Challenge:

Locate a US site consisting of at least 1,000 acres for a new automobile assembly plant while maintaining strict confidentiality about the assignment and client.

Services:

• Established a project team including environmental engineers and economic and investment advisors.
• Identified 26 states with potential for meeting the project requirements.
• Assembled information concerning seismic, weather, topography, rail lines, interstate highways and various demographic.
• Worked with client team to define potential.
• Communicated with state and local economic development agencies, utility companies and railroads in search of appropriate sites. Over 200 potential sites in 26 states were reviewed and considered.
• Inspected more than 60 sites, then established a short list of sites in four states, submitting a "Request for Proposal" for economic development incentives to each of the four states.
• Coordinated acquisition options to acquire each site and secured commitments from each state that the sites would be provided to Honda at no cost.
• Worked with consultants to undertake due diligence activities for each short listed site.
• Assisted Honda in review and evaluation of each state's response and directed final negotiations for economic incentives.

Results:

After a 16-month site search, Colliers secured a 1,350 acre site near Birmingham, Alabama. Colliers also secured commitments totaling more than $60 million to support the project, including $15 million for site acquisition and development.

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