Michigan Claims No. 1 Spot In Expansions

LANSING, MI-Plants Sites & Parks magazine says Michigan is the No. 1 hot spot forbusiness sites and facilities. Plants Sites & Parks publisher Len Scaffidi presented Governor John Engler with the 2001 Tiffany Cup for the state’s outstanding track record.

The magazine’s annual “Hot Spots” ranking is a comprehensive examination of new office and industrial projects throughout the US. The magazine surveyed all the states for details about projects announced, built or opened from July 2000 through June 2001.

The criterion for the ranking is twofold. First, readers are asked where they would like to go for their next business project in the upcoming year. Second, Bizsites Monitor reviews where businesses have actually gone in the last year.

Other criteria includes creation of a minimum of 20 jobs, 20,000 sf of new space or a capital investment of at least $1 million.

The list highlights 11 states that have demonstrated they have the necessary ingredients to make corporate clients take notice. Michigan ranked ahead of New York, California, North Carolina and Ohio.