Chicago Named Top U.S. Metro for 13th Year

For the fourth consecutive year, Illinois is one of the top states in America for corporate expansions, with Chicago among the top metro areas for business development.

Illinois Holds Its Ground in National Business Rankings

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker teamed up with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Economic Development Corporation to announce that Site Selection Magazine has ranked Illinois No. 2 in the nation for corporate expansion and relocation projects.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the publication, considered "the industry scoreboard," has ranked Illinois near the top, and for the third year in a row, has the Land of Lincoln ranked second in the U.S. for projects per capita.

Site Selection Magazine also named Chicago as the number one metro area in the country for the 13th consecutive year,

680 Projects Signal Continued Growth

According to Site Selection, Illinois recorded 680 business expansion or relocation projects in 2025, up from 664 in 2024. To qualify, projects must involve at least a $1 million investment, 20 new jobs, or 20,000 square feet of new space.

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State officials credit coordinated efforts through "Team Illinois," which includes state agencies, utilities, higher education institutions, and private-sector partners, for incentive packages, workforce development programs, and site-readiness investments being central to the strategy.

Quantum, Credit Upgrades, and Competitive Edge

Illinois' economic development push includes the construction of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago's South Side, anchored by PsiQuantum.

The state has also secured 10 credit rating upgrades since 2021 and bolstered its Rainy Day Fund. Additional rankings show Illinois placing Number 13 in CNBC's Best States for Business, up 17 spots since 2019, while earning top 10 marks for infrastructure technology, and access to capital.