Boyd study displays Adams County’s potential to enter the global market

Adams County earned a position in front of global markets after a study completed by The Boyd Company ranked Ritzville as one of the best cities nationwide for distribution centers. The corporate site selection study puts Ritzville on the map, and is the first positive news in terms of economic development for the county.

Originally hired by the Adams County Development Council (ACDC) in November, The Boyd Company completed a survey comparing the costs of operating distribution warehouses in 25 cities throughout the nation. Ritzville proved to be the second most cost-effective city in the survey, as well as the best economical choice for expansion on the west coast.

A principal owner of the company, John Boyd, Jr., visited Adams County on May 6-7 to discuss the full potential the study could have on the county.

Boyd discussed the potential future opportunities for Ritzville because of the positivity of the study, and the potential markets that could be interested in relocated or expanding into Adams County. The Boyd Company has numerous corporate clients who could be attracted by the location and logistically and cost effective area in Adams County.

The subject of the study is a 500,000-square foot distribution warehouse facility expected to employ 150 workers. Adams County enjoys low real estate and energy costs, and can also be attractive to a potential work force.

“Why is Ritzville so cost effective? Two major reasons. Number one, land costs here are very, very attractive,” Boyd said, saying land costs were nearly a sixth of the cost per industrial acre compared to Seattle. “And of course the major advantage that Ritzville enjoys, and Adams County enjoys, is low cost energy.”

The low energy costs provided by Big Bend Electric Cooperative are some of the lowest in North America, Boyd said, and that’s important for companies interested in refrigerated warehousing.

“One of the highest growing sectors of the distribution industry is refrigerated warehousing,” Boyd said. “And what’s driving that is Asia’s insatiable appetite for U.S. branded food products.”

Boyd explained over 60 percent of the world’s millennial population live in Asia, and companies are now recognizing the importance of serving the trade industry there. Boyd said a key component of expansion of trade between the countries lies in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade accord, which is expected later this year.

The signing of the agreement could result in an increased need of distribution industry and Ritzville has the potential to benefit from the global market, Boyd stated.

Ritzville is one of the best-suited locations for that type of industry because of the access to highways and intermodal transportation of products.

While Boyd explained the study can help promote Ritzville in ways display advertising never could, it is now up to the leadership of Adams County Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden to market and sell the county to potential developers. Boyd said the market for expansion is extremely competitive, and the study will help gain national as well as international attention from Ritzville, but the county has to continue to be proactive in order to attract new business.

The study has gained national attention already, with articles being published in two of the largest business publications.

The media attention helps put Ritzville on the map, and Boyd said the county could expect for businesses to show an interest in relocating or expanding to the area.

“This program, when we sat down, we wanted to look at Ritzville in an independent and national perspective; the perspective of a site-seeking company. And that’s what we did when we determined what are the most timely and cost effective target industries,” Boyd said.

After completing the initial study for distribution centers in March, The Boyd Company also completed a Blueprint of Action to determine another sector for potential economic growth.

With the initial study proving for Ritzville to be a prime candidate for distribution centers because of it’s accessibility to State Route 395 and I-90, as well as intermodal transport in Spokane, The Boyd Company is now completing a food and beverage study within the county.

With the positivity and potential for expansion in Ritzville, the overall hope is the second study will be equally beneficial to the county, with a focus of the industry being located in Othello.

The studies could help position Adams County in front of global and national clients, helping to boost the local economy by bringing trade and industry to the county.

While the study helps promote the county, drastic growth is unlikely because of the competitive market, Boyd said, but he foresees Adams County having the ability to attract at least on facility to the area within the upcoming years.

Boyd said the new industry could also help revamp the historic downtown district in Ritzville, as he personally believes Ritzville is a diamond in the rough.