26 May CDG and Garner Economics form joint venture for food site certification
CDG has joined forces with site location specialist Garner Economics to strengthen one of the most extensive site certification initiatives for communities seeking to attract companies in the food and beverage industry.
Previously established by Garner Economics in 2010, the certification program gives communities a competitive edge in pursuing food and beverage companies.
“By having a Garner + CDG Certified Food Site, you are ahead of many of your competitors in showing food and beverage clients that your site meets the rigorous criteria that companies are reviewing in their siting process,” CDG President & CEO Mark Pugh said.
The Garner + CDG Food Processing Site Certification includes a concise database record for hundreds of criteria and variables necessary to support the critical business decisions of a food industry manufacturer considering a potential location.
“When we evaluate a community for one of our food clients, we analyze hundreds of variables that our clients consider important in the selection process,” said Jay Garner, president of Garner Economics.
The certification process begins with a comprehensive labor analysis focused on the workforce requirements of the food and beverage industry. This presents detailed information to help advise the community’s prospective clients of the value of the site.
As part of the certification process, CDG and Garner technical experts conduct a field assessment of the sites to analyze its location and value for companies engaged in the food and beverage industry.
CDG also provides a building layout for a food processing facility on the analyzed site. This virtual spec building gives the prospective client a visualization of how a building may be defined on the site.
After meeting the program requirements, the community receives a report with the CDG + Garner Certified Food Site label to the community. Communities failing to meet the criteria receive an action plan detailing specific measures needed to achieve the certification.
“The certification allows for a smoother and faster selection of optimum sites benefiting the company seeking a location and the community that is chosen,” Garner said.