carefully measured due diligence.

Business Geography synthesizes analysis, technology and practical experience to improve real estate development and investment activities. Business Geography utilizes the power of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technologies, analysis, and data. Region, movement, human-environmental interactions, place and location are the geographic themes considered essential to the well being of an organizations future.

Planning is an analytical process that considers the physical, social and economic aspects of communities while examining the connections between them. The planning process includes the consideration of existing conditions and the future trends of an area or region. The planning process includes detailed analysis and strategic alternatives for solving problems in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. The tools of planning implementation include such things as land use controls and economic develop strategies. Planning is the application of foresight to action.

Community Development is the process of helping a community and region strengthen itself and develop towards its full potential. We work in partnership with local people and organizations to meet identified needs. We help find funds with grant and loan applications, self-help and long term commitment to sustaining business support. We believe that self-activation, leadership, education and sustainable community and economic goals are key components of sustainable development.

Advance Planning Associates, LC applies years of experience with the defined process of our core services to provide you with choices that perpetuate your business goals. Our InSite Selection System, which can be applied to each core area, helps provide the foresight you need to bring plans into action

Our Services
Custom Site Selection - Site Selection Analysis - Site Selection Scoping - Due Diligence -Project Management Services - Business Geography - Geographic Information Systems - Business Location Analysis - Business Location Assistance - Planning & Community Development - Comprehensive Planning - Strategic Planning· Land Use Concerns - Conceptual Planning - Zoning Matters - Subdivision - Project Planning - Town Planning - Downtown Planning - Entitlements - Grant Applications - Community Sessions - Community Strategies - Presentations - Workshops - Public Presentation Strategies - Workshops and Retreats - EDA & EDC Evaluations - Marketing Assistance - Real Estate Development - Adaptive Re-use Strategies - Adaptive Design Programming - Retrenchment Approaches - Downtown Development - Land Asset Management

Business Geography and Site Selection

The critical importance of business geography and custom site selection is evident in the business decisions that we are all reading about these days. Click on the link and read how decisions were not based just on financial metrics but on GEOGRAPHY AND SERVICE AREAS....

Dealers dealt blow, but also opportunity - Detroit News and ...

...Indicating the decisions were not based on financial metrics but on geography and overlapping service areas. He said the goal was to avoid situations where a Dodge dealer is across the street from a Chrysler dealer.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090517/FREE/305179981

BUSINESS GEOGRAPHY

PLANNING

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

SITE SELECTION

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."
Marcel Proust

Consider your figurehead

"Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love."

Jane Austen (1775-1817)

Figureheads on ships conveyed a sense of prosperity that reflected favorably on the vessel's owners, crew, builders, and often it’s community. When the owners ordered a ship for construction, they often decided on a figurehead that was an additional cost. The carving was placed in the bow so that its eyes could find the way and the positive properties, directly or indirectly, further the purpose of the journey.

Today, more than ever, we engage our clients in an initial conference about the purpose of their project. This first meeting that we call a "scoping session" helps identify the purpose of the project and provides the eyes or vision. Not unlike the journeys of a tall ship, projects today require financial risk, plenty of "up-front" money and a journey or project time-line that can last years. To achieve a sense of prosperity the development projects of today need the same attention. The project, it's owners, staff as well as the community all need a constant “figurehead” vision to guide the often, long journey of their project from start to finish.

Advance Planning Associates, LC wants you to think about purpose. We are prepared to help you consider that figurehead, guiding the way and further the purpose of your journey.

We love what we do, many of our clients we count as our friends, and like the pangs of disappointed love we understand that the journey to success does not come without disappointment along the way.

Monday, April 27, 2009, 12:08pm EDT Modified: Monday, April 27, 2009, 12:09pm


Ohio launches site-selection Web tool


Dayton Business Journal - by Kevin Kemper DBJ Contributor


Companies looking for real estate in Ohio are getting a helping hand from a new state government Web service. The Ohio Business Development Coalition has unveiled ohioinsite.com, an Internet-based site selection service................

http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2009/04/27/daily9.html

Measuring the pipeline...

How do you measure the pipeline?

Understanding your market competition is a critical part of due diligence. How you measure potential competing projects will impact your level of success. Accurate due diligence is an important step of the site selection process. By knowing and measuring what is in the pipeline will give you, your board or your community the background knowledge necessary to proceed.

What is the pipeline?

It is not the 1969 song by the Chantays. It is not the comic book mutant character that could teleport himself. How cool would that be?

So what is the pipeline? The pipeline for your project is simply a summary report listing the same type of projects that may compete for your market. Without getting specific or identifying clients, projects could be just about anything - hotels, restaurants, office buildings, flex space, warehouse space, bowling alleys, book stores, food stores, parts stores, farm markets, schools, residential developments. You get the idea.

Who is responsible for keeping track of the pipeline?

You!

States and regional councils are interested in "selling" their area. Communities are interested in "selling" their town. Franchise groups are interested in "selling" their franchise. Property owners are interested in “selling” their asset. Who should you believe? Relying on one source of information to measure your pipeline of competition is not enough.

Think about it. If your goal is a successful project then who do you rely upon to measure your pipeline?

At Advance Planning Associates, LC our custom site selection program includes a due diligence component that includes measuring the pipeline that is specific to you and your market.

DOWNTOWN: Main Street - Front Street - Dock Side...

No matter what you call the busy place in your downtown, you'll want your customers to easily sail in for food or supplies. So many fresh, new retail stores and restaurants open downtown only to fail quickly a year of two later. Is about money? Is it about expectations? Is it about the products or the menu selections? Is it about price and value? Is it about a business plan fault? Or is it about location?

You have the money or know you can get it. You have a business plan. You've known for years what your menu will include or what items you will sell. You will only give the best value for the buck. You know your customers will love you. Now what? It's time to locate.

You know what town or city - that site selection was easy. Since you live there.

When Amy called she was excited, "We got the loan. We are ready to open."

"Where are you going?"

Amy responded by saying, "That's why I called you. There are six or seven locations downtown - which one should we get?"

"Which location do you like the best?"

Amy thought and said, " The empty store across from our church. It's always busy there."

"Busy?"

"Yes, I'm always there for church activities. All of our family and friends are always there too." Amy responded.

"Amy, if you have already decided then go ahead, but before you do let's work on a short custom site selection program specific for your business that has an objective approach."

"Ok" Amy said, "What should I do next."

"Here are three things I want you to do before we meet."

1. Observe - Go to each building and sit inside the store front window for between 11:00am and 2:00pm. Take a pad and pencil and count the number of people that pass the store. Try to guess their age and mark that down. Also try to guess the number of shoppers.


2. Park - Determine where your customers can park their cars. Now get in your car and try to park in these locations during peak hours - 11:00am to 2:00pm & 4:00pm to 6:00pm. If you plan on opening for the late night restaurant crowd, you may want to try a little later in the evening.


3. Walk - Get out of your car and walk. Put yourself in the position of your customer that may be walking to your store from a nearby restaurant or parking deck.

"See you in a week. Now get to work and enjoy the downtown while we put together the other criteria for you to consider."

Amy responded by saying, "I wish we would have done this a month ago."

"Me too! We don't have much time before the season starts. I'm looking forward to the drive to the beach - North Carolina is always beautiful this time of year - I want to finally meet you and visit this wonderful town of yours."

A positive attitude is a good thing. So many new store owners believe that once they open the customers will come. Let's find the best site to make sure your customers do.