2. Site Readiness Program

3. Are We Competitive?
“We’ve been interested in WV sites in the past, but there have been too many unknowns to recommend moving forward to our Client.”
-Site Selection Consultant

4. - KPMG Site Selection Consultant
Are We Competitive?
“We would never consider bringing a client to the site without knowing that there’s a realistic plan for the sewer.”
- KPMG Site Selection Consultant

5. Are We Competitive? “I need to know the issues with the site,
the time it will take to resolve them, and
how much will it cost. WV’s information
just isn’t available.”
- Cushman & Wakefield Site Selection Consultant

6. Are We Competitive?
“Site selection consultants do 90% of their research, information gathering, and filtering before ever contacting a {WV} representative.”
- Ernst &Young Site Selection Consultant

7. WV Must Invest in Site Readiness

8. What does Site Readiness Mean?
To Site Selection Consultants:
Demonstrates West Virginia’s PROACTIVE commitment to attracting new businesses
Minimizes the risk factors for development
Allows their Client to get to market faster and more inexpensively

9. What does Site Readiness Mean?
To the State of West Virginia:
Offer a quality and competitive product
Minimize the regularity of early elimination of West Virginia giving us more opportunities to compete
Move at the speed of business

10. Site Readiness vs. Site Certification

11. How will the program work?
Property Evaluation
Letter of Intent to Apply
Applicant can be a City, County, Economic Development Board
Development Office will select communities to participate
Official application for site evaluation
Property evaluated as part of Site Readiness Program
Technical report evaluating the site’s readiness
Goal of the Property Evaluation - Expand the state's inventory of both industrial sites (and in the future existing buildings) through an evaluation of a community's existing inventory that prioritizes where investment may be most beneficial and what steps may be needed to address issues and shortcomings
Letter of intent will include: contact name and state fact that program purpose is there to ASSIST Counties
Don’t know if we’ll get 10 applicants or we’ll get 400

12. What documentation will be required?
Control of Site
Zoning
Water
Wastewater
Fiber
Electric
Natural Gas
Geotechnical
Archeological
Wetlands
Floodplain
Endangered Species
Highway Access
Rail Access
River Access
Air Access

13. How will the program work?
Grant Consideration
All properties evaluated will be considered for Grants
Two Grant Programs
Mini-Grant Program
Matching Grant Program (50/50)
Property evaluation application will ask preference type of grant
Selected applicants receive offer to apply for grant funds
Letter of intent will include: contact name and state fact that program purpose is there to ASSIST Counties
Don’t know if we’ll get 10 applicants or we’ll get 400

14. How will the program work?
Grant Award
Expect grant funds to complete due diligence items
Period of use for grant funds
Property reevaluation
Letter of intent will include: contact name and state fact that program purpose is there to ASSIST Counties
Don’t know if we’ll get 10 applicants or we’ll get 400

15. Timeline Application for a Site Evaluation Opens Application Deadline
Winter 2018
Application Deadline
Spring 2018
Site Evaluation Complete
Spring/Summer 2018
Grant Award

16. What can YOU do to be prepared?
Talk to your representatives about Site Readiness
Engage your Board
Identify your preferred site(s)
Engage professional services
Compile / Complete due diligence

17. WestVirginia.gov

18. How? Basic due diligence and evaluation of site inventory
Create a competitive tool for local EDA’s
Strategic site control for highest priority sites
Ex: Mega-site for projects like P&G; Toyota/Mazda