< Previous156 SEPTEMBER 2025 SITE SELECTION A Capital Location for Foreign Investment by MARK AREND mark.arend@siteselection.com MID-ATLANTIC W hy do more than , international companies employing a combined , workers have operations in the Mid- Atlantic region? Perhaps it’s proximity to the U.S. capital and its numerous research institutions, federal contractors and other customers and collaborators. It might be the Mid-Atlantic region’s infrastructure and logistics assets, from seaports to global aviation hubs to highly connected rail and Interstate networks. Access to one of the largest concentrations of skilled labor and higher education assets in the country is likely another draw. Virginia, Maryland and Delaware are magnets for foreign direct investment (FDI), as analysis from the Global Business Alliance (GBA) illustrates. GBA, based in Washington, D.C., advocates for foreign investment into the U.S. and tracks levels of that investment nationally and on the state level. Following are GBA-sourced profi les of FDI in these states in recent years, the common denominator being solid foreign investment growth trends. Nearly 50 airlines, including many international carriers, serve 161 destinations from Washington Dulles International Airport in Fairfax County, Virginia. Direct access to their U.S. operations in the Mid-Atlantic from locations worldwide make the airport a strategic location asset for foreign investors. Getty Images158 SEPTEMBER 2025 SITE SELECTION VIRGINIA • A total of 982 international companies employ 209,600 workers; 51,000 work in manufacturing. • From 2012 to 2022, FDI employment in Virginia grew 34%; overall private- sector employment grew 11%. • FDI jobs are 6.3% of total state employment. • Companies from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany support the most FDI jobs. FDI Snapshot Munters Corporation, based in Sweden, broke ground in July on a $29.95 million, 200,000-sq.-ft. expansion to its HVAC manufacturing facility in Botetourt County in southwest Virginia. The project will create 270 new jobs. The company manufactures climate control solutions for mission-critical processes in industries including battery manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, data center cooling and food production. “The rapidly evolving demands of the data center industry push us to continuously advance our technology. By expanding our Virginia facility to include chiller production, we’re strengthening our ability to serve the U.S. market and capture more of its growth offering a comprehensive portfolio of technical solutions,” said Stefan Aspman, president of the Data Center Technologies business area. Also in southwest Virginia, Hitachi Energy is investing $22.5 million to expand transformer production capacity at its facility in Bland. The company also is adding a warehouse in Atkins. The expansion will create 120 new jobs. DELAWARE • A roster of 516 international companies employ 36,200 workers; 8,400 work in manufacturing. • From 2012 to 2022, FDI employment in Delaware grew 38%; overall private-sector employment grew 3%. • FDI jobs are 9% of total state employment. • Companies from the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands support the most FDI jobs. FDI Snapshot Satys, a France-based aircraft, aerospace space and railway painting, sealing and interior manufacturing company is investing nearly $1.3 million at a site in New Castle, its second U.S. location. The company says it’s establishing an aircraft paint facility and training hub in a currently shuttered hangar at Wilmington Airport – ILG that had previously been occupied by fellow French company Dassault and used in a similar capacity. The facility will serve the business jet market in the eastern United States and Canada. MARYLAND • Some 866 international companies employ 122,800 workers; 30,800 work in manufacturing. • From 2012 to 2022, FDI employment in Maryland grew 4%; overall private- sector employment fell 0.53%. Container ports in Wilmington, Baltimore (right) and Norfolk (above) are among the infrastructure assets of keen interest to international companies doing business in the Mid-Atlantic. Photo: Getty Images• FDI jobs are 5.5% of total state employment. • Companies from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada support the most FDI jobs. FDI Snapshot Bengaluru, India-based Syngene International, a global research, development and biotech pharmaceutical manufacturing company, plans to open a facility in Baltimore City, its first in the United States. The company says it expects to create 300 jobs and be fully operational by the end of the year. It will operate from a 100,000-sq.-ft. biologics manufacturing site it acquired and plans to invest $13.5 million in renovations. Hellenic Cables Americas, a subsidiary of Belgium-based Cenergy Holdings, is establishing a cable manufacturing facility at a site in Wagner’s Point along the Patapsco River in Baltimore City. Hellenic Cables is one of the largest cable producers in Europe, manufacturing power and telecom cables, as well as submarine cables for industries including offshore wind and utilities. An estimated 120 new manufacturing jobs will be created when the factory is fully operational toward the end of 2026, according to the company. Get On Your Rail-trail corridors welcome new development along the winding routes that carried the industry of yesteryear. A cross the United States, there are more than , miles of rail-trails on the ground and more than , miles of rail-trails ready to be built. Chances are you have one near you. Site Selection’s home base in Atlanta is close to a number of these trails, from the -mile Silver Comet to the evolving Firefl y Trail in Athens to the Chief Ladiga and Singing River Trail corridors in Alabama and the popular Swamp Rabbit Trail from Greenville to Travelers Rest in Upstate South Carolina. How do assets like rail-to-trail corridors tip the scale in a positive direction for companies on the hunt for high quality of life? And what can we learn from examining the direct business growth along these same winding pathways? Analysis of offi cial government statistics on outdoor recreation by Montana-based Headwaters Economics found that bicycling alone contributed $. billion to U.S. GDP in . at’s not counting the prodigious amount cyclists spend on the right outfi t and fi t- out, which would be part of the apparel and accessories category, No. by far in terms of outdoor recreation GDP at $ billion. In the same fi rm analyzed the economic potential of the Great American Rail-Trail, a ,-mile route through states and the District of Columbia that was % complete at the time, with around existing trails on the route and gaps still to fi ll. “We fi nd that when fully complete, the trail will attract . million trips and generate more than $. million in visitor spending each year,” wrote Headwaters Economics researcher Dr. Megan Lawson and Associate Director Kelly Pohl. “It could generate more than $ million in labor income, , new jobs, $. million in new tax revenue, and contribute more than $ million to the gross domestic product each year.” e budget reconciliation bill signed by President Donald Trump this summer guts federal funding for walking and biking trail development by rescinding around $ million from the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. But that doesn’t stop state and local action to develop these corridors. Asked to highlight specifi c rail-trail by ADAM BRUNS adam.bruns@siteselection.com OUTDOOR RECREATION 160 SEPTEMBER 2025 SITE SELECTION Bike Ride The 15-mile Route of the Hiawatha in Idaho boasts a 1.66-mile tunnel and is among a handful of rail-trails to be named to the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Photo courtesy of Idaho Tourism SITE SELECTION SEPTEMBER 2025 161 corridors that have spurred economic development, Lawson says by email, “A great example of a region developing around rail-trails is the panhandle of Idaho. The Route of the Hiawatha [15 miles] and Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes [73 miles] run from the Montana to Washington border. It’s brought a lot of revitalization to these areas, especially Wallace, Idaho.” Known for its 1.66-mile Taft Tunnel, the Route of the Hiawatha is one of only around 30 trails to be named a Rail-Trail Hall of Fame trail by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. In a more urban setting, she says, “the Economic Development Corporation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is also leading efforts to use outdoor recreation and their rail-trails to improve quality of life and help with employer and employee recruitment and retention.” Snapshots From the Trails Among recent rail-trail highlights: Known for its work with the 22-mile railroad corridor turned linear lifestyle known as the Atlanta Beltline, Norfolk Southern is partnering with a new trail forming in the Carolinas. In June the railroad finalized the sale of a steep 31.5-mile rail corridor up the Blue Ridge Escarpment to the Saluda Grade Trail Conservancy. The original railroad, built in the 1870s to connect Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina, included this stretch that maxed out at a 5% grade — mortally dangerous for more than one runaway train, but now to be converted to a workout to stave off mortality. The trail route passes through the small towns of Inman, Campobello, Landrum, Tryon, Saluda and Zirconia. “For many years, people have looked at the unique communities and spectacular scenery along this rail corridor and hoped that one day it could be transformed into a rail- trail with recreational and economic benefits for the entire area,” said Glenn Hilliard, founder and chair of the Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy. “Closing the purchase of the Saluda Grade is a wonderful achievement, and we owe our appreciation to the many partners and contributors who made this possible.” The Conservancy notes that another new rail-trail nearby — the 19.4-mile Ecusta Trail being built between Hendersonville and Brevard, North Carolina, along a line that served a paper mill shut down in 2002 — already has attracted popular restaurants and breweries along the route. The Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) continues to work with partners across Missouri to advocate for the completion of the 144-mile Rock Island Trail, which will eventually connect with the 239-mile Katy Trail to create a trail loop from Kansas City and St. Louis. “What is happening in Missouri will be looked back on in a decade or two as a defining moment in the trail movement,” RTC Senior Director of Programs Eric Obergtold writer Laura Stark in an RTC newsletter story last year. “Doubling down on the success of the Katy Trail by developing another cross- state trail, and connecting them into an internationally unique destination, will be remembered as one of the finest projects a state could undertake for the long-term vitality of its smaller rural communities.” Leighton, Alabama, in June saw a groundbreaking for a new multi-use path that is part of the larger Singing River Trail, a 220-mile greenway system established in 2018 that connects communities across eight northern Alabama counties. The Leighton project was supported by a $1 million Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant from the state. “A significant portion of our trail is on TVA land,” says Misti Potter, executive director of Singing River Trail. “It’s beneficial for them and us for people to be able to use land that is publicly accessible.” Potter calls trails “the great equalizer. You don’t have to have special equipment. It doesn’t matter where you come from, the trail is for everyone. Organizations that understand that are literally lifting all boats. It drives the economy. It drives entrepreneurship. It helps the community grow.” Rails to Trails Conservancy in December 2024 announced 2,068.6 miles of the Great American Rail-Trail trail are completed, marking the entire route at 55% complete since the vision for the cross-country trail was introduced in 2019. Map courtesy of Headwaters EconomicsINVESTMENT PROFILE: WILMER, TEXAS Wilmer Diversifies A Growing Industry Portfolio R ange matters when it comes to making a name for yourself, especially as a burgeoning city located outside of the largest metropolitan area in Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro is home to more than 8.3 million residents and counting. Meanwhile, about 15 miles to the southeast, the City of Wilmer is experiencing its own fresh population growth. Wilmer’s population has more than doubled in the past decade to 7,296 residents, with an estimated daytime population of 29,415. These residents join a greater regional workforce of over 2 million, many of whom located in North Texas seeking new employment opportunities. A high level of industrial activity in the region cemented Wilmer as a prime logistics hub early on, due in part to access 162 SEPTEMBER 2025 SITE SELECTION by ALEXIS ELMORE alexis elmore@siteselection.com to Interstates 20, 30 and 45 and regional international and domestic airports. The city also continues to serve as an ideal distribution base for industry leaders including Ace Hardware, Amazon, Procter & Gamble, Smucker’s, Unilever and Whirlpool. China-based global smart solar products manufacturer Trina Solar established the company’s first U.S. module factory in the city, which officially began operations last year. The $200 million facility, which was acquired by T1 Energy in December 2024, created 1,500 skilled jobs in the region and has laid the groundwork for further industry growth. When speaking to the initial investment, Trina Solar U.S. President Steven Zhu said Wilmer stood out because of the ability to expand on the site, a factor the company wasn’t willing to pass up. In recent years, corporate leaders have taken note of Wilmer’s development potential and in turn have introduced new levels of industry diversity that will aid the city in pioneering its next chapter. An abundance of shovel-ready sites has served as an enticing recruitment tool. And one industry is beginning to stand out. Prime Data Reach It wasn’t too long after Stream Data Centers launched its 12th Texas built-to-suit data center in Wilmer that another location in the city was in the works. The opening of the 77-acre, 90-megawatt (MW) data center campus marked Stream’s first development in South Dallas. Its three hyperscale data center buildings are fully leased with regional demand on the rise. Stream Data Centers then moved to begin construction of a second Wilmer location on a much larger scale. The new data center campus will cover 140 acres, housing a planned 1.4 million sq. ft. of data center infrastructure at full build out. Once operational, the Wilmer welcomes two new data center campus investments while making room for a global manufacturer’s new HQ. Photo courtesy of City of WilmerWilmer II Hyperscale Campus will bring 240 MW of capacity supported by an on-site 372-MW Oncor substation. In April 2025, Kansas-based QTS received the necessary work permits to move forward with two of its own data center locations in Wilmer. The Blackstone subsidiary currently operates three Texas locations in Fort Worth, Irving and San Antonio with a combined 325 MW of capacity. QTS spokesperson Karen Cohen says the first three buildings of the South Dallas data center campus are currently under construction. A $300 million investment will bring an initial 470,000-sq.- ft., two-story data center online by mid-2026. “QTS is proud to provide the digital infrastructure critical to the future of our country and economy with more than 75 data centers in operation or under development across the United States and Europe,” says Cohen. “We are invested in Texas, with data center campuses in Dallas-Fort Worth, Irving and San Antonio. We look forward to expanding our footprint to meet growing demand from our customers in the market.” By November, QTS plans to break ground on its second development. This $350 million, two-story data center will be a bit larger at 560,000 sq. ft. and is expected to become operational by early 2027. Neither location will rely on local water resources, as each QTS data center features a water-free cooling system to meet facility needs. “We carefully select locations and thoughtfully plan our development with stewardship of resources, communities and customers’ needs in mind,” says Cohen. A Lucrative Move A 1,457-mile headquarters relocation from Beverly Hills, California, to Wilmer is not a decision made lightly, but it is one that hits a number of sweet spots: lower income and property taxes, an affordable cost of living, fewer regulations and a pro-business environment. Those factors led leading hair care manufacturer John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS) to uproot its California HQ operations and establish a new office in the city, in addition to constructing a new global distribution center. The $12 million investment brought a Texas Enterprise Fund grant to the city for the first time, as the company received $640,000 to support the project. “I’m honored that John Paul Mitchell Systems was selected as a grant recipient through the Texas Enterprise Fund, enabling us to establish a major facility in Texas to serve U.S. and global markets,” said John Paul Mitchell Systems co-founder John Paul DeJoria. “I’ve resided in Austin for 25 years and have the privilege of being deeply involved with the community — I know this initiative plays a key role in encouraging businesses like ours to invest in the local economy. We’re grateful to Governor Abbott and the State of Texas for their warm welcome and support and look forward to contributing to the entrepreneurial spirit and economic growth that make Texas such a special place to do business.” JPMS manufactures a wide variety of hair care products for women, men and pets across a number of brands which include Clean Beauty, MITCH, Paul Mitchell Pet, Neuro and Tea Tree. These products and more are sold in over 30 countries globally and the company plans to leverage Wilmer’s logistics capabilities once the distribution center becomes operational. In all, a total of 80 new jobs will be created in the region and JPMS could be eligible for an $8,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus. The JPMS HQ joins 21 Fortune 500 companies stationed in North Texas, as the Dallas-Fort Worth metro currently houses headquarters operations for McKesson, AT&T, Energy Transfer, Caterpillar, American Airlines Group and more across a range of industries. “This investment brings not only new jobs and economic development but also increased visibility to Wilmer as a destination for major industry,” says Wilmer Mayor Sheila Petta. “We are excited about the opportunities this partnership creates for our residents and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our local economy and future growth.” This Investment Profile was prepared under the auspices of the City of Wilmer and Wilmer EDC. For more information, contact the Wilmer Economic Development Corp. at 972- 441-6373. On the web, go to www.wilmeredc.com. SITE SELECTION SEPTEMBER 2025 163 QTS has announced a combined $650 million investment into two Wilmer data centers, both of which will be in operation by 2027. Rendering courtesy of QTS Data CentersNext >