It is official: Ohio is the best place in America to do business
In its highly anticipated 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings, CNBC named Ohio the No. 1 state for business for the first time since the study launched in 2007. Moving from No. 5 last year all the way to the top spot caps off five consecutive years of economic climbs.
While this monumental win is a testament to our state’s low costs and thriving workforce, there is one critical factor that secured our first-place finish: Infrastructure.
For the first time in the history of the study, CNBC made Infrastructure its heaviest-weighted category, accounting for nearly 18% of a state’s total score. Ohio didn’t just pass the test—we dominated it, earning a No. 1 rank and an A+ grade in Infrastructure.
At the Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA), we are proud to be part of our state’s success. Our three-airport system – John Glenn Columbus International (CMH), Rickenbacker International (LCK), and Bolton Field (TZR) – serves as a massive economic engine, accounting for nearly 59,000 jobs and an annual total economic output of $12.9 billion.
Connecting Central Ohio’s mega-projects to the world
High-tech manufacturing, aerospace defense, and advanced logistics require rapid global connectivity. Look at a few of the generation-defining economic developments happening right in our backyard:
- Intel’s massive semiconductor investment in Licking County, a 15-minute drive to CMH.
- Anduril Industries’ $910 million Arsenal-1 manufacturing campus in Pickaway County adjacent to LCK.
These world-class enterprises require world-class logistics. While CMH connects executives and talent to vital business centers, LCK acts as a high-performance international freight powerhouse. Located within a day’s drive of nearly half of the U.S. population and one-third of the Canadian population, LCK specializes in widebody freighters, moves multi million dollar goods through Foreign-Trade Zone 138, and keeps critical automotive, high tech, and defense supply chains moving seamlessly – giving Ohio an unmatched competitive edge on the global stage.
Investing today to support tomorrow's demand
A premier business climate requires an airport authority that builds ahead of demand. Coming off a historic 2025 that saw our passenger numbers climb to 9.36 million, we are actively modernizing our infrastructure to keep pace with the region’s hyper-growth.
From the phased roadway enhancements at LCK to the massive long-term vision of our CMH Next terminal project, we are reshaping our physical footprint. We aren’t just handling more volume; we are creating a first-class transit experience that a top-tier business economy expects.
Driven by "Team Ohio" collaboration
This achievement wasn’t an accident. It is the result of a deliberate, long-term vision. As Governor Mike DeWine noted following the announcement, “Ohio’s long-term workforce and economic development strategy is working. We are outpacing every other state in the nation because we have worked together to create a strong economy, pro-business environment and a workforce that is ready to innovate.”
That spirit of collaboration is baked into everything we do. From working alongside state leadership to coordinating site readiness to expanding regional air capacity, success comes from moving in the same direction. As JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef perfectly put it, “This Top State recognition belongs to Team Ohio. Ohio succeeds because the state government, JobsOhio, the Ohio Department of Development… regional economic development organizations, higher education, employers… and local communities all work toward the same goal. That alignment is one of Ohio’s greatest competitive advantages.”
We have the location, the collaborative spirit, and the $12.9 billion infrastructure engine. Ohio is officially the heart of American business—and our skies have never looked brighter.