Rick Weddle: Welcome to Site Selection Matters, where we take a close look at the art and science of site selection decision-making. I’m your host, Rick Weddle, president of Site Selectors Guild. In each episode, we introduce you to leaders in the world of corporate site selection and economic development. We speak with members of the Site Selectors Guild or economic development partners and corporate decision-makers to provide you with deep insight into the best and next practices in our profession. In this episode, we have as our guest, Larry Gigerich, executive managing director with Ginovus, one of the nation’s leading site selection and location advisory firms. Today, Larry will talk with us about the importance of water resources in economic growth and development. Join me as we welcome Larry Gigerich to Site Selection Matters.

Larry, arguably, water has become the most important natural resource for communities and states. And the impact on economic development is significant. Take a minute if you will and unpack this a bit for our listeners. Why is it so important and why is it becoming so important now?

Larry Gigerich: Yeah, I think as you look at it, Rick, and you think about economic and community development in the U.S., and for that matter globally, you know, water and the ability to access water has become critically important, even more so than in the past. And I think maybe the best way to frame this issue up is to really divide it into two pieces. The first being water that is specifically required to support a company’s operations and the second part being water availability to support people living and working in the geographic area. They’re different, but yet connected. And I think as you think about it, you know, water is required for certain types of industrial primarily projects, as you think about it. So, things like food and beverage manufacturing, data centers, chemical productions, some steel and metal products, things like that where you have to have water as a part of your process.

And, you know, if you have an area that can’t meet those availability statistics or numbers, in particular, that’s an issue. And then the second piece is, and I think this is maybe one of the really interesting things that we’ve seen develop over the past couple of years is, the corporate decision-makers are really emphasizing ensuring that water is in available in those communities and states where they look to allocate tower. Where they’re going to put those resources of people because they want to make sure people living in that area are in a position, you know, whether it’s from a quality of place or just general everyday life, that they’re in a place where there’s water that’s available. Because I think that’s going to become even more important as we go forward and decision-makers are starting to look at that.

Rick: Two big reasons and we’ll jump into that. So, we get it now, really that water’s important. Obviously, without water we can’t exist and, of course, it’s important for, as you noted, many industrial processes. But now you’re suggesting the second point that corporate decision-makers are really beginning to look at it differently and considering the availability of water when looking at potential facility locations on a broader basis. Explain this if you will.

Larry: Absolutely. So, now, you know, with that second focus that has emerged, you know, again ensuring that when they put talent resources in different geographic areas, that water is available not only to meet the needs of that area today, bu