Vista Pushed Data, Analytics and Site Selection Forward During 2024

It’s 2025 and Vista Site Selection continues to look forward to how data and analytics will shape the site selection process for corporate headquarters, distribution and manufacturing facilities, defense and aerospace projects, software development and data centers, medical facilities and more.

This bright future benefits from what Vista accomplished during 2024, including the creation of innovative data analytics tools and the hiring of talented staff.

Here’s an overview of what we did during 2024, which can help your company succeed in 2025 and well into the future.

New Data-Based Site Selection Tools

Vista released three tools in the past year that collectively provide the full spectrum of site information data, presented as user-friendly interfaces at budget-friendly rates.

First came the Area Overview Report, an interactive dashboard that provides in-depth demographic information about the population in any region. Finding a population that you can tap for necessary talent is one of the primary drivers of the site selection process and this tool helps. The Area Overview Report presents a mosaic map that displays the current and projected population size, the socio-economic status and education levels of residents, as well as employment rates and a list of industries that currently employ residents.

Next, Vista released the Data Center Site Selection Tool, an interactive map that is as easy to use as its title is easy to understand. Data center development projects are essential to the economy’s continued growth, with cloud computing and artificial intelligence becoming more important to modern industry. This tool provides deep levels of data on factors including energy supply, internet access, environmental risks and more.

Our third new tool of 2024, Vista View, may be the best option if you’re not entirely sure what tool you need. This is a straightforward mapping service that offers GIS capabilities without GIS costs; both experts and beginners will be able to navigate reams of data on populations, places, critical infrastructure, geography and more. Vista View is truly the catch-all tool for site selection because we can offer custom solutions for your business or project’s needs.

New People

Vista Site Selection added two talented individuals during 2024, both bringing a wealth of experience to the team, plus a knack for innovative thinking.

Julie Miller joined Vista as a managing director and the head of our incentive compliance practice. Development incentives offered at various levels of government play a huge role in choosing a site and Julie specializes in ensuring compliance. She brings deep experience to the team, having managed more than $600 million in incentive packages across her career. She also has significant experience in site selection as well as incentives negotiations for clients across a range of industries.

William Floyd began as senior vice president, bringing more than a decade of experience in data acquisition, analysis and consumer research. His expertise with GIS mapping makes him a key contributor, both in using data analytics to help Vista clients identify their ideal site, and in helping us develop new mapping tools like the ones described above.

We’re happy to have both of you as members of Vista’s growing team!

Other Happenings

Vista was once again happy to be a co-presenter at the ninth-annual Vorys Annual Economic Development Incentives Conference, a Columbus, Ohio event that explores trends and best practices in economic development incentives. Members of the Vista team presented on topics including “Finding the Best Site: A Practical Approach to Site Selection” and “Public Sector Perspective: Key Considerations in How Governments Analyze an Economic Development Project,” and also partook in roundtable discussions. We will co-present this event again in 2025.

We’re also pleased to report that Chris Magill, a managing director for Vista Site Selection, received a BizTech Award from Columbus Business First magazine for his efforts in using technology and “pushing the Central Ohio economy forward.” During a feature within the magazine, Chris discussed data analytics, customized data tools, artificial intelligence and other topics that are improving Vista’s approach to the site selection process.

If we were to sum up this post in five words, we’d say “it was a big year.” We’re done looking back, however. Now it’s time to see how all last year’s accomplishments will push this year’s innovative breakthroughs. We are looking forward to helping make 2025 a big one for your business. Reach out and let’s talk about your goals for 2025.