According to Area Development’s 40th Annual Corporate and 22nd Annual Consultants Site Selection Survey, the top five site selection factors, ranked by leading location advisors across the United States, include availability of skilled labor, electric power availability at scale, site readiness and due diligence status, responsive state and local government and operating cost structure.

Every year, the BE NKY Growth Partnership team attends conferences and tradeshows throughout the country and the world, connecting with site selectors and consultants and learning more about what they and their clients are looking for when it comes to choosing a new site or expansion location. The team shares these takeaways internally and with our business and community leaders so Northern Kentucky competes at a high level when a company is considering the region for its next move or expansion.

BE NKY Vice President of Economic Development Kimberly Rossetti recently attended Consultant Connect in Charleston, South Carolina. Below are several of her key takeaways:

  • In 2026, projects are more real with more defined timelines and action items, and a greater number of deals are closing this year compared to last year. In 2026, BE NKY has announced five project wins representing 248 jobs compared to three project wins and 60 jobs at this time in 2025.
  • Projects that aren’t moving forward are becoming inactive because of site or building availability and the cost of real estate.
  • Relationship-building, outreach, and marketing continue to be top drivers of economic development success, with an emphasis on in-person or telephone communication instead of emails and texts. LinkedIn posts remain vital as many site consultants closely follow LinkedIn news.
  • BE NKY will showcase its strong university partnerships that tie into our target industries of life sciences, information technology, supply chain and advanced manufacturing.

Client Relations Manager Devon Greco attended Site Selectors Guild in Atlanta. Below are her takeaways:

  • Over the past few years, projects have been operating on a “ready, set, pause” trajectory, with multiple factors contributing to this pattern. Construction and labor costs have increased, banks are setting stricter lending policies and projects are failing to receive the needed funding.
  • Many companies are uncertain about whether they will be profitable building new facilities in the United States. According to Area Development’s survey results, there is now a major focus on operational certainty and a shift from cost optimization to risk mitigation.
  • Uncertainty will become a factor that needs to be weighed in the site selection process and not used to postpone decisions. Projects need to move forward.
  • Data centers, power and AI will be front of mind in 2026, and industrial policy changes will spur more manufacturing jobs, apprenticeships, and internships, reviving this industry and taking it to the next level. Technology is changing at a rapid pace, with AI offering the potential to make companies, especially in manufacturing, more efficient.
  • Although young baby boomers are continuing to participate in the workforce and staying in jobs longer than anticipated, it’s important to prepare the next generation of workers. According to Area Development’s survey, “availability of skilled labor” remained at the very top of the survey rankings, cited by 100% of respondents as important or very important. Depth of technical talent pipelines, including community colleges and trade schools, was cited by 95%, an increase from 80% one year ago.
  • Manufacturing culture is reaping the benefits of focusing on education and awareness for students at a younger age and there is greater communication between the business community and the education community on what skills are needed to fill roles moving forward. This supports the idea that there is wider acceptance of skilled labor career opportunities and that young people are starting to explore jobs in the skilled trades with a better understanding of them. In May 2025, BE NKY invested $440,000 into three Northern Kentucky education non-profit organizations: Adopt A Class, TradesNKY, and Learning Grove’s NaviGo College and Career Prep. Through Adopt A Class, BE NKY team members volunteer once a month in a second-grade classroom in Covington, mentoring students and exposing them to career opportunities in Northern Kentucky.
  • Energy is the new filter through which every location is first evaluated, with electric power availability at scale appearing at 98.5% in the survey. Access to water continues to be a major issue and, over the next 10 years, will surpass electric and power needs. This focus puts Northern Kentucky and the Midwest in a strong position.

The BE NKY team will expand its presence at conferences and tradeshows throughout 2026, actively showcasing the Northern Kentucky community and sharing insights and best practices with partner organizations and key stakeholders across the region.

About BE NKY Growth Partnership

BE NKY Growth Partnership, the economic development company for Northern Kentucky, provides businesses with the expertise they need to build opportunity in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. We attract new business and elevate what’s already here to create innovative, forward-thinking, and attractive environments for companies and community success. We serve Northern Kentucky so that our community thrives through the creation of good jobs and a growing and diverse economy. We believe in Opportunity and Prosperity for All Northern Kentuckians. Visit www.BE-NKY.com for more information.