For national site selection consultants, the answer remains clear: the South continues to lead the country in business attraction, and Tampa is now firmly part of the top tier.

The 2026 Site Selectors Survey, based on responses from 30 leading national consultants, shows Southern states dominating nearly every major category, from overall business climate to manufacturing and headquarters locations. Texas once again ranked first for best business climate, followed by Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee. When it came to manufacturing, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina led the way, reinforcing the South’s role as the center of U.S. industrial growth.

Headquarters decisions followed the same pattern. Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Dallas claimed the top four spots, but Tampa made one of the most significant jumps in the survey, finishing fifth after not ranking in the top ten last year. That rise reflects a broader shift toward Southern cities that were once considered secondary markets but now compete head-to-head with the largest metros in the country.

That momentum was reinforced in early January, when Site Selection Magazine officially placed Tampa in the top five cities in the United States for corporate headquarters. It marked the first time Tampa has ever made the magazine’s coveted top-five list, based on nationwide surveys of site selection consultants.

Consultants cited Tampa’s favorable tax climate, highly skilled workforce, foreign direct investment activity, and quality of life as the primary reasons the city stood out. Those factors align with what site selectors consistently rank as most important, including workforce availability, cost of living, incentives, and overall business climate.

“The milestone is a reflection of the momentum our community has built together,” said Jane Castor. “We’re creating an environment where businesses thrive, families succeed, and big ideas feel right at home.”

Major redevelopment projects across Tampa are also playing a role. Investments connecting neighborhoods to the urban core, expanded public spaces and amenities, and continued growth from both small businesses and major employers have made Tampa one of the most desirable places in the country to live and work.

Recent corporate decisions back that up. AquaFence, a Norwegian flood protection company, selected Tampa as its second major U.S. office after operating in the region during recent hurricanes. Company leaders cited existing clients, regional scale, and the city’s collaborative business culture as reasons Tampa increasingly felt like home, with plans to eventually shift its U.S. headquarters from New Jersey to Tampa.

The survey also highlighted growing uncertainty tied to federal trade and immigration policy. Consultants overwhelmingly said tariffs are slowing or delaying investment decisions, increasing costs, and creating hesitation for both domestic and foreign companies. While some manufacturing may return to the U.S. because of tariffs, respondents noted those projects are often highly automated and require specialized talent that remains in short supply.

Even with those headwinds, the South continues to outperform, and Tampa’s rise is no longer theoretical. With national recognition now confirming what many executives already see on the ground, Tampa’s position as a serious headquarters city is becoming harder to ignore.