Resilience

Predictability is a competitive advantage

Northeast Ohio offers stability in an unpredictable world

Located in the #1 in state for infrastructure, with significant interstate highway, freight railroad, and warehousing presence. Record-breaking airport passengers. One natural disaster in 8 years, a fraction of peers like New York. Northeast Ohio’s infrastructure story is one of quiet strength.

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Ohio is the #1 state for business, set over the Cleveland skyline

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Ohio is the #1 state for business

CNBC ranked Ohio first among all 50 states in 2025. See how the state has placed each year, charted alongside the rest of the competitiveness indicators.

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What this tells you

The data, shaped around your work.

Site Pipeline

Industrial vacancy 45% less than U.S. average

Tight industrial vacancy reflects sustained demand and strong utilization of existing space, but limited availability can constrain growth. Through Developing Opportunities, Team NEO and regional partners are strengthening the pipeline of competitive sites and buildings, supported by the RightSites Council and other industry experts.

Connectivity

49 direct flight destinations

In 2025, Northeast Ohio had 49 direct flight destinations, up from 45 in 2018.

Land for Business

2,443 Acres of New Sites

Added to the region’s inventory through Team NEO and the Ohio Site Inventory Program, strengthening the pipeline of competitive sites.

We’re reimagining what’s possible in an industrial city, and the world’s pre-eminent site location consultants are taking note. It’s another example of how Cleveland is leading the way to create pathways to prosperity for generations to come.

Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb

Metric 01

Natural disasters

Official incidents classified as a major disaster declaration by the U.S. President.

Methodology & definitions

Tracked metric

Natural Disaster Official incidents classified as a major disaster declaration by the U.S. President. Examples include a hurricane, tornado, storm, earthquake, high water, etc. Knowledge of the potential threat of natural disasters is pertinent to businesses' tolerance for risk when evaluating whether to move operations to a new area.

Sources & notes

Source — FEMA.gov
1 Disaster declarations in 8 years Compared to 19 for New York during the same period.
18 hazards tracked FEMA tracks 18 possible natural disaster hazards like hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and droughts.
125 average annual U.S. disasters The President declares an average of 125 disasters per year in the U.S.

Eight Years. One Declared Natural Disaster. A Great Location to Manage Risk.

Northeast Ohio's geography is one of its greatest competitive advantages. Protected by the Great Lakes, it is far from major seismic zones, experiences far fewer tornadoes than Tornado Alley, and is largely shielded from direct Atlantic hurricane impacts. The result: just 1 FEMA disaster declaration in a 14-county region in the past 8 years.

For businesses, resilience translates into confidence. FEMA disaster records influence insurance costs, capital planning, and site selection decisions. With a lower risk profile than many peer regions, Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and the surrounding areas offer a dependable foundation for investment, business continuity, and long-term growth.

Eight years, measuring 18 types of disasters

Each row is a benchmark metro. Coastal and southern metros absorb multiple declarations across the years, while Northeast Ohio tops out at 1 disaster in 8 years.

FEMA major disaster declarations · 2018–2025 · 13 metros

Metric 02

Industrial vacancy

The share of vacant industrial space available in a market.

Methodology & definitions

Tracked metric

Industrial Vacancy Rate The percentage of vacant industrial space available in a market. The rate can be an indicator of the temperature of the broader economy as it is affected by inflation and construction activity. For example, there may be higher vacancy rates when inflation is high and industrial construction is low. A healthy economy has an industrial vacancy rate around 8%.

Sources & notes

Source — Cushman & Wakefield MarketBeat Insights
3.9% Regional vacancy, 2025 Up from 3.4% in 2018, but still facing strong demand for industrial space.
5.6M sq ft New building space Supported through Team NEO’s site development efforts and the Ohio Site Inventory Program.
2,443 Acres of new sites Added to the region’s inventory through Team NEO and the Ohio Site Inventory Program, strengthening the pipeline of competitive sites.

A tight market. An active pipeline.

Demand for industrial space remains strong across Cleveland, Akron, and Canton. Since 2018, vacancy has grown from 3.4% to 3.9%. Nationally, industrial vacancy hovers around 7%; a balanced market typically sees vacancy closer to 8%.

Through Team NEO’s site development efforts, regional partnerships, and programs such as the Ohio Site Inventory Program, Northeast Ohio continues to expand and improve its industrial inventory. Since 2020, Team NEO has supported 5.6 million square feet of new building space and more than 2,400 acres of new or improved industrial land, strengthening the region’s pipeline of competitive opportunities.

Strong demand for industrial space, with more needed

Industrial vacancy has remained well below the U.S. average since 2018, reflecting sustained utilization of industrial space across Northeast Ohio. Maintaining a pipeline of modern, competitive sites and buildings helps ensure the region can continue to accommodate business growth and investment.

Northeast Ohio · 2018–2025

Regional initiative

Developing Opportunities & RightSites Council

Through Developing Opportunities, Team NEO takes a proactive, data-driven approach to site development, using market demand and site-readiness insights to identify gaps in the region’s inventory, prioritize opportunities for investment, and advance sites and buildings to better compete for business attraction projects. The RightSites Council brings together real estate professionals and other subject-matter experts to help inform that work, identify opportunities and challenges, and support efforts to advance competitive inventory across Northeast Ohio.

Metric 03

Direct flights

Nonstop trips from one city to the next.

Methodology & definitions

Tracked metric

Direct Flights Nonstop trips from one city to the next. Having access to multiple direct flights can be a measure of how interconnected and easily accessible a region is to other regions.

Sources & notes

Source — Bureau of Transportation T-100 Segment
49 Direct flight destinations, 2025 Up from 45 in 2018.
$15.5M Akron-Canton Airport grants 2024-26 state and federal grants for repairs and infrastructure upgrades
Record CLE Hopkins passengers 2024 set an all-time passenger record with expansion plans underway.

More Connections. More Opportunity.

Air connectivity helps businesses reach customers, talent, and markets around the world. Although direct flight destinations have fluctuated, Northeast Ohio expanded its reach to 49 direct flight destinations in 2025, which is an increase from 45 in 2018. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport welcomed a record number of passengers in 2024 and is planning future expansion, while Akron-Canton Airport recently secured $15.5 million in state and federal grants for repairs and infrastructure upgrades.

DIRECT FLIGHT DESTINATIONS rebounded to pre-pandemic levels

Direct flight destinations from Cleveland Hopkins and Akron-Canton Airports, 2018–2025. Rebounding from pandemic lows, regional direct flight destinations reached 49 in 2025, which is up from 45 in 2018.

Northeast Ohio · direct flight destinations · 2018–2025

Regional initiative

Cleveland Hopkins and Akron-Canton Airports

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport saw a record-breaking number of passengers in 2024, with plans to expand further. Akron-Canton received $3.2 million from the state of Ohio in 2024 for infrastructure upgrades and to develop new hangars for potential tenants, plus $12.3 million from the federal government in 2026 to repair and reconstruct passenger bridges, taxiways, and airport facilities.

Metric 04

Air quality index

Average AQI. Fifty or below represents good air quality with little or no risk.

Methodology & definitions

Tracked metric

Air Quality Index (AQI) The U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) is EPA's tool for communicating about outdoor air quality and health. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.

Sources & notes

Source — AirNow and U.S. EPA Air Quality Index report
44.8 Median AQI, 2025 Stable from 2018, solidly in the good range.
Below 46 Median AQI, 2018-2025 The regional median AQI has held below 46 since 2018.
Good EPA classification Any AQI of 50 or below meets the EPA's good-air threshold.

Clean air. Lasting benefits.

Clean air is an investment in people. The EPA’s air quality scale, measuring air quality and its risk to human health, runs from zero to more than 300.

Northeast Ohio's average AQI remained in the EPA's "Good" category every year, with the levels of pollution posing little or no risk. For site decision makers weighing environmental risk and workforce health, and for families choosing where to raise kids, a consistently good AQI reinforces the region's appeal.

Eight years of good air

Northeast Ohio's annual Air Quality Index remained well within the EPA's "Good" range every year from 2018–2025, staying below 46 throughout the period.

Northeast Ohio · 2018–2025

Metric 05

Alternative fuel stations

Tracks availability of biodiesel, CNG, electric, ethanol, hydrogen, LNG, propane, and renewable diesel stations. Ensures readiness for the future of transportation.

Methodology & definitions

Tracked metric

Alternative Fuel Stations Alternative fuel stations provide fuel for vehicles that use fuel other than gasoline or diesel. Alternative fuels tracked in this metric include biodiesel, compressed natural gas, electric, ethanol, hydrogen, liquified natural gas, propane, and renewable diesel.

Sources & notes

Source — U.S. Department of Energy
5× Growth In alternative fuel stations, 2018–2025 The number of alternative fuel stations grew by 394% since 2018
6.5× Growth In EV fuel stations, 2018–2025 The region’s electric vehicle fuel stations grew by 551% since 2018.
0.16 Alternative Fuel Stations per 1,000 people Per-capita access has doubled since 2018.

Access quintupled in seven years. Fleets took notice.

Between 2018 and 2024, Northeast Ohio quintupled its alternative fuel stations across Cleveland, Akron, and Canton. In the same time, EV charging stations grew by 551%.

As charging infrastructure expands, so does opportunity. A stronger regional network supports fleet electrification, modern logistics, and the long-term investments businesses need to stay competitive.

Powering Tomorrow

Growth in total alternative fuel stations and stations per 1,000 residents accelerated after 2020, reflecting the region's investment in future-ready transportation—especially electric vehicles.

Northeast Ohio · alternative fuel stations · 2018–2025

In the newsroom

Stories tied to Resilience.

The latest reporting and data notes from across the region.

Competitiveness

Ohio Named CNBC’s No. 1 Top State for Business

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Competitiveness

Strategic site readiness drives interest in Northeast Ohio

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Resilience

Lake County Breaks Ground at Lake County Executive Airport

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