BLS & Co.'s Michelle Comerford was recently quoted in the New York Business Journal. Link to full article is available here: 'A turning of the page': What site selectors are saying about how Gov. Cuomo's resignation will impact business (bizjournals.com).

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The changing of the guard might present a chance for New York to change its reputation in the larger business community, said Michelle Comerford, project director and industrial and supply chain practice leader for Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co., headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, who's on the board of the Site Selectors Guild.

"The state of New York has not exactly had the best reputation in terms of having a pro-business climate, but that reputation goes well before Governor Cuomo's term, " Comerford said. "As a state, New York offers some great resources, some good benefits, some good attributes for some types of industries. But the high tax environment and regulatory burden that have been in place for many, many years has really made it a less competitive location option for many of our projects in the past.

“I think there’s a real opportunity at this present moment for the state to become a more competitive business location option. But it’s going to have to start at the top and require the right type of leadership, with the right mindset,” she added.

BLS & Co. has worked with companies like HelloFresh, Eli Lilly & Co., QVC and Colgate Palmolive to make site selection decisions around the country, according to its website. Comerford focuses on manufacturing- and distribution-type operations and is based in Cleveland, though she works nationally.

Comerford said she believes New York has attributes worth bragging about.

“There’s an opportunity for low-cost power with the hydropower there… there are some good pools of labor and talent in certain parts of the state that are attractive,” she said. “So I’d love to just see an improvement in the overall climate to just bring that business case together a little stronger, be more competitive, going forward.”