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Columbus, Ohio – Columbus has been named the top metro area in the country in Site Selection Magazine’s 2025 Global Groundwork Index, a national ranking that tracks where business growth and public infrastructure investment are advancing together.
This marks Columbus’ first time at No. 1 in the Index, which combines private sector investment and job creation data with federal infrastructure funding to show which regions are best positioned for long-term economic success. Columbus ranked No. 3 in 2024. Site Selection collects and analyzes data from January 2021 through July 1, 2025 to develop the index.
“The Columbus Region is playing to win with a continued emphasis on the public and private sectors stacking hands to prioritize practical solutions,” said Jason Hall, CEO of the Columbus Partnership. “We’re making bold moves, landing significant and innovative projects, and staying focused on long-term growth that lifts the whole region. Companies see the competitive advantage in the Columbus Region, and they want in.”
Since 2021, 195 companies have chosen to locate or expand in the Columbus Region, drawn by its business-friendly environment, talent pipeline and infrastructure advantages. These projects have generated over $38 billion in capital investment and led to the creation of nearly 28,000 new jobs across the Region.
“Columbus is emblematic of high performance in both infrastructure investment and corporate end-user project activity in this year’s Global Groundwork Index by metros and states in the heartland,” said Site Selection Editor in Chief Adam Bruns, “with two of our top three metro regions in Ohio and several more of the top seven in neighboring Indiana.”
A big part of the Central Ohio’s infrastructure momentum has been driven by the Columbus War Room, a coordinated effort to secure competitive federal grants. By uniting public and private leaders, the War Room has helped the Columbus Region secure $116 million in federal funding for key projects such as Lancaster’s Industrial Complex, Columbus Regional Airport Authority’s Terminal Grant and COTA’s West Broad Corridor expansion. These funds are now fueling transportation, mobility and utility upgrades that are strengthening the region’s competitiveness for future business investment.
“We are preparing for the future with the right mix of speed, scale and strategy,” said Matt McCollister, Interim President of One Columbus. “Our team has worked closely with public and private partners to make sure our region is ready for growth and continues to attract the kinds of companies that create lasting opportunity.”
Along with Columbus’s No. 1 ranking, Cincinnati placed No. 3, and Ohio ranked No. 2 among all U.S. states in this year’s Index.
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For Immediate Release
September 2, 2025
Columbus Partnership Media Contact
Jon Keeling
614-657-5917
jk@columbuspartnership.com