Ohio Tops CNBC's 2026 Business Rankings on Infrastructure and Cost Advantages
Event summary
- Ohio ranked No. 1 in CNBC's 2026 Top States for Business, up from No. 5 in 2025 and No. 34 in 2010.
- The state scored top marks in Infrastructure (No. 1) and Cost of Doing Business (No. 1), driven by its transportation network, energy policy updates, and tax incentives.
- Ohio's economic development strategy includes $99 billion in capital investment since 2019, with projects like Intel's semiconductor plant and Anduril Industries' $910M manufacturing campus.
- JobsOhio's five-year strategy focuses on 'super sectors,' including AI, energy, and semiconductors.
The big picture
Ohio's rise reflects a broader trend of Midwestern states leveraging infrastructure and cost advantages to compete for large-scale industrial projects. The state's fiscal discipline—evidenced by its Triple-A bond rating—and targeted investments in energy and logistics position it as a long-term hub for advanced manufacturing. However, sustaining this momentum will require balancing rapid permitting with grid modernization amid rising demand from AI and semiconductor firms.
What we're watching
- Infrastructure Leadership
- Whether Ohio can sustain its No. 1 infrastructure ranking as CNBC increases weight on permitting speed and grid capacity.
- Super Sector Growth
- The pace at which JobsOhio's 'super sectors' strategy attracts additional trillion-dollar investments in AI, energy, and semiconductors.
- Workforce Alignment
- How effectively Ohio's workforce development programs scale to meet demand from high-growth industries like advanced manufacturing.
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