Ohio has been named America’s Top State for Business in 2026 by CNBC, marking the first time the state has earned the network’s top ranking.
Governor Mike DeWine joined CNBC’s Scott Cohn in Columbus Thursday morning as the announcement was made.
According to CNBC, Ohio earned the top ranking because of its low business costs, strong infrastructure, broad market access, abundant electrical power, a robust inventory of shovel-ready development sites, and some of the nation’s most affordable housing costs.
“This number one ranking proves that Ohio is the best place in America for business and all that comes along with it, including jobs, quality of life, and opportunities for everyone to live up to their God-given potential,” said Governor Mike DeWine.
The recognition represents a dramatic rise for Ohio in CNBC’s annual rankings. In 2010, the state ranked 34th overall. During the DeWine Administration, Ohio has steadily climbed the list, placing 15th in 2022, 12th in 2023, 7th in 2024, 5th in 2025, and now first in 2026.
“Ohio’s long-term strategy to make Ohio the go-to place for business is working,” DeWine said. “When I took office, I promised to ‘plant the seeds’ of long-term investments that will positively impact Ohio for years to come. Today’s announcement is proof that these seeds are growing, and Ohio has a bright future ahead.”
State officials pointed to several major initiatives that helped position Ohio for the top ranking, including:
- Approximately $1 billion invested since 2021 to clean up contaminated properties and demolish dilapidated buildings for future redevelopment.
- Creation of the All Ohio Future Fund in 2023 to expand the state’s inventory of project-ready economic development sites with needed infrastructure.
- Continued investment in the H2Ohio initiative to protect and preserve Ohio’s water resources.
- Achieving Triple-A bond ratings from all three major credit rating agencies beginning in 2023, a first in Ohio history.
- Expanding education initiatives, including the Science of Reading strategy and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio.
- Establishing the Ohio Merit Scholarship and guaranteed admission opportunities at every public college and university in the state for eligible recipients.
- Investing $300 million to expand career-technical education facilities, equipment, and student opportunities.
- Launching WorkOhio in early 2026 to connect job seekers with employment, training, and workforce resources.
- Supporting the development of Innovation Districts in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, along with four additional Innovation Hubs across the state focused on research and product development.
The CNBC ranking marks another milestone in Ohio’s economic development efforts and highlights the state’s continued focus on attracting new businesses, creating jobs, and investing in long-term growth.
