Don Hofstrand                                                        Revised, February 2006 Co-director, Ag Marketing Resource Center Iowa State University Extension dhof@iastate.edu

Selecting a site for your value-added processing/manufacturing facility is an important decision in creating your business.  Once the decision is made it usually cannot be changed or modified.

You will want to identify important location factors for your value-added business.  List them and use a rating scale to help evaluate the site.  You may use words like “adequate” and “unsatisfactory” to evaluate the site.  You may also use a numbering system (ie. 1 for least satisfactory and 5 for most satisfactory) and total the score for the site.  This is especially helpful in comparing alternate sites.  Create a grid with the site factors listed along the left side of the grid and alternative locations listed across the top.  Evaluate each site according to this scoring system by totaling the scores for each site and comparing them.  This will provide you with a simple method of comparing sites.  If you get more sophisticated you may want to use an electronic spreadsheet to help you with the analysis.

You may also hire an outside business to help you analyze various sites.  Money spent to hire a competent site analyst may be a good investment considering the importance of the decision.

Below is a listing of many of the issues you will want to consider in site selection.  Based on the uniqueness of your project, there may be other issues that you will want to consider that are not listed here.

Consider the Following Factors:

1. Access to Markets

• Is the site accessible to markets for your product?
• What arrangements will be made for marketing by-products?

2. Availability of Raw Materials

• Are raw materials readily available (corn, wheat, livestock, etc.)?
• Will farmer-owners be providing commodity or specialty raw materials?
• Will livestock be held on the site? (This could become an important consideration to assure compatibility with nearby land uses.)
• Will the holding area be open or enclosed?

3. Availability of Labor 

• What skill levels of labor are needed?  Is it available in the area?
• How many shifts and how many employees per shift?
• What are labor rates in the area?
• Who are competitors for labor in the area and what are their expansion plans?
• Is there housing available for workers and at what cost?

4. Access to Inputs and Services 

• Are utilities available?
• What amount and type of electrical service will be needed? Is it available at a competitive price?
• What volume of LP gas or natural gas will you require? Is it available at a competitive price?
• What volume of water will be needed? Is it available? Is the water quality acceptable?
• Are there services available such as fire and police?
• What is the volume and characteristics of sewer discharge?
• Will you pre-treat sewage?
• What other inputs and services are needed?  Are they available?

5. Transportation 

• What type of transportation systems are needed for your business (rail, highway, air, etc.)
• Is this type of transportation available? At what cost?
• Is there competition in transportation services (ie. two railroad companies)?
• What will be the traffic volume around your facility? What type is it?
• Will you need a parking area for trucks?
• Will local governments provide transportation infrastructure?

6. Regulations 

• What are zoning regulations of the site?
• Is the property zoned for the proposed use and, if not, what are the chances of getting it rezoned?

7. Physical Characteristics

• Is there proper drainage of the site or is it flood prone?
• Are the soil types suitable for this type of development?
• Is the layout of the site conducive to the type of business you are in? With expansion?
• Is this a site where you can expand or would you need to relocate?
• How is this site similar/different from sites of similar types of facilities?
• Will local governments provide assistance in developing the site?

8. Cost

• What is the purchase price of the site?
• Are local and/or state governments providing financial incentives for locating at this site?  How will these incentives impact the current and on-going cost of locating at this site?
• Will the land increase or decrease in value with activity surrounding the site?

9. Environmental 

• Is a wetland review from Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) needed?
• Is a “Phase 1 Environmental Survey” needed?
• Is an archaeological survey needed?
• Other environmental factors?

10. Other Business Factors 

• What is the business atmosphere?
• Is there strong local support for your business?
• Are there alternative ways to do business, such as sharing some resources in an industrial group setting?
• Will those shared resources assist you?