FirstEnergy named top utility for economic development

Site Selection Magazine has named FirstEnergy Corp. as one of the leading utilities in the area of economic development.

This designation recognizes the utility as encouraging business development within their areas of operation. Among the criteria for this designation include how utilities help to facilitate job creation and investment and is based upon evaluation of performance and other data alongside surveys from clients of the utility.

The company states in 2014, they were successful in generating approximately $2.8 billion in capital investments that is expected to support approximately 6,000 new jobs.

"FirstEnergy's economic development team works hard to attract new businesses and to encourage existing businesses to expand in our service area," Patrick Kelly, director of economic development at FirstEnergy, said. "Site Selection magazine's award demonstrates that our efforts to promote job creation continue to enjoy success and recognition in the industry."

Within their economic development programs, FirstEnergy offers the FirstProspector website which allows users to see available land sites in the FirstEnergy service area. They also offer the IMPACTfactor+ program which allows the company’s service communities to model economic activity and what impacts developments could have on several factors.

This is the twelfth time FirstEnergy Corp. has been recognized by the publication for their economic development efforts.