EDCUtah’s Jared Stewart attended the 2026 Site Selectors Guild Spring Conference in March – along with representatives from BZI, Eagle Mountain, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Utah Inland Port Authority, and the Northern Utah Economic Alliance. They met with several consultants and took copious notes, and we’ve culled the most interesting insights for you here. 

1. Pulse Check on Site Selection

Expected challenges in the next five years include (in order of most concerning to least concerning):

• Qualified workforce
• Utilities
• AI and automation
• Charm factors (quality of a place)
• Clusters (known/shared assets)

Projects have slowed down and become more complex. They require more due diligence. Some site selectors feel that in the short term, fewer shovels will go into the ground this year. They are pessimistic in the one-year timeframe, but optimistic in the five-year timeframe.

2. Geopolitical Hot Takes

The conference included sessions on several pressing economic trends. For example, extreme weather and the increasing stress on electrical grids are leading to a major energy crisis.

Debt held by companies and by the government may pose real challenges for further lending and corporate expansion. In other words, refinancing will be more expensive and could dampen project activity.

Trade wars have benefits and downsides. Foreign direct investment will grow, we will trade, and things will improve.

AI may promote a productivity boost through factory automation and other areas, but on the other side, AI may devalue education and cause mass youth unemployment and white-collar job loss. Many site selectors emphasized the importance of exposing the next generation to blue-collar career pathways.

3. Know Your Life Science Niche(s)

When it comes to the life science sector, site selectors emphasized that economic developers should build a deeper understanding of specific market strengths. Utah has a strong life science sector, but pitching that strength is not enough. Marketing to life science companies requires specialized and informed messaging by sub-sector (e.g. medical devices, drug discovery, gene therapy, and so on). 

For example, the pharmaceutical sub-sector has a different product life cycle than biotech companies. Medical device and diagnostics sub-sectors follow yet other cycles.

The discussions also highlighted some market and demographic shifts:

• Growth in the aging population means growth in medical care spending.
• Obesity drugs have increased in demand, accelerating project activity.
• Federal-level reductions in research funding have led large companies to focus on acquisitions rather than internal research.
• Nationwide, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) companies are competing with data centers for power and ready sites.

Lastly, companies are evaluating communities on multiple factors, not just incentives. Companies are analyzing the local tax structure, utilities, and overall community fit. “Sustainable operations matter more than incentives. Incentives go away eventually,” said one consultant.

4. Federal Spending Continues to Fuel Aerospace & Defense (A&D) Projects 

U.S. Department of Defense spending is driving demand for relocation projects. Companies are focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and modernizing manufacturing. The markets for drones and satellites are also attracting investment.

Key site selection criteria for these projects include utility reliability, certified talent, logistics, zoning and permitting for heavy manufacturing, and highway, rail, and air cargo routes.

A&D companies are seeking supply chain diversification, particularly in rare earths. China is dominant in that segment, and Mexico is showing some growth despite mining technology constraints. EDCUtah has seen growth in mining and mineral projects, with five new projects in the last year.

When asked to cite regional best practices in A&D, the site selector panelists called out, in general, the states that promote advanced training programs and workforce development. The Space Beach Initiative in Long Beach, California features strong labor concentrations and takes advantage of the Port of Long Beach’s proximity. Closer to home, the area around Hill Air Force Base and Salt Lake City were brought up twice in the panel discussion as places that are “doing it right” and “have created a successful ecosystem.”

5. From Flatline to Finish Line

A few factors can help improve your community’s odds of closing a deal. The first is utility rate negotiation. Can the utility adjust the rate to help get projects across the line? 

Another is building strong local relationships with key employers ahead of time, to provide the best choices for data and interviews. It’s helpful to know both the top employers and the employers that are struggling – and understand the reasons behind their successes and struggles. 

On a related front, it's important to represent public policy accurately. Sync up with local leaders ahead of time and know your community’s talking points.

Don’t break confidentiality and NDAs. This is a serious point with consultants and with companies. And if you are clever enough to track private jets that land nearby, and have identified the company by doing so, don’t be cute and disclose that to anyone. It can chill the deal.

“Time kills all deals" was a key message from another consultant. Timeline changes and delays on your end bring significant project risk. On the flip side, sometimes company priorities and goals change, and that too can lead to a deal flatlining.

Lastly, remember: site selectors are on the same side as the communities. They want a deal done, too.

Want to learn more? Email us connect@edcutah.org.