The Location Decision of Hardwood Manufacturing in the Northern and Central Appalachian States

This study’s objective is to identify and understand the factors important to hardwood processors ’ location decisions in the northern and central Appalachian region. Concepts from neoclassical and behavioral location theones were integrated to develop a general framework for analyzing these decisions. Logit regression analysis was used to determine those establishment characteristics related to the likelihood of location search. To a great extent, establishments locate based on personal ties and do not conduct searches. Most variables found to influence the likelihood of search are not corrtroUableby state or local governments. The implications are that existing establishments should be targeted for retention and expansion, rather than focusing on remitment The northern and central Appalachian regionl of the United States has seen a revival of federal, state, and local interest in hardwood-based eco-nomic development (Bodenman, Jones, and Stan-turf). In several states and communities, this inter-est has been stimulated by severe employment cut