Throughout 2023, we are tackling the challenges of workforce acquisition, retention and growth. In our Winter issue, we listed three significant questions to address for a discerning analysis of your workforce. Here, we delve into our first question.

DOES YOUR REGION HAVE THE WORKFORCE IT NEEDS FOR

A NEW OR EXPANDING INDUSTRY?

Weyerhaeuser, along with VisionFirst Advisors, tackles this question for its supersites.

Communities often cite their current population size and growth rates as the key indicators of success. However, communities with stagnant or declining populations may struggle to highlight growth advancements. The nationʼs population has basically been at a standstill, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population growth over a 12-month period (June 2020-June 2021) stood at an unprecedented low of just 0.12%—the lowest annual growth since the Bureau began collecting statistics in 1900. Acknowledging this historical significance when reporting your community or regional status is an important factor to properly promote a region.


Population growth rate estimates are total net projections, including 1) immigration or emigration;

and 2) deaths or births within a region.

WEYERHAEUSER STRATEGIZES ABOUT TALENT AND GROWTH

LABOR FORCE AND PARTICIPATION RATES

One of the first metrics that communities typically focus on is their unemployment rate, while site selectors and business decision makers likely analyze a regionʼs workforce participation rate.


Participation rate is a number often cited, yet rarely explained.

Participation rate measures the percentage of residents who are in the labor force, while unemployment rate measures the percentage within the labor force currently without a job. A high participation rate combined with low unemployment rate is an indication of a robust job market.


While this trend of lower participation rates is a national challenge, some markets need to develop and implement innovative programs to engage untapped labor pools and demonstrate that success to prospects. Weyerhaeuser looks at both current and historical percentages for participation rates (including prime-age, civilian population 25-54) for laborsheds.

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Educational attainment is an important statistic because of its impact on other statistics, including literacy, unemployment and average household income. Weyerhaeuser looks beyond standard educational attainment statistics. We emphasize the educational attainment of our site’s workforce versus what criteria companies are requiring.

OCCUPATION/INDUSTRY CLUSTERS

Showcasing a county or regional industry mix is often an initial step in helping a potential investor understand the overall business and industry clusters. We go beyond just the occupation/industry mix, which focuses solely on the occupation employment in that specific industry. Weyerhaeuser concentrates on a wider range of occupations related to a target industry.

WHAT-IF ANALYSIS

Using Chmuraʼs JobsEQ® “what-if” modeling helps determine the labor availability (employed and unemployed) of a region based on an incoming or expanding industry. This analysis also highlights transferable skill sets to expand occupation data. Weyerhaeuser utilizes the JobsEQ data to create a variety of labor scenarios.



Transferable Skill Sets: Regional workers meeting the following three criteria: 1) are currently employed or unemployed; 2) have similar skills to the specified occupation (though may need additional training and/or certification to meet the specified occupation's requirements); 3) current wages are no more than 10% higher than the average wage of the specified occupation.

WEYERHAUSER'S THREE DISTINCTIVE SUPERSITE LOCATIONS

Access to Transport, Workforce Partners and Utility Resources

HAWTHORNE INDUSTRY PARK

  • Located 15 minutes from Gainesville, FL
  • U.S. Approved Opportunity Zone
  • U.S. Highway 301 and S.R. 20 frontage; within minutes to I-75 and I-10
  • CSX Rail main north-south freight line runs directly along border of site
  • #5 Public University (University of Florida) and #1 Two-Year College (Santa Fe College) within 15 miles
  • Proximity to JAXPORT, Jacksonville International Airport, Orlando's two international airports and Gainesville Regional Airport
  • 1.6 million workforce within 60 miles
  • Workforce partners include CareerSource North Central Florida, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Santa Fe College and Alachua County Schools
  • 634 acres zoned for 3.5 million square feet
  • REDI Community
  • 150,000 square feet commercial space
  • Zoned for 200 multi-family units
  • Flexibility of parcel sizes and uses
Visit Website

NORTH FLORIDA MEGA INDUSTRIAL PARK

  • Located in Lake City/Columbia County, FL
  • U.S. Approved Opportunity Zone
  • Frontage on U.S. 90, with easy access to I-75 and I-10
  • Foreign Trade Zone #64 with JAXPORT (largest in Florida), allowing companies to exempt standard tariffs
  • Rail spur directly into park for accelerated movement of materials and goods
  • Only 60 miles to Jacksonville International Airport
  • 1.2 million workforce within 60 miles
  • Workforce partners include CareerSource Florida Crown, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Columbia High School
  • Two-year college adjacent to site for workforce development; additional opportunities nearby at University of Florida and Santa Fe College
  • 2,622 zoned acres for eight million square feet
  • Rural Area of Opportunity/CSX Select Site
  • 100,000 square feet commercial space
  • Up to 1,200 residential units
Visit Website
Visit Website

HEART OF GEORGIA MEGA SITE

  • Southeastern industrial distribution hub
  • Located in Dublin/Laurens County, GA, midway between Atlanta and Savannah
  • Frontage on Interstate 16, connecting to I-75 and I-95
  • Direct access to the Port of Savannah via I-16
  • Served by Georgia Central Railroad, connecting to Norfolk Southern in Macon and CSX in Savannah
  • Georgia has the #1 workforce training program in the country, QuickStart; additional programs and preparation available to ensure the right skill sets
  • Three educational partners located in Dublin, along with Mercer University in nearby Macon
  • Over 450,000 workforce within 60 miles
  • 2,000 acres zoned for 17 million square feet
  • Three certifications, including Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD)
  • Incredible flexibility of parcel sizes and configurations

WEYERHAEUSER PARTNER SITES - COLYELL AND STOKES

Outstanding Locations in Louisiana and South Carolina with Engaged Economic Partners

Weyerhaeuser's Colyell site in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, is ideally located between Baton Rouge (30 minutes) and New Orleans (one hour) via I-12. With 420 acres, the site offers an incredible opportunity for industrial development. Access to rail is less than three miles. Plus, an amazing local economic partner in Livingston Economic Development Council.

Located in Colleton County, South Carolina (midway between Charleston and Savannah), our Stokes site presents 457 acres just two miles west of I-95. Palmetto Railways runs along the site. A workforce of 647k provides the skill sets needed. With South Carolina Economic Alliance, Inc. as our economic development partner, the site is positioned to be an ideal location in the Southeast.

BANK ON THE BEST

Weyerhaeuser’s wetland and stream mitigation banks have helped provide timely, cost-effective and ecologically significant mitigation solutions for unavoidable impacts to wetlands and streams. These mitigation projects work to help replace the functions of a specific wetland and/or stream habitat affected by your project. Click the map to view mitigation bank sites.

OUR INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITIES PORTFOLIO
INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITIES LINKEDIN PAGE

Rosemary F. Fagler, Economic Development Manager

352.415.4518

rose.fagler@weyerhaeuser.com

weyerhaeuser.com

weyerhaeuser.com/land/development-projects