For international investors, choosing a location in 2026 is no longer a simple comparison of labor costs, taxes and incentives. Trade exposure, power availability, workforce depth and execution risk increasingly determine whether a site can support the business case.
Foreign and even domestic companies often have unrealistic expectations about site and building availability.
“After the post-COVID industrial boom and subsequent softening, the U.S. and Canadian markets have largely normalized, but much of the best inventory—especially development-ready sites—has been absorbed,” observes Tracey Hyatt Bosman, CEcD, CRE, CSSC, Managing Director, Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company in Princeton, NJ. “Because manufacturing facilities are often highly customized, existing buildings may not fit, making new construction on a ready site necessary. Companies should therefore be prepared to compromise on location, size, cost, timing, or configuration.”
Site readiness, encompassing everything from environmental conditions to permitting to zoning, is critical, but too often overlooked, says Bosman. Close coordination with local utilities has also become an increasingly critical piece of the site readiness picture as it is vital that all parties are on the same page regarding the ability of any given site to meet the needs of potential projects.
“In the current market conditions,” she notes, “the communities and economic development organizations that make it easy for companies to get up and running will be best positioned to compete for foreign direct investment.”
Tracey Hyatt Bosman develops and executes incentives and location selection strategies for BLS & Co.'s corporate and institutional clients. She is a certified economic developer with twenty years of professional experience across a wide range of sectors, including data centers, manufacturing, headquarters, back office and contact center operations, and logistics.