The second assignment has parallels to your first assignment and similarities to a feasibility study that you might write in a business policy class, but the output in this assignment is very different.  You will conduct a study, with your group members, to determine the potential for expansion in a particular industry in a particular city or region.  Your output will be in two forms.  First, you will provide an in-depth magazine-style article (about 4 pages) assessing the situation and providing information to the general public and the business community.  The second is a poster presentation of your report. (I am expecting stuff glued on poster board, not one of those expensive posters like some do for the SAC) 

As in the previous assignment, each community and industry will have unique characteristics so I do not want to provide a recipe that you must follow; nevertheless, I will provide a few comments to give you some direction.  Before my suggestions, however, I will remind you that the internet is filled with guides on how to write a feasibility study, which could be useful in the process.  I, however, caution you to remember that this is a regional economics class.  The focus is on the economic attributes region and not whether you can guarantee profit in your industry.  

You should assess the market environment that your business will be entering; this should include both demand and supply-side considerations.  For example, you may include a list of the probable customers for your industry according to such aspects as age, gender, class and/or household size to provide demand-side analysis.  To continue, you could consider the populations of customers in those categories near the intended location of your business.   Understand your major competitors--direct and indirect.  Your report should provide enough information so that we may evaluate whether the overall market in your area is expanding or contracting.

On the supply-side you need to evaluate whether the community will be able to provide what will be required for your industry.  How will the region be able to provide the equipment and materials that your industry will need?  Are suppliers for raw materials local?   Consider the infrastructure of employment and the various educational requirements of employees for your business.   Because supply-side issues are often costly, you may need to assess the financial resources.