New York would do well to learn from Ohio.

July 10th, 2026

A statement attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United. 

Ohio is now CNBC’s #1 State for Business in America, capping a years-long climb from 34th in 2010 to 1st in 2026. During that same period, New York has improved from 24th to 18th, but it continues to trail many of its competitors in critical areas related to affordability and economic growth.

According to the CNBC, Ohio has also emerged as a major destination for AI and advanced computing, with 224 data centers and one of the world’s largest planned AI infrastructure projects. By contrast, New York has 133 data centers and policymakers are debating proposals that could further limit future development.

Moreover, the ranking points out that Ohio’s advantage isn’t just geography or incentives—it’s predictability.

As Governor Mike DeWine put it:

“This is a state that has stability… we’re predictable; we’re not going to have any big changes that [would] bother you from bringing your company in here.”

At a time when companies are making multi-billion-dollar investment decisions, stable and predictable public policy is one of the greatest competitive advantages a state can offer. CNBC’s latest rankings are another reminder that while other states are positioning themselves for the industries of the future, New York still has work to do if it wants to compete for the next generation of investment and jobs.