What City Economic Development Teams Actually Look For in Private Projects
ASK:
Cities say they want development. What are economic development teams really evaluating?
ANSWER:
Economic development teams are not evaluating buildings. They are evaluating outcomes.
Their role is to understand how a private project affects the city over time. Jobs, tax base, service demands, infrastructure efficiency, and long-term community stability all factor into their analysis. A project is measured by what it contributes year after year, not by how it looks in a rendering.
Developers often approach these conversations from a real estate perspective. They talk about square footage, tenant mix, architecture, and projected returns. While those details matter, they are secondary. Economic development teams are focused on broader impact.
At I&D Consulting, we frame projects around the outcomes cities care about most. That includes the type and quality of jobs created, expected wage levels, fiscal contribution to the city, and how efficiently the project uses existing infrastructure and services. We also look closely at how the project aligns with adopted economic development strategies and long-term growth goals.
Execution risk is another major factor in how projects are evaluated. A project that looks compelling on paper but feels fragile raises concern. Economic development teams want confidence that the developer understands the entitlement process, infrastructure requirements, and capital structure well enough to deliver what is being proposed.
They are not only asking whether a project is attractive. They are asking whether it is realistic.
When developers shift the conversation from real estate features to economic outcomes, the tone of the discussion changes. Projects are no longer evaluated as isolated deals. They are evaluated as long-term contributors to the community.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Economic development teams evaluate outcomes, not aesthetics
• Job quality, fiscal impact, and service efficiency drive support
• Execution risk matters as much as concept
• Alignment with long-term strategy influences approval and incentives
People Also Ask
1) Should developers meet with economic development teams early?
Yes. Early conversations help align the project with city priorities and often improve entitlement and approval outcomes.
2) What metrics matter most to cities?
Job creation and quality, long-term fiscal impact, infrastructure efficiency, and consistency with adopted economic development goals.
3) Do incentives depend on alignment with city priorities?
Almost always. Incentives are typically tied to how well a project advances the city’s economic and community objectives.
