C.J. Evans Guides Baker Tilly Clients Through Site Selection, Economic Development, Grants and More
When it comes to site selection and economic development, C.J. Evans shares his expertise with Baker Tilly clients to help them with real estate projects, and to access and attain local, state and national incentives. Also, how to be successful when applying for Florida Quick Response Training Grants.
Evans is Director of Site Selection & Economic Development for Baker Tilly, a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm. On May 1, 2025, Hancock Askew (the firm before it joined Baker Tilly) combined with Baker Tilly, a leading multinational firm ranked in the top 10 in the U.S. Shortly afterward, Moss Adams, ranked 15th in the U.S., announced it was merging with Baker Tilly, making it the sixth-largest accounting, audit, tax and advisory firm in the U.S.
In his role, Evans provides site selection and economic development consulting services. And he is already starting to integrate with Baker Tilly’s State & Local Tax (SALT) group and Real Estate Advisory group.
Baker Tilly was founded in 1931 in Waterloo, Wisconsin, when Ed Virchow started providing audits to the Midwestern canning companies. Since then, it has combined with more than 50 firms, giving it an international presence.
Evans has more than 25 years of experience working with commercial real estate professionals providing site selection and economic development consulting services to companies opening new facilities or expanding existing operations across the U.S.
“I help companies secure business incentives for job creation and capital investment. These incentives can include cash grants, property tax reductions, sales and use tax reductions, infrastructure grants, utility rate reductions, and federal and state income/franchise tax credits,” he said. Along with commercial real estate professionals, I guide companies through every step of the site selection and economic development process. I provide site location financial analysis and serve as a liaison with state and local economic development and governmental representatives.
“As part of this turnkey economic development and business incentives services, I also manage and complete compliance filings. I have a broad SALT background. And, along with other Baker Tilly team members, can assist with income tax, sales and use tax, and property tax matters.”
Giving Back
The Baker Tilly Foundation gives back to the communities it serves. It supports causes in the areas of education, health and wellness, and human services. “We believe strongly that for our firm to be successful, the communities we live in must be successful too,” it states on its website. In Florida, it supports organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, among others.
Baker Tilly Q&A
The Central Florida Development Council asked Evans about his role in the company. The following are his answers.
Question: How do you help companies when they are in the process of selecting new site locations?
Evans: I act as an economic development consultant for business owners and managers who are looking to expand their operations in the U.S. or locate new operations in the U.S. Working with commercial real estate professionals, I help to evaluate locations based on quantitative and qualitative factors, including business incentives and other risk mitigation or cost reduction opportunities. On the company’s behalf, I work with a variety of entities, such as state, city and county government officials and economic development professionals, utility company representatives as well as other community leaders. My collaboration with primary real-estate professionals allows us to recommend the best locations that meet the owner’s immediate needs and align with their long-term growth goals.
Florida Quick Response Training Grant
Q: Explain how a company can benefit from the Florida Quick Response Training Grant.
Evans: This program has been around for over two decades, and I have worked with it since its inception. It is a state-funded program offering grant funding to new and expanding Florida businesses that offer specialized training to new employees in highly skilled jobs. Assuming a company meets the eligibility requirements, this is a great tool to minimize new employee training costs. Also, if an eligible company is in a long-term headcount growth mode, then this is the type of program that can be used annually and could be integrated into the company’s HR process. Working economic development and business incentives consulting professionals, like those at Baker Tilly, can help determine eligibility and assist with the application process, often maximizing the grant award.
Other Incentives
Q: How can businesses take advantage of Florida’s economic development incentives?
Evans: Business incentive opportunities are available to existing and new businesses located in Florida. They are offered on federal, state and local levels. Qualifying for these incentives is based on many parameters, such as type of business, new construction or existing facility, job creation and capital investment. As a site selection consultant, I help to match the company’s quantitative and qualitative factors/needs with the available business incentives. These quantitative business incentives can take the form of cash grants, sales tax and property tax reductions, and income tax credits, as well as expeditated permitting.
Q: Why are these business incentives so important to the economic development of Central Florida?
Evans: New and growing businesses bring more money into the Central Florida economy, both through spending and the payment of local taxes and fees. These business incentives help entice businesses in Central Florida to expand here, and they also encourage other companies to move to this area when growing their operations. The result is a better quality of life for people who live here due to more job opportunities, better schools, an improved real estate market and more.
Collaboration
Q: How have you worked with the CFDC and other EDCs in Polk County? Has that work introduced a new company to the area or helped a company expand?
Evans: Yes. For example, I currently work with a company that is a pharmacy benefit manager that continues to expand their corporate headquarters and business operations in Lakeland. I also work with a produce distribution company in locating new distribution center operations in Lakeland.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Baker Tilly?
Evans: I truly enjoy the people I work with across our firm — everyone is friendly and collaborative. Beyond that, I appreciate the firm’s strong commitment to professional development and innovation. Baker Tilly provides access to a wide range of resources and specialization, which allows me to deliver high-impact solutions to clients. The firm’s culture encourages continuous learning and supports entrepreneurial thinking, which is especially valuable in the dynamic field of economic development and site selection. I also value the opportunity to work on projects that make a tangible difference in communities, helping businesses grow and create jobs.
