MOSES LAKE - Where is the best place to build a new store?

This is the approach taken by national retail firms, instead of a targeting a particular state or region, said Jon Smith, managing director of the Grant County Economic Development Council (EDC), on Thursday.

Smith and members of the EDC's Retail Task Force met this week and listened to presentations from the Boise, Idaho-based Return on Investment Capital (ROIC), and Hebert Research, of Bellevue. 

The Retail Task Force was formed to bring more retail choices to Grant County. 

Some shopping areas lacking selection include variety for those wearing petite, tall and plus sizes, according to a 2010 article in the Moses Lake Magazine. 

A professional men's clothing store and a leather shoe store are also needed.

Moses Lake is strong in downtown boutiques and does have a Walmart, the article states.

"The basis was that their presentations would highlight for us the services they do, in helping areas like ours determine their ability to attract retailers," Smith explained.

The companies outlined some new insights Smith hadn't realized.

When the national retail firms are looking for places to build new facilities, they aren't saying they need a store in Washington state or the Northwest, Smith said. 

"They say we have a budget to build five new stores," he explained. "Where is the best place to put the five new stores? We're in the same spreadsheet with other areas. If they're a global company, it might be the world."

This is model used for big box stores everyone knows about, Smith commented.

Their focus is different than the Grant EDC's, which mostly works with industrial companies to locate in Grant County.

"The number one reason people come to look here is because they need a presence in the region, whether it's in Central Washington or the Northwest," he said. "They manufacture products and it makes sense to put a facility here. That's not the case with retail. They look at the whole country and where they would be more successful."

He explained how the reasoning changes their perspective concerning what businesses they can pursue.

"It helps us better target our efforts toward regional retailers who aren't doing that national focus," Smith said. "That was the new insight that came out of these presentations. They don't look at regionalism so much."

But in some cases, selecting a new location comes down to logistical issues.

For example, a California restaurant chain might not want to locate out of state. 

Smith said the research companies haven't been retained yet. They presented their information to provide the Task Force an overview of their services.

If they are selected to research Grant County, they complete an analysis, look at the lifestyle of community members, income levels, and current business offerings.

For more information, visit www.grantedc.com.