In Cleveland, Your Capital Works Harder
Cleveland is the most underpriced, overperforming market for innovation-driven manufacturing companies in the United States.
Scale With Confidence
Cleveland is executing a new model for economic growth - one grounded in delivery, not promises.
Where coastal markets ask you to pay a premium for potential, Cleveland delivers real infrastructure at a fraction of the cost, with a built-in talent pool that understands what it means to build things right, and a city actively removing every barrier between your decision and your first day of production.
For companies in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and innovation-driven industries, Cleveland offers something increasingly rare:
A place where you can scale — without friction.
This is The Cleveland ERA: Industrial revival. Neighborhood investment. Government running lean. And a community that takes business personally.
A City That Works With You
In Cleveland, you don’t navigate growth alone.
A coalition of public, private, and civic organizations has built a one-of-a-kind concierge service specifically for high-priority businesses looking to grow here.
You get a single point of contact — backed by a strategic advisory group of Cleveland leaders — who will cut through red tape, open doors, and keep your project moving. It’s all about getting you what you need quickly, reliably, and with a direct line to executives inside and outside City Hall that can unlock creative solutions no matter what your project requires.
Six Reasons to Choose Cleveland
Not aspirational. Not theoretical. Operational, right now.
Infrastructure That’s Ready Now
Cleveland isn’t just talking about future potential — it’s unlocking it now. We’re a city actively removing friction from business operations so you can thrive from day one.
- $100M Site Readiness Fund with >400 acres already aggregated
- $1.7B+ invested in Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to meet demand and ease transition from touchdown to downtown
- $5B dual-waterfront transformation underway and water utilities constantly operating with excess
- Shovel-ready sites with mature utility infrastructure
Half the Cost, Full-Scale Capability
In Cleveland, your capital works harder. A fraction of the real estate cost, dramatically lower operations, and a tax structure designed to reward growth, not penalize it.
- Industrial lease ~30-50% lower than national average
- Commercial rents ~30% below peer cities
- Cost of living ~22% below national average
- No tax on corporate profits, inventory, R&D, machinery or out-of-state sales
- Aligned incentives from state, county and city for maximum value
- Municipally owned power = higher reliability, competitive rates
- Climate-resilient region with access to 20% of the world’s freshwater
Build With People Who Stay
Cleveland’s workforce isn’t transient; it’s committed and filled with pride for The Land (as we lovingly call our town). Rooted in manufacturing, engineering, and problem-solving, talent here doesn’t just show up, it builds lifelong careers.
- 270,000+ manufacturing jobs in the region
- Strong pipeline from 20+ colleges and technical programs
- Greater Cleveland Works, Tri-C, MAGNET talent partnerships and more
- Rising 25-34 age cohort
- Cleveland Talent Alliance and Greater Cleveland Works support employers and teams during the move
A Place People Choose to Stay
You don’t just hire talent, you have to keep it. Cleveland delivers big-city lifestyle without big-city headaches, where employees can actually afford to live big and live well.
- Housing ~20% below national average
- World-class healthcare with the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth
- $5B investment to connect neighborhoods directly to Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River (a National Heritage Trail)
- Access to 20% of the world’s freshwater through dual waterfronts of Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River
- Major cultural, athletic, and outdoor assets, including three professional sports teams, the largest theater district outside NYC, a national park, a world-renowned orchestra, internationally recognized museums, and the best municipal metropark system in the United States
Win the Map
You’re not choosing a dot on a map. You’re choosing speed, access, and reliability. From Cleveland, you reach more markets faster, with fewer variables.
- 60% of the U.S. population within a single day’s drive
- Great Lakes access — The international port offers the fastest route to European markets, thanks to lower congestion than East Coast ports
- Dual Class I rails
- I-71, I-77, I-80, I-90 corridor
- 60% less traffic congestion than the national average
Plug Into a Manufacturing Powerhouse
We aren’t new to manufacturing here; it’s embedded in our history. When you locate in Cleveland, you step into a fully built, mature value chain.
- 10,000+ manufacturing companies across the region
- Parker Hannifin, Lincoln Electric, and Sherwin-Williams headquartered in Cleveland
- NASA Glenn Research Center, with 1,500+ scientists and engineers
- 98% SME supplier network — flexible, resilient, local
A Tax Structure That Supports Growth
In Cleveland, you don’t just save money, you gain leverage
Your compensation dollar goes further, your talent stays longer, and your operating costs stay leaner in Cleveland.
- No corporate income tax
- No inventory tax
- Exemptions for R&D and manufacturing equipment
- Competitive, layered incentives
Need help navigating your best route to a successful operational move?