Why yes, Ohio wants your business, and a global business and financial news outlet is exclaiming the wonders of the Buckeye State’s business-friendly landscape.

CNBC announced on its broadcast Thursday that Ohio is America’s Top State for Business in 2026.The network cited the state’s business costs, infrastructure, market access, electrical power capacity and inventory of shovel-ready sites in making its decision. Ohio’s housing costs also are among the most affordable nationwide, CNBC reported.

“When I took office, I promised to ‘plant the seeds’ of long-term investments that will positively impact Ohio for years to come.,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “Today’s announcement is proof that these seeds are growing, and Ohio has a bright future ahead.”

Those investments include:

•An approximately $1 billion program to clean up and demolish contaminated properties and dilapidated buildings statewide and prepare them for redevelopment. 

• The creation of the All Ohio Future Fund to increase the state’s inventory of project-ready economic development sites outfitted with necessary infrastructure.

• The protection and preservation of water sources through the H2Ohio initiative.

•Active budget management, maintaining reserves and economic diversification, which led to Triple-A bond ratings from the nation’s three credit rating agencies.

•Ohio’s education strategy to ensure students have quality education options and good job opportunities upon graduation;.encouraging Ohio’s best and brightest students to stay in the state to attend college; and investing $300 million into career-technical education.

•The launch of WorkOhio, which connects Ohio job seekers with employment and training opportunities.

•The creation of three Innovation Districts and four Innovation Hubs to focus on research and product development.

The Valley’s economic development leaders praised the announcement.

Dani Robbins, CEO of Lake to River Economic Development, addressed statewide collaboration as “the kind of alignment that drives success in retaining and attracting business. As the JobsOhio network partner for Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties, we’re a big part of that everyday work, and this recognition is further evidence that Ohio is in growth mode.”

Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, said CNBC’s recognition “reflects the momentum being built across the state, including right here in the Mahoning Valley.”

The $800 million Kimberly-Clark project in Warren, which recently earned Area Development’s Silver Shovel Award, boosted the state’s economic profile. So did Vallourec’s $48 million investment in the Valley.

Coviello noted the Youngstown/Warren region’s No. 23 national and No. 7 midsized metro rankings for economic development.

“(That) shows the Mahoning Valley is part of that progress,” he said. “Those successes are possible because businesses, economic development organizations, public officials, educators, philanthropic organizations and community partners continue working together to move the Valley forward.”

Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, who leads Ohio’s workforce development strategy, said opportunities are everywhere across the state.

“We have so many innovative workforce development programs that create talent pipelines that align with real employer demand, like WorkOhio and JobsOhio’s Experiential Learning Initiative, just to name a few,” he said.

CNBC’s announcement marks Ohio’s first time at No.1. In 2010, the network ranked Ohio No. 34 for its overall economic strategy and success. During the DeWine Administration, Ohio increased its performance, placing 15th in 2022, 12th in 2023, seventh in 2024, fifth in 2025 and first in 2026.

“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,” DeWine said.

In other statewide economic news, the Ohio Department of Development announced Friday that its Ohio Small Business Development Centers program has assisted 60,000 entrepreneurs, supported the growth of 16,950 jobs and secured $1.3 billion in capital since 2019.

This represents the agency’s highest level of small business engagement under any administration in the program’s 40-year history.

Locally, services are delivered through more than 20 host organizations, including educational institutions and economic development organizations. By placing SBDC certified business advisers within established community partners, the program ensures that small businesses in all 88 Ohio counties have direct access to expert business assistance.

For more information, visit development.ohio.gov.