Jennifer Fletcher, senior manager at Deloitte Consulting, took the time to discuss why Baldwin County is an ideal location for business expansion in a presentation at the Baldwin County Economic Alliance's Economic Outlook Forum.

Fletcher connected unmatched traits Baldwin County possesses with the top factors companies take into account when selecting new sites, reinforcing that the county's living standards are a major draw.

"The top three site location decision factors, according to Area Development, are related to labor costs, availability and quality of life," Fletcher said.

"Baldwin County excels in all three categories, offering competitive labor costs and an abundant, skilled
workforce," the Alliance added in Baldwin Insider 2024 Vol. 2. "These economic fundamentals are crucial for attracting businesses prioritizing efficiency and talent retention."

Baldwin County has shown more population growth and net migration than any other area in the state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. SmartAsset ranks Baldwin in Alabama's top five counties for business growth, GDP growth, new building permits and business investment, while Forbes slates the county as the 10th of 203 small U.S. metropolitan statistical areas in the overall ranking for Best Small Places for Business and Careers. Currently, the Alliance estimates that the area's total annual workforce pipeline produces over 16,500 candidates.

Fletcher also touched on the importance of local initiatives and how the overall state of the county is set to be a magnet for professionals in search of balance in their life, making it a prime contender for site selection on a national level.

"Talent attraction and development initiatives like Belong in Baldwin will be critical in economic development moving forward," Fletcher stated.

The Alliance maintains that its supportive community environment will allow the county to continue expanding upon its strengths and remain an appealing destination for businesses exploring new places to generate growth.