Site Selection

George: Strategic investments pay off for every corner of the state. When you run one of the most successful economic development organizations in America, it can sometimes be a challenge to top last year’s performance. For Christy George, president and CEO of the Illinois Economic Development Corporation (Illinois EDC), the challenge was met and surpassed when Illinois increased its total corporate facility project tally from 2024 to 2025.

Gov. Pritzker shows America how to build a globally competitive state. When Zero Point Cryogenics announced on July 22 that it would establish its first U.S. location at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) on Chicago’s South Side, the news reinforced exactly how much the Illinois economy has changed since Gov. JB Pritzker took office on January 14, 2019. This is not your grandfather’s Illinois anymore.

5 for 5: Illinois Reaps Record Haul in 31 Days When Illinois recently secured five high-profile project wins in five weeks, the flurry of activity only confirmed what most site selectors already knew: When it comes to advanced manufacturing, Illinois is a juggernaut. From February 23 to March 25, 2026, Illinois landed major capital investments from AbbVie, DMG MORI, CSL, Hyundai Translead and Mars Snacking.

A PRODUCTION BOOST IN BEREA Astemo Americas, Inc. is placing $112 million toward increased hybrid electric vehicle motor capacity in central Kentucky, according to news released last week. The advanced mobility solutions manufacturer, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Honda Motor Company and JIC Capital’s Japan-based joint venture Astemo, will expand two facilities located in the city of Berea in Madison County.

The Walton Family Foundation did everyone a huge favor when it recently published a report showing the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic success in Northwest Arkansas (NWA). When researchers compared NWA across peer regions, three things stood out: Entrepreneurship is the key to building a vibrant economy. Business ownership rates in Northwest Arkansas are trending upward. The survival rate of young firms in this region outpaces the average found in peer regions.

A small-town mom-and-pop shop in northeastern Indiana offers a valuable lesson on manufacturing movement in the Upper Midwest. The sweet spot for an industrial plant isn’t always where you think it is. For Tracy and Shawn Mantel, getting site selection right isn’t just about ensuring success for their company; it’s about safeguarding the livelihood of many families. The couple are co-founders and co-owners of Powersafe Automation.

An industrial boom has unfolded in southern Dallas County, Texas, and the City of Wilmer — first established as a railroad stop 155 years ago — is in the thick of it. The investments have come from diverse sectors, including logistics, advanced manufacturing, data centers and clean energy. Now it’s time for commercial, retail, healthcare and quality-of-life amenities to kick in, even as the industrial economy continues to roll.

How Texas topped competitors to land the biggest U.S. auto plant deal of 2026. When Toyota announced July 6 that it will invest $3.6 billion to expand its massive truck plant in San Antonio and create 2,000 jobs to increase production in Alamo City, one could almost hear the echoes of 2003.

This town in Central Texas leads in capital investment and advancing enterprise. Location and infrastructure are two gold stars Pflugerville, Texas, has on its report card when it comes to its competitiveness for attracting, keeping and growing business. Another strength the community of almost 70,000 has? The “willingness to work and grow with entities and businesses,” says Pflugerville Mayor Doug Weiss.

My first real job was working in a B. Dalton Booksellers store in Prairie Village, Kansas. My manager was John Hamann. He was the nicest, most well-read manager I’ve ever had in any job. That starts with niceness at your core, but reading seemed to make him an even better person than that.