For the 14th consecutive year, Texas has earned the Governor’s Cup from Site Selection magazine, recognizing the state with the most economic development projects in the nation. With more than 1,400 qualifying new and expanded facilities in 2025, Texas once again outpaced every other state, reinforcing its position as the premier destination for business expansion in the U.S.
Houston rose to No. 2 nationally among tier-1 metros with 590 economic development projects, surpassing Dallas-Fort Worth and trailing only Chicago. Activity spanned energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, logistics and aerospace, highlighted by major investments like Eli Lilly’s $6.5 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility and Foxconn’s partnership with Apple and Nvidia to produce AI servers in Houston.
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While Houston ranked second in total projects, it led the nation among Tier-1 metros in per capita project performance. This distinction underscores Houston’s efficiency and competitiveness in attracting investment, thanks to its robust infrastructure and strong regional alignment across economic development organizations, workforce institutions, port authorities and municipal leadership.
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Texas accounted for roughly 18 percent of all qualifying corporate facility projects nationwide in 2025, more than double the total of the second-place state. Governor Greg Abbott credited the win to the state’s business climate, infrastructure investments and coordinated economic development strategy.
“Partnerships with our local and regional economic development organizations are truly the key to our success,” Abbott said. “The strong collaborations between state and local economic development partners ensure we have access to the most up-to-date local and regional information.”
Houston plays a significant role in the state’s success, supported by a pro-growth business environment, a growing workforce fueled by sustained in-migration and continued investments in infrastructure and logistics that strengthen economic growth and connectivity.
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