Don’t rest.

It’s great to brag about St. Joseph’s No. 1 ranking for business recruitment and retention, advises Frank Spano.

“But you’ve got to back it up,” he said at the Economic Summit Luncheon on Thursday.

Mr. Spano, a consultant with site selection firm The Austin Co., will spend three days in St. Joseph examining strengths and weaknesses.

“We still have some work to do, but from what I’ve seen so far, it’s a quality community,” he said.

He was pleased to see St. Joseph is a manufacturing community that knows its roots but has also expanded into the animal health industry. “I think you’re on to something good.”

In the tough economy, St. Joseph has to realize it is competing with cities around the nation, said Ted Allison, president and CEO of the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce.

“He’s been encouraging, but he has emphasized you cannot let your support base down,” Mr. Allison said.

The new Eastowne Business Park, under construction on Riverside Road, is a nice asset, but land prices seem high, Mr. Spano said. The Chamber will look into that issue, Mr. Allison said, because the price has been set to recoup costs.

To compete, industrial parks must be well-designed and include employee amenities such as bike trails, Mr. Spano said.

His company works with companies looking to locate around the nation. Industries with the greatest growth potential are food processing, warehousing and renewable energy. The alternative energy industry, including wind and solar power, is expected to grow 20 percent over the next 20 years.

“All communities should be geared up for it and pretty excited about it,” Mr. Spano said.

Business editor Susan Mires can be reached at susanm@npgco.com.