Client Testimonials

I have had the opportunity to work with InSite Consulting on various projects across two states over the last 8 years. With each project, they deliver more than you paid for and more than you asked. They become part of the team and they are invested both personally and professionally. Our project in WV has delivered real data and plans that will help our communities deliver for existing industry and for future prospects. Their honest feedback and data collection methods provide you with workable solutions that communities can put to work in order to be ready for the next opportunity.

Just so you can fully conceptualize my intent for this testimonial, I wanted to note that InSite is responsible for assessing the Raleigh County Airport Site and identifying it as a low hanging fruit for development. Their initial work with us in 2019 was the catalyst for the $8.3M in investment that we leveraged for the first ever proactive site development in WV. The work of New River Gorge Regional Development Authority with InSite Consulting marks a strategic turning point for the organization's priorities in the New River Gorge region in West Virginia. The knowledge gained and asset potential identified is invaluable for this organization when strategizing the forward moving process to attract, retain, and scale businesses across our footprint. Utilizing tools and skills provided by the InSite team has allowed NRGRDA to move quickly and precisely to proactively develop prime acreage to market and compete on a national platform.

From an economic development standpoint, InSite’s Readiness Program provides intel on the site—we know everything about it, what it can and can’t do,” says Michael Pettit, director of economic development for the City of Lancaster. “The customer’s fears are gone. They know the site has gone through a rigorous process and trust that it’s a good/ready site.

The first 18 SiteOhio Authenticated as Ready Sites experienced more than 300% increase in frequency of submission for projects, and more than 130% increase in customer-requested visits when comparing 2015 to 2018.  The JobsOhio Stakeholder Group and InSite developed this program and process to be as comprehensive as possible to keep Ohio properties on site selectors’ and clients’ radars, to stay in the game longer, get more at-bat opportunities, and win more projects for Ohio.  JobsOhio’s and InSite’s program elevates the entire economic development game in Ohio.

I can tell you that identifying the site, acquiring the land, conducting all the due diligence, and getting the road/utilities in turned out to be the easy part! The last two years winning projects has been a great experience for me and the team. We have had more prospect interaction (site visits, community tours, proposal submittals, etc.) in the last two years because of InSite Consulting than we had the prior 10. It has been a great learning experience and we have grown as a team. This includes our local partners (building permitting, fire/ems, township zoning, school district, electric/gas utility, water/sewer utility, etc.), who have all really stepped up and performed at the highest levels. It is crystal clear to me that our community was never even in the game prior to obtaining this site, and it is a very tough game to win once you have earned the right to participate.

Due in no small part to Tonya and Rob’s “gentle yet on-point observations” regarding staffing and integration of our community’s economic development activities, we’re undertaking what is – for our county – a very bold new step - integrated, coordinated efforts, one point of contact, and additional staffing. So, thanks much for your input, InSite – you have made a consequential difference.

So many of the sites that participated in InSite’s and JobsOhio’s SiteOhio Program have had great things happen this past year. We had our 2020 Growth Awards selection this week and several of the projects landed on sites we worked with in the program.  I’m so proud of the work we did together and all that I learned from InSite.

Our region of southern and eastern Ohio saw a dramatic increase in project site visits in 2018 (Over 600%). The main reason for that increase is attributable to the SiteOhio Authentication process led by InSite Consulting. SiteOhio Authentication forces the collection of critical data and due diligence studies that lead to a more prepared site and more professional economic development effort. The SiteOhio process conveys to all involved that we have a quality site with no surprises, capable of winning projects.

We have submitted a proposal on the Archbold Industrial Park site for a large project working through JobsOhio. We are one of two options in Northwest Ohio being considered. I am convinced that InSite’s process is the reason why we are making the cuts! We are ahead of our competition (inside and outside of Ohio) now on this site, and we are doing the same due diligence on several other marketable sites. I want to thank both of you for sharing your expertise and giving us a shove in the right direction to help us beat our competition!

Also, I wanted to let you know that we have had a lot of interest in the park over the past several months. There are 4 high-quality on-target prospects looking at over 100 acres of the park. The backgrounding and predevelopment studies that we have all worked on together in the park with InSite is allowing us to fast track some great opportunities.

I had an opportunity to travel to Atlanta with Jobs Ohio and APEG to present one of our sites to an international company and their site consultants for a large project. I was notified on a Wednesday that I had to be in Atlanta the following Thursday to present. I had 20 minutes for a presentation that needed to cover everything related to the site and workforce that was relevant to the project, and the presentation had to be submitted to JobsOhio on the Monday before. I just want to say that because of InSite’s Program and guidance and the SiteOhio process, I was able to pull out the PowerPoint presentation developed during InSite’s Program and make only a few minor modifications making it more relevant to this project. Going into this meeting, I was able to feel well prepared and confident thanks to InSite.

InSite worked closely with staff to determine our deficiencies and to craft their message for our team. Two glaringly obvious gaps were lack of staffing (we only had two people in our office) and lack of inventory. Tonya explained to our board of trustees the impact of not having product that clients are looking for and the struggle to respond by an office with inadequate staffing. She stated clearly that we were out of the game before we even got started, as clients nor site selection consultants wouldn't even give our community the first look.  After hearing this message directly from someone doing site 'elimination' for a living, the trustees voted to allow for a large budget increase, a third full-time staff person AND agreed to the purchase of a downtown office building – also an InSite recommendation!

The process afforded us the opportunity to evaluate our sites from an outside perspective and really see them with new eyes. It improved us, and we would do it again. Actually, we are doing it again. Thanks to JobsOhio for initiating this program and selecting InSite Consulting to implement it.

Your frank and forthright statement that having a single-person Local Economic Development Office was unacceptable for successful operations, paved the way for us to hire much-needed additional staff, a Projects Coordinator.  Thank you!

As a fairly new organization, we are fortunate to have access to the experience and expertise of InSite Consulting. From our community competitive assessment last year to the assistance with our branding and marketing initiative this year, our learning curve has been accelerated, and we are a stronger organization both fundamentally and relationally because of Tonya and Rob's coaching.