Chris Lloyd leads the McGuireWoods Consulting infrastructure and economic development team where he specializes in site selection and economic development incentives negotiations. Since 1998, Chris has worked on dozens of high profile, corporate expansions and relocations across the country. Chris has also worked closely with clients on numerous public-private partnership projects for transportation and other infrastructure, and played a leading role in the development and passage of Virginia’s public-private partnership laws, which have since become model legislation for use in other states.
Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Chris served for nearly five years in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade under Virginia Governors Allen and Wilder. In this position, he was responsible for legislative, budgetary, and regulatory coordination and development within that Secretariat which managed the state’s economic development programs.
Chris graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1993. He lives in Richmond with his wife, Megan, and children.
Chris Lloyd leads the McGuireWoods Consulting infrastructure and economic development team where he specializes in site selection and economic development incentives negotiations. Since 1998, Chris has worked on dozens of high profile, corporate expansions and relocations across the country. Chris has also worked closely with clients on numerous public-private partnership projects for transportation and other infrastructure, and played a leading role in the development and passage of Virginia’s public-private partnership laws, which have since become model legislation for use in other states.
Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Chris served for nearly five years in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade under Virginia Governors Allen and Wilder. In this position, he was responsible for legislative, budgetary, and regulatory coordination and development within that Secretariat which managed the state’s economic development programs.
Chris graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1993. He lives in Richmond with his wife, Megan, and children.
Virginia is for HQs: Commonwealth attracts major companies, Virginia Business, October 31, 2024
How Does Maine Stack Up? – A Site Selector’s View October 30, 2024
2024 National Legislative & Presidential Update: Implications for Tax Professionals October 21, 2024
State economic forum drops by Tulare County, The Sun-Gazette, August 16, 2024
Louisiana Economic Development to undergo major restructure under new law, Nola.com, June 11, 2024
How to Overcome NIMBYism in Data Centers, Area Development, May 2024
Long Beach Economic Partnership Launches Inaugural “All Ready Here” Site Selectors Conference, Morningstar, May 2, 2024
Louisiana Senate Commerce Committee, SB 494 Testimony, April 17, 2024, 39:00
Virginia plays ‘catchup’ on megasites; bill would speed up game, Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 2024
The Outlook for the Ever-Changing Economic Development Landscape, Career Advantage Center – Montrose, IA, December 2023
Mega Industrial Projects Are Forcing Investment in Mega Sites, Southeast Real Estate Business, November 2023
2021 ED Now: Planning for Economic Development Success, OhioSE Economic Development, October 15, 2021
Fine Tuning: P3 projects have a lot of moving parts and the details matter, Institutional Investing in Infrastructure
The U.S. Workforce is Changing – Opportunities and Challenges for Companies, Transatlantic Business and Investment Council
Incentives Brighten Site Selection Decisions, Inbound Logistics
America’s Top States for Business, The News with Shepard Smith, CNBC
How remote work changed the way companies think about where to keep offices, CNBC
After Wisconsin’s Foxconn debacle, states and companies rethink giant subsidies, CNBC
Texas outshines Arizona, all other states, in luring California headquarters relocations, Phoenix Business Journal
Site selector: Phoenix positioned well for both office, industrial coming out of Covid, Phoenix Business Journal
Economic momentum is strong, but lack of external perception could hurt us, Richmond Time Dispatch
Virginia Business Leaders Working to Keep the Commonwealth Rolling in the Right Direction, Virginia Public Radio, December 7, 2020
Webinar: Positioning Virginia for a Healthy Economic Recovery, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, December 2, 2020
Webinar: Meet the Consultants Coast to Coast – Foods Panel, Southern Economic Development Council, November 17, 2020
Webinar: Economic Development in Rural Iowa – Defining the Path Forward, Iowa Area Development Group, September 10, 2020
2020 Top States Commentary: Long-Term Economic Development Policies – Constants in a Changing World, Area Development, September 1, 2020
Podcast: Delivery Platforms Turn On The Charm For Lawmakers And Industry, Working Lunch, August 2020
Webinar: Virginia Incentives Review, Greater Richmond Association for Commercial Real Estate, June 16, 2020
Hitting the Reset Button: How to Pivot the Perception of Economic Development, Area Development, June 2020
Webinar: Laredo Economic Development Corporation Weekly Business Conversation, Laredo Economic Development Corporation, May 27, 2020
Webinar: Site Selection After COVID-19 – Predictions from the Experts, Arkansas Economic Developers and Chamber Executives, May 18, 2020
Reshoring After COVID-19 Presents Economic Development Opportunities, Brand Acceleration, May 7, 2020
Webinar: Greensboro Chamber Economic Development Alliance Site Selection Trends Briefing, Greensboro Chamber, April 30, 2020
Webinar: Economic Development – Insights from a Site Selector, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, April 29, 2020
Webinar: Position Your Business for the Post COVID-19 Recovery, Adams County Economic Development, April 29, 2020
Webinar: Northeast Ohio Development Exchange Meeting, Site Selectors’ Perspective on COVID-19, Northeast Ohio Development Exchange, April 28, 2020
Webinar: Economist and site selection consultant weigh in on COVID-19, Greater Sacramento Economic Council, April 10, 2020
Webinar: Metro Atlanta Chamber Economic Development Partner Meeting, Metro Atlanta Chamber, April 1, 2020
Economic Development and Site Selection Trends, Southside Electric Cooperative Economic Development Summit, November 22, 2019 (Presentation)
Winning the War Against Economic Development | Part 3, Michigan Economic Developers Association, November 18, 2019
Is Winter Coming? Avoiding the Game of Thrones Incentives Political Feeding Frenzy, IPT Credits & Incentives Symposium, Seattle, WA, November 14, 2019 (Presentation)
Winning the War Against Economic Development | Site Selectors Guild Podcast, Site Selectors Guild, November 8, 2019
Election 2019 Impacts: A New Ball Game in Virginia | Working Lunch Podcast, Working Lunch, November 8, 2019
Scouts for big companies tour Sacramento Railyards, region, ABC10, November 7, 2019
Incentives Attraction and Retention Trends, Team California Briefing, Sacramento, CA, November 6, 2019 (Presentation)
Winning the War Against Economic Development | Part 2, Michigan Economic Developers Association, October 7, 2019
Winning the War Against Economic Development | Part 1, Michigan Economic Developers Association, August 26, 2019
Use brains to sell Adams County, consultants urge, The Westminster Window, July 31, 2019
Northeast Ohio needs to up its game: site selectors, Crain’s Cleveland Business, July 11, 2019
Real Estate Info Provider CoStar Profiles McGuireWoods, McGuireWoods Consulting Opportunity Zone Team, CoStar, May 2, 2019
State chamber to host Economic Summit in Williamsburg Friday, The Daily Press, December 4, 2018
There is No Infrastructure Santa Claus – How Rural Communities can Meet their Infrastructure Needs, 2018 Annual NREDA Conference, November 7, 2018 (Presentation)
Area business leaders discuss lagging state economy, The Winchester Star, September 27, 2018
Winning Economic Development Strategies, 10th Winchester-Frederick Business Forum Luncheon, September 27, 2018 (Presentation)
The Foundations of Virginia Economic Development Policy, Virginia Institute for Economic Development, September 19, 2018 (Presentation)
Behind the deal: How Virginia landed one of its biggest economic development deals ever, Washington Business Journal, August 29, 2018
4 ways Gerald Gordon built Fairfax County into an economic powerhouse, Washington Business Journal, August 28, 2018
Site selectors: NoCo has strengths, needs to sell them, BizWest Media LLC, August 3, 2018
Congratulations to McGuireWoods for Lumber Liquidators Headquarters Relocation, Greater Richmond Partnership, July 31, 2018
In Market: Should Fort Worth Mooove On?, Fort Worth Business Press, June 8, 2018
For Amazon and others, site selectors doubt that Barry affair hurts Nashville’s reputation, Nashville Business Journal, May 7, 2018
Nashville’s newest HQ didn’t balk at traffic and experts don’t think others will, either, Nashville Business Journal, May 2, 2018
Franklin County Banks on Summit View for Jobs, Tax Revenue, The Roanoke Times, December 2, 2017
Nothing is Constant Except for Change, Trade and Industry Development, October 30, 2017
GO Virginia, Virginia Business, October 27, 2017
On The Go, Virginia Business, May 31, 2017
Economic Development – Policy, Powers, and Politics, May 8, 2017
Virginia Economic Development Policy Update – The 2017 Virginia General Assembly, March 10, 2017
2017 Food And Beverage Industry Outlook: Part 1, Law360, January 18, 2017
Critical Site Selection Factor #1: Availability of Skilled Labor, Area Development, Q4 2016
Righting the ship?, Virginia Business, November 30, 2016
The Foundations of Virginia Economic Development Policy, September 28, 2016
Growing Your Organization Amid Local Pressure Ð The Politics of Local Economic Development, September 21, 2016
Global site consultants tour region, discuss infrastructure, talent, and competitiveness, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, September 21, 2016
Business site selection consultants get bird’s eye view of metro Denver, Denver Business Journal, September 16, 2016
Economic forum at William and Mary explores uniting region, Daily Press, August 23, 2016
Airport Economic Development Strategies, August 17, 2016
Winning The Political War Against Public Private Partnerships, June 28, 2016
Winning The Battle Against Economic Development and Incentives, June 8, 2016
Virginia Economic Development Policy Update – The 2016 Virginia General Assembly, April 14, 2016
Despite Enterprise Florida turmoil on job incentives, site selectors find plenty to praise in Tampa, Tampa Bay Times, April 8, 2016
To spur regional projects, millions in funds ready to ‘go’, Work It SOVA, March 25, 2016
P3 Frameworks in the DC Region, Eno Center for Transportation – DC Mayor’s Office P3 Summit, December 9, 2015 (Presentation)
Federal spending cuts have taken a toll on Virginia’s economy, The Virginian Pilot, December 4, 2015
Economic growth plan GO Virginia presented to local officials, The Daily Progress, December 1, 2015
The Politics of Local Economic Development: How To Use Facts to Stay Above the Fray, Ohio Economic Developers Association, October 23, 2015 (Presentation)
An Insider’s View of Site Selection and Incentives Policy, King George County Economic Development Forum, October 21, 2015 (Presentation)
Airport Economic Development Strategies: Best Practices for Attracting Jobs and Investments, Georgia Airports Association, October 15, 2015 (Presentation)
New Frontiers in Logistics Site Selection, Logistics Development Forum, August 5, 2015
The Politics of Local Economic Development: How to Use Facts to Stay Above the Fray, National Rural Economic Developers Association, July 15, 2015
While Christie seeks top job, N.J. looks for any job, June 30, 2015
Public Private Partnership Success Stories Ð The Virginia Experience, McGuireWoods Consulting Georgia P3 Seminar, June 11, 2015
Natchitoches on the move Ð Red River Roadshow Showcases Natchitoches Assets, May 19, 2015
Despite big job promises, incentives often fail to deliver, October 14, 2014
Incentives: The Good, the Bad, and Your Responsibility: Building a Defensible and Transparent Incentives Policy, September 25, 2014
PTI officials say bridge and taxiway will open huge opportunities, July 11, 2014
Winning the War Against Incentives: Building a Defensible and Transparent Incentives Policy, May 16, 2014
National site selectors size up Nashville, Nashville Business Journal, May 14, 2014
JAXUSA: How deals are done, April 8, 2014
National site selectors size up Nashville, March 14, 2014
Successful Siting: Choose the Right Land or Existing Building for a Food and Beverage Operation, Food and Drink Magazine, March 5, 2014
Five questions Boeing will be asking Greensboro and the Triad, December 6, 2013
An InsiderÕs View on Site Selection, October 30, 2013 (Presentation)
Public-private partnerships, September 27, 2013
Developers, builders back Georgia public-private partnerships law, August 20, 2013
Area’s ‘sense of place’ helps with economic development, speaker tells CVPED, June 28, 2013
The CFO’s Role in the Site Selection Process, January 24, 2011
How local businesses can tap the stimulus funds, April 6, 2009
Corporate Associate Member, SIOR
Member, Site Selectors Guild, 2014-present; Chairman, 2021-2022; Marketing Committee, 2015; Board Advisor, 2016; Board of Directors, 2016-present
Member, Board of Directors, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, 2019-present; Co-chair, Business Climate Task Force, 2020-present
Member, Virginia Economic Developers Association, 1999-present; Legislative Chair, 2000-present; Board of Directors, 2002-2004
Member, RVA-Hampton Roads Collaborative, 2019-present
Member, Transatlantic Business Investment Council Advisory Board, 2019-present
Member, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Advisors Council, 2019-present
Member, 2008-2016; Vice President of Membership, 2012, National Council for Public Private Partnerships
Board of Directors, Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2003-2009
Member, Chamber RVA Richmond Marine Terminal Task Force, 2016-2017
Member, International Economic Development Council, 2008-present
Member, Working Group on Revisions to the Model PPEA Guidelines, 2005-present
Member, Infrastructure Working Group, Attorney General’s Regulatory Reform Commission, 2008-2009
Co-Chair; 10th Reunion Gift Committee Member, 2002-2003; 15th Reunion Gift Committee Member, 2008; 20th Reunion Gift Committee Co-chair, 2012-2013, The Fund for William and Mary
Member, PPEA Ethical and Conflicts Working Group to the HJR 186 Subcommittee, 2005
Associate Member, Virginia Road and Transportation Builders Association, 2001-2005
Board of Directors, Oaks at Crossridge Homeowners Association, 2004-2005
Member, 1993-1998; Vice Chair, 1997, Young Guarde Council of the Society of the Alumni of the College of William and Mary
Member, Advisory Committee on the Center of Innovative Technology to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science, 2002-2003